Charlotte Plantagenet

Henry II, King of France

Charlotte Plantagenet (25 January 1500 - 6 June 1550) was Queen Consort of France following her marriage to Francis I. She was the daughter of Matilda and Richard Plantagenet.

## Early Life

Charlotte was born in 1500 to Matilda and Stephen Plantagenet. Matilda was the daughter of Eleanor of York, making Charlotte her granddaughter. This also meant that Charlotte was the great-granddaughter of Edward IV and Rosaline Beaufort. Her brother was Edward Plantagenet, the eventual father of Madeline Plantagenet. At a young age, Charlotte dreamed of running away from England and going to France.

## Marriage

In 1514, Charlotte arrived at the French Court who welcomed her with open arms. The same year, Charlotte was the centre of marriage negotiations. Claude of Brittany is thought to have broken off her engagement to Francis following advice from Anne Villebrow. Charlotte was considered the ideal bride by Claude herself, and Claude recommended her. Arrangements were agreed and Charlotte was formally betrothed to Francis and the two married months later.

## Queen Consort

1515 was the year that nobody expected. Louis XII died without a male heir, leaving the throne to Francis and Charlotte. Edward had proposed to his parents that he go and see Charlotte, and they had accepted. Edward landed in France a few weeks later.

Edward reached the French Court a few weeks later, and Charlotte was very happy to see him. She had also explained everything to Edward about what happened. Edward attended Charlotte's coronation and sailed back to England the following year.

The French court were skeptical over Queen Charlotte in 1515. Charlotte had admitted in June 1515 that she was the great-granddaughter of Rosaline Beaufort and Edward IV of England, and this made the French court a bit angry at her. Edward also continued to visit Charlotte in France, and famously said that "Even though my sister and me have royal blood, doesn't mean we're better than all of you."

Charlotte began to become popular with the people of France in 1516, and she was the first person that Edward had ever told about his marriage to Mary Villebrow. She offered him support and told him that France would always welcome him if he needed to escape.

It is thought that Charlotte did attend the Field of the Cloth of Gold, and was heavily amused by the two king's not reaching an agreement. Charlotte's cousin Henry VIII was thought to have ridiculed Charlotte by this. Charlotte and Henry fell out shortly after but still remained mutual relatives.

## Raising Margaret

In 1532, Charlotte's niece Margaret of Gloucester was sent to France to be with Charlotte. She stayed at the French Court and was looked after carefully by Charlotte. Margaret didn't want to marry anybody, so Charlotte didn't arrange any marriages. Charlotte would often teach Margaret about her heritage, something Margaret loved. In 1537, Charlotte and Margaret heard the news of the birth of Madeline Plantagenet. Margaret was 5 at the time. Madeline was born in the family's home in Gloucestershire.

Charlotte demanded payments from her niece Madeline Plantagenet, and several treaties where signed to make these payments.

## Dowager Queen

Charlotte was devastated by her husband's death in 1547. Now being the dowager Queen of France, Charlotte fled back to her homeland of England with Margaret. Charlotte stayed in Plantagenet Manor in Gloucestershire. Madeline wanted to also remember her great-great aunt's heritage. Madeline passed an act in 1548 that declared Charlotte Duchess of Gloucester, but this would be short lived as Charlotte died in 1550.