Beatrice of Bourbon (1320-1383)
Encyclopedia
Beatrice of Bourbon was a French noblewoman member of the House of Bourbon
and by marriage Queen of Bohemia and Countess of Luxembourg.
She was the youngest daughter of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon
and Mary of Avesnes
.
Despite the fact that John and Elisabeth became estranged during the last years of their marriage, the King remained as a truly widower for the next four years. French King Philip VI
wanted to tie John with France, and he suggested to the Bohemian King a second marriage. The chosen bride was Beatrice, youngest daughter of the Duke of Bourbon and member of a cadet branch of the House of Capet
; however, in Paris
on 29 May 1321 Beatrice was already betrothed with Philip, second son of Philip I, Prince of Taranto. The engagement was broken soon after the marriage negotiations with Bohemia started.
The marriage of King John of Bohemia and Beatrice of Bourbon was solemnized in the Château de Vincennes
in December 1334; but because the two were related in a prohibited degree, Pope Benedict XII
had to give dispensation for the marriage, which was granted in Avignon
on 9 January 1335 at the request of King Philip VI of France
.
The marriage contract stipulated that if a son was born from the marriage, the County of Luxembourg (King John's paternal heritage), as well as lands belonging to it, would go to him. King John's sons from his first marriage, Charles
and John Henry
weren't notified about the contents of the marriage contract, but both princes were compelled to accept it along with the knights and citizens of Luxembourg in August 1335.
In the Bohemian court, Beatrice took care of the wife of her oldest stepson, Blanche of Valois
. Both women could easily communicate in French. The Queen soon felt ill-at-ease in Prague, where she was always compared with the Margravine of Moravia (Blanche's title as wife of the Bohemian heir), as the comparison did not coming out in her favor. Also, the people were offended by her coldness, insolence and her aversion to learning the Czech language.
The new Queen of Bohemia and Countess of Luxembourg brought with her an annual income of 4,000 livres (extracted from her father's County of Clermont). On 25 February 1337, the Queen gave birth in Prague
her only child, a son, named Wenceslaus after the holy patron of the Premyslid dynasty
; perhaps with this gesture either the Queen or her husband tried to gain the favor of the Bohemians. However, the relationship between Beatrice and her new subjects remained estranged: her coronation as Queen of Bohemia in St. Vitus Cathedral
three months later, on 18 May, was an event of spectacular indifference from the citizens.
Shortly after her coronation, in June 1337, Beatrice left Bohemia leaving her son behind, and went to live in Luxembourg
. After this, she rarely visit the Bohemian Kingdom.
and Beatrice ceased to be Queen consort. The now King Charles of Bohemia confirmed the provisions of his stepmother's marriage contract. Beatrice, now Dowager Queen of Bohemia, received in perpetuity lands in Hennegau
, the rent of 4,000 livres and the towns of Arlon, Marville
and Damvillers
(where she settled her residence) as her widow's estate. These revenues were used not only for their own needs, but also in the education of her son. King Charles left her all the movable property and income from the mines in Kutná Hora
. In addition, when her father Duke Louis I of Bourbon died in 1342 she received the amount of 1,000 livres, which were secured from the town of Creil
.
Around 1347, Beatrice married secondly with Eudes II, Lord of Grancey (then a widower) in her state of Damvillers. Despite her new marriage, she retained the title of Queen of Bohemia. They had no children. Soon after, she arranged the betrothal of her son Wenceslaus with the already-widowed Jeanne
who was fifteen years his elder, daughter and heiress of John III, Duke of Brabant
. The marriage took place in Damvillers four years later, on 17 May 1351.
Despite all the grants given to Beatrice, the Bohemian King delayed the investiture of his young half-brother Wenceslaus as Count of Luxembourg; in fact, he held the title until 1353, when Wenceslaus finally obtained the sovereignty over the County. One year later (13 March 1354) the County was elevated to the rank of Duchy.
Beatrice died on 27 December 1383, having outlived her son (for only sixteen days) and all her stepchildren. She was buried in église des Jacobins in Paris. Her second husband survived her by six years.
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
and by marriage Queen of Bohemia and Countess of Luxembourg.
She was the youngest daughter of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon
Louis I, Duke of Bourbon
Louis I de Bourbon, le Boiteux, the Lame was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis and La Marche, and the first Duke of Bourbon.-Life:...
and Mary of Avesnes
Mary of Avesnes
Marie of Hainaut was the daughter of John II, Count of Holland and Philippa of Luxembourg, her brother was William I, Count of Hainaut.- Family :...
.
Marriage
On 28 September 1330, King John of Bohemia's wife, Elisabeth died:-
- "The news was that the King, distraught for the loss of his wife manifested his feelings using mourning clothes, after all, they were married for twenty years, and yet remained completely himself with a brief time, this was in Bohemia, the other side used to be mostly in their county or elsewhere, where he discussed the matter."
Despite the fact that John and Elisabeth became estranged during the last years of their marriage, the King remained as a truly widower for the next four years. French King Philip VI
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
wanted to tie John with France, and he suggested to the Bohemian King a second marriage. The chosen bride was Beatrice, youngest daughter of the Duke of Bourbon and member of a cadet branch of the House of Capet
House of Capet
The House of Capet, or The Direct Capetian Dynasty, , also called The House of France , or simply the Capets, which ruled the Kingdom of France from 987 to 1328, was the most senior line of the Capetian dynasty – itself a derivative dynasty from the Robertians. As rulers of France, the dynasty...
