Marie Madeleine d'Autriche

Son Altesse Royale, Infante de Bourgogne, Marie Madeline d'Autriche

Philippe Martin, Infant de Bourgogne

****Marie Madeleine d'Autriche**** (Dutch: Maria Magdalena; born 2nd November 1557 - present) is the first born child and daughter of the late Roi de Bourgogne, Ferdinand and his wife Magdalena von Österreich. Being born as the Reine de Bourgogne's first daughter and child, she was overly-protected and cherished; to the point she would be named after the Reine herself and wasn't allowed many friends during her early years. She is the eldest sister of the current Roi de Bourgogne, Charles II and Philippe Martin d'Autriche.

## Biography

### Birth

Madeleine d'Autriche, the Infante de Bourgogne was born on 2nd June 1557 and was the first born child and daughter of Ferdinand and his wife Magdalena von Österreich. Not being the preferred male heir to succeed the Kingdom of Burgundy, Madeleine was received coldly by her father, not even being acknowledged personally by him. Her mother however was more than ecstatic to have her own daughter, nicknaming the young Infante her "Petite Madeleine". The Queen was often seen holding her newborn child in place of the assigned governesses; which were often changed or replaced due to the Queen not seeing them as '*fit to hold her precious princess'*.

Madeleine was born at 7 a.m, and was personally named by her protective mother after herself. Upon being presented to her father, he only looked upon the child and stated; "This child is a princess, but not the due prince our kingdom so needs." The young princess would be baptized at the palace cathedral in the Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne by Charles de Croÿ, évêque de Tournai. Her godparents would be Philippe III de Croÿ, the Duc d'Aerschot and Catarina de Áustria, the Queen of Portugal. Her first ever governess during her infancy would be the Duquesa d'Alba, María Enríquez de Toledo y Guzmán.

### Childhood

For the majority of her childhood, Madeleine was known to have a sickly and frail constitution. As such, the Queen and her household would prevent the Infante from going outside or into the luscious gardens of her home residence - left to watch her newer and healthier siblings be allowed such freedoms from nearby. As a baby, Madeleine was rather quiet and reserved, opting to explore endlessly through the areas she was allowed to be in such as the hallways and many rooms of the Burgundian court.

The Burgundian court would have to transfer from palace to palace due to the revolts and calls for independence across Burgundy. This resulted in the sudden surge of Iconoclasm in 1566 which would force the Infante and her household to move to the Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne for some time. The only governess and noble that was allowed the most access to the Infante was Sabine of Württemberg, the Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel. Madeleine has fond memories of her governess sneaking various treats and toys to her whenever her mother wasn't around. However after 1569, she was suddenly relieved of her duties towards the Infante and for weeks Madeleine remained distraught and saddened.

In the same year, Madeleine's father would pass away on the 23rd of July as a result of multiple factors which included a stroke which was believed to have been caused by a fall. This would cause further melancholy for the young princess during her childhood.

### The Court of Charles II

At the age of 13 and only a year after her father's death the young Infante was allowed into the proper court of Burgundy. Alongside her brother, she would be introduced by the now Queen-Dowager Magdalena von Österreich to all the notable courtiers within the Palais de Dijon. Many nobles often described the young Infante as "meek and fragile-looking" as the Queen-Dowager didn't allow the young princess to traverse with the court for long.

Her hold would slowly loosen as the princess got older, and she was expected to mingle more and more with the nobility to maintain her dignity and grace as a royal. However, Madeleine would never truly develop any friendships aside from her favorite demoiselle Catherine de Chabot, the Mademoiselle de Buzançais. The two had become early friends ever since the young Infante was small, the Mademoiselle often visiting the young princess in her chambers in both Dijon and in past homes of the Burgundian royal family.