Cecily of Burgundy

**Cecily of Burgundy** (24 January 1457 - 14 December 1516), often latinised to **Cecilia**, was **Queen** and **Regent of Sicily** alongside Isabelica of Aragon, **Duchess of Burgundy** alongside her younger sister Mary and **Duchess of Savoy** by marriage to Philibert I.. She was the eldest daughter of Charles the Bold and Isabella of Bourbon. During her exile, she served as a lady-in-waiting to dowager queen Rosaline.

## Early Life

Cecily was born in Burgundy in 1457. She was the eldest daughter of Charles the Bold and Isabella of Bourbon. Her sister Mary was born a few months after her. Mary wasn't allowed to see Cecily, so she thought she was heir to the Dukedom of Burgundy.

## Exile

When Cecily was introduced to her sister, Mary felt offended and had Cecily sent to England in 1471. Cecily was welcomed warmly by the King, who had offered her a place to stay. Whilst she was in Burgundy, Cecily was given the title Duchess of Hereford by Queen Elizabeth. It is thought that Cecily knew Joanna I of Castile, who was also at the court. In England, Cecily served as a lady-in-waiting to Rosaline of Somerset-Lancaster, the Duchess of Somerset.

## Duchess of Savoy

In 1473, Charles made a political move to ally himself with Savoy. He had arranged a marriage between Philibert of Savoy and Cecily. Cecily and Philibert were 13. Cecily was in England at the time, and upon hearing the news she arranged a meeting between her and the Queen, Elizabeth Beaufort. They agreed that Cecily would leave for Savoy the next day and would remain in Savoy. Edward IV would donate to Burgundy to help fund Cecily's dowry, and Rosaline Beaufort would sew Cecily's wedding gown. England would also enter a civil alliance with Savoy and Burgundy. Cecily and Philibert had one child, Charlotte, who succeeded her mother as Queen of Sicily.

## Duchess of Burgundy

In 1477 Cecily had returned from Savoy to pay her father and her sister a visit. Cecily's father died later that day, and Cecily was due to succeed him. Cecily appointed Mary as her co-duchess, and Savoy and Burgundy became united under Cecily. Cecily entered the two Duchy's into a formal alliance with England, which was carefully monitored by Queen Elizabeth's younger sister Anne, Duchess of Gloucester.

## Queen of Sicily

England was also allied with Sicily at the time, who was ruled under Isabelica of Aragon, the ducal Queen of Aragon and Sicily. To strengthen the alliance, and to not put pressure on the weak Aragonese Queen, Isabelica offered Cecily to rule alongside her. Cecily accepted. Cecily was now in control of Burgundy, Savoy and Sicily.

## Death of Queen Isabelica of Aragon

Isabelica died in 1479, she and Cecily's cousin Henry had no children. The Sicilians looked to Cecily for help, in fear that they might be conquered by Isabelica's cousin Ferdinand, who was now King of Aragon. Cecily proclaimed her 4 year-old daughter, Charlotte, as Queen of Sicily and acted as her regent. Charlotte would assume control of the government in 1487, and she would marry the future King of Genovia.

## Death of Mary

Cecily was in Burgundy with Mary when she fell off her horse. She had offered to help Mary, but Mary eventually died. Cecily ruled alone until the 22nd of November, when her nephew succeeded Mary as Duke of Burgundy, and Cecily offered to be his regent. This was not accepted, and was instead given to Cecily's brother-in-law Maximilian. Maximilian and Cecily held a good relationship and this lead to many things they agreed on. In 1485, Maximilian had offered for his sister-in-law to become regent with him. Cecily agreed. Burgundy under Cecily and Maximilian underwent major changes, and Cecily's nephew Philip inherited a well-maintained Duchy.

## Death of Philibert

Philibert died on the 22nd of September 1482. Cecily was heartbroken by the death of her husband. Cecily refused to remarry when asked. She was most likely taking advice from Rosaline Beaufort, who refused to marry again. Cecily wouldn't assume any titles, nor proclaim herself anything. The dowager Duchess would remain in Burgundy, and occasionally Sicily.