; however, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 29 May 1321 Beatrice was already betrothed with Philip, second son of Philip I, Prince of Taranto. The engagement was broken soon after the marriage negotiations with Bohemia started.
The marriage of King John of Bohemia and Beatrice of Bourbon was solemnized in the Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes
The Château de Vincennes is a massive 14th and 17th century French royal castle in the town of Vincennes, to the east of Paris, now a suburb of the metropolis.-History:...
in December 1334; but because the two were related in a prohibited degree, Pope Benedict XII
Pope Benedict XII
Pope Benedict XII , born Jacques Fournier, the third of the Avignon Popes, was Pope from 1334 to 1342.-Early life:...
had to give dispensation for the marriage, which was granted in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
on 9 January 1335 at the request of King Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
.
The marriage contract stipulated that if a son was born from the marriage, the County of Luxembourg (King John's paternal heritage), as well as lands belonging to it, would go to him. King John's sons from his first marriage, Charles
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and John Henry
John Henry, Margrave of Moravia
John Henry of Luxembourg, Czech: Jan Jindřich, German: Johann Heinrich , was Count of Tyrol from 1335 to 1341 and Margrave of Moravia from 1349 until his death....
weren't notified about the contents of the marriage contract, but both princes were compelled to accept it along with the knights and citizens of Luxembourg in August 1335.
Life in Bohemia
Beatrice arrived in Bohemia on 2 January 1336:-
- "...our father came to Bohemia and brought him a wife, named Beatrix, daughter of the Duke of Bourbon and relative of the King of the Frenchs..."
In the Bohemian court, Beatrice took care of the wife of her oldest stepson, Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois
Blanche of Valois was the youngest daughter of Charles of Valois and his third wife Mahaut of Châtillon.-Family:Her paternal grandparents were Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol and Marie of Brittany.Marie was a daughter of John...
. Both women could easily communicate in French. The Queen soon felt ill-at-ease in Prague, where she was always compared with the Margravine of Moravia (Blanche's title as wife of the Bohemian heir), as the comparison did not coming out in her favor. Also, the people were offended by her coldness, insolence and her aversion to learning the Czech language.
The new Queen of Bohemia and Countess of Luxembourg brought with her an annual income of 4,000 livres (extracted from her father's County of Clermont). On 25 February 1337, the Queen gave birth in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
her only child, a son, named Wenceslaus after the holy patron of the Premyslid dynasty
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
; perhaps with this gesture either the Queen or her husband tried to gain the favor of the Bohemians. However, the relationship between Beatrice and her new subjects remained estranged: her coronation as Queen of Bohemia in St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus' Cathedral is as a Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral...
three months later, on 18 May, was an event of spectacular indifference from the citizens.
Shortly after her coronation, in June 1337, Beatrice left Bohemia leaving her son behind, and went to live in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. After this, she rarely visit the Bohemian Kingdom.
Later Years
On 26 August 1346 King John was killed in the Battle of CrécyBattle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
and Beatrice ceased to be Queen consort. The now King Charles of Bohemia confirmed the provisions of his stepmother's marriage contract. Beatrice, now Dowager Queen of Bohemia, received in perpetuity lands in Hennegau
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
, the rent of 4,000 livres and the towns of Arlon, Marville
Marville
Marville may refer to:* Marville, a Marvel Comics series from the early 2000s* Marville, a commune of the Meuse département, in France...
and Damvillers
Damvillers
Damvillers is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
(where she settled her residence) as her widow's estate. These revenues were used not only for their own needs, but also in the education of her son. King Charles left her all the movable property and income from the mines in Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora is a city in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region.-History:The town began in 1142 with the settlement of the first Cistercian Monastery in Bohemia, Kloster Sedlitz, brought from the Imperial immediate Cistercian Waldsassen Abbey...
. In addition, when her father Duke Louis I of Bourbon died in 1342 she received the amount of 1,000 livres, which were secured from the town of Creil
Creil
Creil is a large town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-History:Archaeological remains in the area include a Neolithic site, as well as a late Iron Age necropolis, perhaps belonging to a Gaulish fortress or protected camp.The city itself...
.
Around 1347, Beatrice married secondly with Eudes II, Lord of Grancey (then a widower) in her state of Damvillers. Despite her new marriage, she retained the title of Queen of Bohemia. They had no children. Soon after, she arranged the betrothal of her son Wenceslaus with the already-widowed Jeanne
Joanna, Duchess of Brabant
Joanna, Duchess of Brabant , also known as Jeanne, was the heiress of Duke John III, who died in Brussels, December 5, 1355. Her mother was Marie d'Évreux.- Family :...
who was fifteen years his elder, daughter and heiress of John III, Duke of Brabant
John III, Duke of Brabant
Jan III van Brabant , also called John III, the Triumphant , was Duke of Brabant, Lothier, and Limburg...
. The marriage took place in Damvillers four years later, on 17 May 1351.
Despite all the grants given to Beatrice, the Bohemian King delayed the investiture of his young half-brother Wenceslaus as Count of Luxembourg; in fact, he held the title until 1353, when Wenceslaus finally obtained the sovereignty over the County. One year later (13 March 1354) the County was elevated to the rank of Duchy.
Beatrice died on 27 December 1383, having outlived her son (for only sixteen days) and all her stepchildren. She was buried in église des Jacobins in Paris. Her second husband survived her by six years.