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Madeleine of Valois

Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 20 Aug 1520 – Edinburgh, 17 Jul 1537

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born20 Aug 1520, Saint-Germain-en-Layenot verified1 source
  • Died17 Jul 1537, Edinburghnot verified1 source
  • FatherFrancis I of Francenot verified1 source
  • MotherClaude of Francenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 20 Aug 1520

    Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

  2. 17 Jul 1537

    Dies in Edinburgh, aged 16

Family

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Parents

Partner

During her lifetime

She lived through 2 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1520s · Madeleine is born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

In the news1525

Peasant rebellion suppressed in 1525

In May 1525, Duke Antoine of Lorraine massacred a large peasant army at Saverne to suppress an insurrection that threatened the duchy.

Getting around

Travel by foot and pack animals

Ordinary travelers, including artisans and merchants, typically traveled on foot or used pack animals like horses, asses, and mules because carts frequently became stuck in mud on the roads.

In the news1528

Execution of Patrick Hamilton

Patrick Hamilton was burned as a heretic in St Andrews in 1528, marking an early moment of religious tension.

Daily life

Home lighting and water collection

Common dwellings featured floors of beaten earth covered with straw, and interiors were lighted by doors or small, unglazed windows. Water was a heavy burden to collect, with women often carrying it in jugs from distant sources for household use.

What people wore

Essential tool pouches on belts

Peasant men wore belts with pouches to carry essential tools, such as sharpening stones or sewing implements.

Music

Popular Morisque dance at court

At the ducal court, the Morisque was a popular dance performed by costumed men and women, especially during the carnival season. In 1521, Duke Antoine granted thirty francs to performers to help pay for their elaborate dance costumes.

At the table

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.