Marie of Anjou

Queen dowager

In 1461, Charles VII died and was succeeded by their son Louis XI, making Marie queen dowager. She was granted the Château of Amboise and the income from Brabant by her son.

During the winter of 1462–63, Marie of Anjou made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It has been speculated that she had a mission in Spain as secret ambassador for her son, due to the political situation at the time and the fact that she made the pilgrimage during winter time, when the roads were so bad that such trips were normally avoided if possible.

She died at the age of 59 on 29 November 1463 at the Cistercian Abbaye de Chateliers-en-Poitou (now in Nouvelle-Aquitaine region) on her return. She is buried in the basilica of Saint-Denis alongside her spouse.

Issue

Marie and Charles had:

Louis XI of France (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), married firstly, Margaret of Scotland, no issue. Married secondly, Charlotte of Savoy, had issue.

John (d. 19 September 1426)

Radegonde (1425 or August 1428 – 19 March 1445), betrothed to Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, on 22 July 1430

Catherine (1428 – 13 July 1446), married Charles the Bold, no issue

James (1432 – 2 March 1437)

Yolande (23 September 1434 – 23/29 August 1478), married Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy, had issue

Joan (4 May 1435 – 4 May 1482), married John II, Duke of Bourbon

Philip (4 February 1436 – 11 June 1436)

Margaret (May 1437 – 24 July 1438)

Joan (7 September 1438 – 26 December 1446), twin of Marie

Mary (7 September 1438 – 14 February 1439), twin of Joan

Isabella (d. 1441)

Magdalena (1 December 1443 – 21 January 1495), married Gaston of Foix, Prince of Viana, had issue.

Charles (12 December 1446 – 24 May 1472)