Françoise de Brézé

Françoise de Brézé was the daughter of Diane de Poitiers and Louis de Brézé, and married Robert IV de La Marck in 1538. She was appointed Première dame d'honneur or first lady-in-waiting to the queen, as well as royal governess.

Despite being the daughter of Diane de Poitiers, Françoise de Brézé does not seem to have been personally disliked by Catherine de' Medici. From 1553, however, she would in practice have been absent from court attending to her duties as regent of Sedan, and in accordance with court protocol, the dame d'atour Madeleine Buonaiuti would have functioned as Première dame d'honneur. de Brézé lost her office as Première dame d'honneur and head of the queen's ladies-in-waiting upon the death of king Henry II.[1] However, when queen Catherine became regent in 1560, and was able to appoint her own household, Françoise de Brézé was given a position as lady-in-waiting in the household of the queen dowager, which she kept until 1570.[2]

During the imprisonment of her spouse (1553–56) and during the minority of their underage son (1556–59), Françoise de Brézé ruled the Principality of Sedan. She was regarded as a capable ruler and reportedly kept the finances of Sedan in good shape as well as instigating several much needed public works.