HE was the son of Charles d’Orleans, Duke of Angoulême, by Louise de Savoie. He married, first, the Princess Claude, daughter of Louis XII., and succeeded his father-in-law on the throne of France. His second wife was Eleanor of Austria, sister to Charles V., Emperor of Germany. For many years this picture has been erroneously named Francis I. and his mistress, but late researches prove the female portrait to be that of his second wife, Eleanor of Austria, and that it was painted as a commemoration picture, at the time of the marriage,—the Caduceus, the emblem of peace, recording that of Cambray, ‘La Paix des Dames.’
Eleanor of Austria was the daughter of Philip, Archduke of Austria, by ‘Mad Joan,’ as she was called, (the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,) and consequently sister to Charles V., Emperor of Germany.
She was much admired at the Imperial Court, and Frederick, brother to the Elector Palatine, no sooner saw than he fell in love with her, and the affection was reciprocal; but Charles, discovering their intimacy, exiled Frederick, and hastened to give his sister in marriage.
Emanuel, King of Portugal, surnamed ‘The Fortunate,’ had governed his kingdom well, but he was ill-calculated to take the fancy of the beautiful young Princess, still less to drive out the image of a former lover. He was misshapen, and far advanced in years, but he treated Eleanor with great consideration. He did not survive his marriage above two years, leaving his widow with two children. It may easily be conjectured that the hand of Eleanor, gifted as she was with a large dower and great personal charms, was eagerly sought by many illustrious personages, but her brother appeared to favour the suit of the Connétable de Bourbon.
The wars which intervened, however, changed these projects after Francis I. had been taken prisoner by Charles V. at the battle of Pavia, the peace of Cambray was concluded between them, called frequently ‘La Paix des Dames,’ because negotiated by Margaret of Austria, the Emperor’s aunt, and Louise of Savoy, the King of France’s mother, who had been Regent during her son’s absence and captivity. One stipulation was the union of the fair young widow with Francis I., and the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp. Eleanor, indeed, presided at Court as Queen in all the ceremonies, but neither her mental nor personal charms made much impression on the heart of the King, who was at that moment entirely subjugated by his mistress, the Duchesse d’Étampes. This beautiful, but bad and inordinately ambitious woman, who was designated as ‘La plus belle des sçavantes, et la plus sçavantes des belles,’ had been one of the Queen-Mother’s maids of honour. The King married her to an old courtier, and created her Duchesse d’Étampes. She was of an intriguing spirit, fostered discord, and interfered in political measures, always working counter to the Queen, who strove to keep peace, especially between her brother and husband.
The Duchess also hated the Dauphin, (afterwards Henry II.,) and between her and the famous Diane de Poictiers (already firmly established in the favour of the Prince) the spirit of rivalry raged fiercely.
When Henry II. succeeded to the throne the all-powerful Diane exiled the Duchesse d’Étampes, whose downfall was complete. Amid all the pomp of the Court, Queen Eleanor had reason to regret her quiet life at Lisbon, where she was at least admired and respected. When Francis died, his widow went to reside, first in the Netherlands, and then in Spain. She died at Talavera, and was buried in the Escurial.