| Yolande of Valois | |
|---|---|
 Dedication by the theologianGuillaume Fichet of his bookRhetorica to Yolande of France, Duchess of Savoy (1471) | |
| Duchess consort of Savoy | |
| Tenure | 29 January 1465 – 30 March 1472 |
| Born | 23 September 1434 Tours |
| Died | 23 August 1478(1478-08-23) (aged 43) Chambéry |
| Spouse | Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy |
| Issue | Anne, Princess of Squillace Louise Philibert I, Duke of Savoy Charles I, Duke of Savoy |
| House | Valois |
| Father | Charles VII of France |
| Mother | Marie of Anjou |
Yolande of Valois (23 September 1434 – 23 August 1478), also calledYolande of France, wasDuchess of Savoy by marriage to DukeAmadeus IX of Savoy, and regent of Savoy during the minority of her sonPhilibert I of Savoy from 1472 until 1478.
Yolande was a daughter of KingCharles VII of France, "The Victorious," andMarie of Anjou.[1] She was named after her grandmother,Yolande of Aragon. At the age of two, Yolande was betrothed toLouis, Duke of Savoy, the agreement being signed at Tours.[2]
Yolande married DukeAmadeus IX of Savoy in 1452.[3] After her wedding, she brought three chests of books with her.[4] Yolande's husband became duke of Savoy in 1465, making her duchess. Her husband's retiring disposition andepilepsy left her in control of the state,[5] to struggle with the Savoyard barons.
After the death of her spouse in March 1472, Yolande became regent for her sonPhilibert until her own death.[6] Like her brotherCharles, she was an ally toCharles, Duke of Burgundy, against her own brotherLouis XI of France. After the humiliation of Burgundy at theBattle of Grandson in 1476, the duke accused her of being in league with Louis and imprisoned her. After her release, she made peace with her brother and remained on good terms with him until her death. She is said to have been one of the very few women whose intelligence he respected.
Yolanda was the first person in Europe to own atiger, keeping one in a castle inTurin in 1478.[7]
Yolande and Amadeus had:
| Ancestors of Yolande of Valois |
|---|
Yolande of Valois Cadet branch of theCapetian dynasty Born: 23 September 1434 Died: 23 August 1478 | ||
| Royal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by Anne of Cyprus | Duchess consort of Savoy 1465–1472 | Vacant Title next held by Bianca Maria Sforza |
