Anna Breizh Reigning Duchess of Brittany, Queen of France Date of Birth: 25.01.1477 Country: France

1. Biography of Anne of Brittany
2. Political Independence and Marriage
3. Legacy and Physical Attributes
4. Death and Burial

Biography of Anne of Brittany

Anne of Brittany, the ruling Duchess of Brittany and Queen of France, was born on January 25, 1477, in Nantes. She was the daughter of Duke Francis II of Brittany and Margaret of Foix. As the wife of two successive French kings, Charles VIII and Louis XII, Anne was the most popular ruler of Brittany and the wealthiest woman of her time in Europe.

Political Independence and Marriage

As the last heir to her country, Anne was forced to marry the rulers of France through the use of military force. However, she maintained an active and independent political stance, especially during her second marriage, in order to avoid the annexation of Brittany by France. According to the most established viewpoint in historiography, Anne was an intelligent, educated, and politically savvy woman who dedicated most of her time to governing Brittany. From her teenage years until her untimely death, she did everything in her power to keep her country as independent as possible from the French crown, with some success. However, circumstances ultimately worked against her.

Legacy and Physical Attributes

In 1547, the Duchy of Brittany formally lost its independence. Anne is typically depicted as a blonde. One of her legs was shorter than the other, which caused her to limp. To conceal this, she wore a higher heel on her shorter leg and became the pioneer of orthopedic footwear at court.

Death and Burial

Anne of Brittany died on January 9, 1514, at the Château de Blois. Her body was buried in the traditional burial site for French kings and queens, the burial chamber of the Basilica of Saint-Denis. However, according to her wishes, her heart was brought back to her hometown of Nantes in a golden reliquary adorned with enamel. It was placed on March 19, 1514, in the Carmelite crypt next to the tomb of her parents. Later on, her heart was transferred to the Nantes Cathedral of Saint Peter.