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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

Typical Lorraine Home Layout and Facilities

Lorraine homes of this period typically featured a central hallway, a windowless kitchen with a floor-level fire, and a single heated bedroom for the family. Livestock were often sheltered within the same building, and the attic served as a hayloft.

What people wore

Safe storage for peasant coins

For security, men often wrapped their coins in the long, split tails of their linen chemises.

Music

Chapel music and singer wages

Choral singers at the Saint-Georges collegiate church in Nancy were well-compensated, with annual wages reaching ninety-six francs. By 1530, the ducal chapel included regular performances of the Passion mass, which the Duke had founded to be celebrated every Friday.

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.