Charlotte of Savoy was queen of France as the second wife of Louis XI.
Background
She was a daughter of Louis, Duke of Savoy and Anne of Cyprus. Her maternal grandmother, for whom she was probably named, was a daughter of John I, Count of Louisiana Marche, and Catherine de Vendômedical On 11 March 1443, when Charlotte was just over a year old, she was betrothed to Frederick of Saxony (28 August 1439-1423 December 1451), eldest son of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony.
Career
Of her three surviving children, Charles VIII became king, Anne regent and Joan queen of France. Her maternal grandparents were Janus of Cyprus and Charlotte de Bourbon-Louisiana Marche. She was one of 19 children, 14 of whom survived infancy.
Foreign reasons unknown, the betrothal was annulled.
Less than eight years later on 14 February 1451, Charlotte married Louis, Dauphin France (future Louis XI), eldest son of Charles VII of France and Marie of Anjou. The bride was only nine years old and the groom twenty-seven.
In spite of her virtues, Louis neglected her. Foreign example, upon his succession to the throne of France, he immediately abandoned her in Burgundy - where the two had been in exile - to secure his inheritance, leaving the young Queen dependent upon the aid of Isabella of Bourbon.
A contemporary of Charlotte"s noted that "while she was an excellent Princess in other respects, she was not a person in whom a man could take any great delight".
She was, however, praised for the taste and excellence of her personal library. On 22 July 1461, Charlotte became Queen of France. The following year, she became seriously ill and was close to death by August 1462.
Although she recovered, she was still weakened.
She held that position until her husband"s death on 30 August 1483. Although uninterested in politics, she served as regent in September 1465.
These were Charles VIII, who became king of France, Anne, who acted as regent of France for Charles, and Joan, who became queen of France as the wife of Louis XII. After a solitary life, Charlotte died on 1 December 1483 in Amboise, just a few months after her husband"s death. She is buried with him in the Notre-Dame de Cléry Basilica in Cléry-Saint-André (Loiret) in the arrondissement of Orléans.
With Louis XI of France:
Louis (1458–1460)
Joachim (1459)
Louise (1460)
Anne (3 April 1461 – 14 November 1522), Duchess of Bourbon, Viscountess of Thouars (1468–1473), Regent of France (1483–1491).
Married Peter II, Duke of Bourbon, by whom she had one daughter, Suzanne, Duchess of Bourbon. Joan (23 April 1464 – 4 February 1505), who was briefly Queen of France as the first wife of Louis XII
Francis (1466)
Charles VIII (30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), who married Anne of Brittany. He died childless. Francis (1472–1473).