Bonne of Berry (1367 – 30 December 1435) was a French countess. She was Countess of Savoy by marriage to

Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy Amadeus VII (24 February 1360 – 1 November 1391), known as the Red Count, was Count of Savoy from 1383 to 1391. Biography Amadeus was born in Chambéry on 24 February 1360, the son of Count Amadeus VI of Savoy and Bonne of Bourbon. Althou ...

. When she was widowed, she unsuccesfully claimed the regency during her son's minority against her mother-in-law in 1391-93. As niece of King

Charles V of France Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), called the Wise (french: le Sage; la, Sapiens), was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380. His reign marked an early high point for France during the Hundred Years' War, with his armi ...

, she played a key role in French diplomatic maneuvers intended to consolidate the alliances of the kingdom of France. She was the daughter of

John, Duke of Berry John of Berry or John the Magnificent ( French: ''Jean de Berry'', ; 30 November 1340 – 15 June 1416) was Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. He was Regent of France during the minority of his nephew 1380-1388 ...

, and

Joanna of Armagnac Joan of Armagnac (French: ''Jeanne d'Armagnac''; 24 June 1346 – 1387) was a French noblewoman of the Armagnac family, being the eldest daughter of Count John I of Armagnac and his wife Beatrice of Clermont. She became Duchess of Berry by her ...

. Through her father, she was a granddaughter of

John II of France John II (french: Jean II; 26 April 1319 – 8 April 1364), called John the Good (French: ''Jean le Bon''), was King of France from 1350 until his death in 1364. When he came to power, France faced several disasters: the Black Death, which kill ...

. Born at the château de Mehun-sur-Yèvre in the beginning of 1367, she was named after her paternal grandmother,

Bonne of Luxembourg Bonne of Luxemburg or Jutta of Luxemburg (20 May 131511 September 1349), was born Jutta (Judith), the second daughter of King John of Bohemia, and his first wife, Elisabeth of Bohemia. She was the first wife of King John II of France; however, a ...

Countess consort of Savoy

She was first betrothed to

, on 7 May 1372 with a royal dowry of 100,000 francs provided by her uncle. The marriage was celebrated on 18 January 1377 in the presence of the King, but Bonne did not move to Savoy to live with her husband until March 1381, when she was 14 years old. They had the following children: *

Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy Amadeus VIII (4 September 1383 – 7 January 1451), nicknamed the Peaceful, was Count of Savoy from 1391 to 1416 and Duke of Savoy from 1416 to 1440. He was the son of Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy and Bonne of Berry. He was a claimant to the papac ...

(1383 – 1439); married

Mary of Burgundy Mary (french: Marie; nl, Maria; 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482), nicknamed the Rich, was a member of the House of Valois-Burgundy who ruled a collection of states that included the duchies of Limburg, Brabant, Luxembourg, the counties of ...

. * Bonne of Savoy (1388 – 1432); married

Louis of Piedmont Louis (1364 – 11 December 1418) was the Lord of Piedmont and titular Prince of Achaea from 1402. He was a son of James of Piedmont and Marguerite de Beaujeu (1346–1402). In 1405, he founded the University of Turin. On 24 January 1403, he marri ...

. * Joan of Savoy (posthumously 1392 – 1460); married Giangiacomo Paleologo, marquis of Montferrat. After Amadeus' death in 1391 from tetanus, a regency dispute over their son

Amadeus VIII Amadeus VIII (4 September 1383 – 7 January 1451), nicknamed the Peaceful, was Count of Savoy from 1391 to 1416 and Duke of Savoy from 1416 to 1440. He was the son of Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy and Bonne of Berry. He was a claimant to the papac ...

ensued after her husband passed over Bonne in favor of his mother

Bonne of Bourbon Bonne of Bourbon (1341 – 19 January 1402) was a Countess of Savoy by marriage to Amadeus VI of Savoy. She served as regent of Savoy during the absence of her spouse from 1366 to 1367, with her son in 1383, and finally during the minority of he ...

, who became regent of the new count during his minority instead. As a result, the counts mother Bonne of Berry established herself with her followers in Montmélian, and his grandmother Bonne of Bourbon with her followers in Chambéry. This conflict, which was in danger of developing to a civil war, would only be resolved by an agreement, signed on 8 May 1393. The agreement was negotiated with the intervention of the King of France. In accordance with the agreement, Bonne of Bourbon signed over the lordship of Faucigny to her daughter-in-law. Bonne subsequently left her children in Savoy and returned to Berry in France to live with her mother.

Countess consort of Armagnac

Her second marriage was to

Bernard VII of Armagnac Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (1360 – 12 June 1418) was Count of Armagnac and Constable of France. He was the son of John II, Count of Armagnac, and Jeanne de Périgord. He succeeded in Armagnac at the death of his brother, John III, in 1 ...

. Their marriage contract is dated on 2 December 1393. They had the following children: *

Bonne of Armagnac Bonne of Armagnac (19 February 1399 – 1430/35) was the eldest daughter of Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac and Constable of France, and his wife Bonne of Berry. Marriage On 15 April 1410 at the age of 11, she married Charles, Duke of Orléans ...

(1395 – 1435); married

Charles, Duke of Orléans Charles of Orléans (24 November 1394 – 5 January 1465) was Duke of Orléans from 1407, following the murder of his father, Louis I, Duke of Orléans. He was also Duke of Valois, Count of Beaumont-sur-Oise and of Blois, Lord of Coucy, and t ...

. *

John IV of Armagnac John IV (15 October 1396 – 5 November 1450) was a Count of Armagnac, Fézensac, and Rodez from 1418 to 1450. He was involved in the intrigues related to the Hundred Years' War and in conflicts against the King of France. Biography Born 15 Oc ...

(1396 – 1450); married (1)

Blanche of Brittany Blanche of Brittany (1271–1327) was a daughter of John II, Duke of Brittany, and his wife Beatrice of England. She is also known as Blanche de Dreux. Through her mother she was the granddaughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Prov ...

(2)

Isabella d' Évreux Isabella of Navarre (1395 – 31 August 1450) was the younger surviving daughter of Charles III of Navarre and his wife Eleanor of Castile. She was a member of the House of Évreux. Early life and family Shortly before Isabella's birth, her mo ...

* Marie of Armagnac (1397 – died young). * Bernard of Armagnac (1400 – 1462), Count of Pardiac; married

Eleanor of Bourbon-La Marche Eleanor () is a feminine given name, originally from an Old French adaptation of the Old Provençal name ''Aliénor''. It is the name of a number of women of royalty and nobility in western Europe during the High Middle Ages. The name was introd ...

. *

Anne of Armagnac Anne of Armagnac, Dame d'Albret, Countess of Dreux (1402 – before March 1473) was a French noblewoman and a member of the powerful Gascon Armagnac family which played a prominent role in French politics during the Hundred Years War and were th ...

(1402 – bef. 1473); married

Charles II of Albret Charles II d'Albret (1407–1471) was a French magnate, administrator, and soldier. He was the son of Charles I of Albret and Marie de Sully. His father died in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt, leaving the younger Charles as lord of Albret and t ...

. * Joan of Armagnac (1403 – died young). * Beatrice of Armagnac (1406 – died young).

References

Sources

* * * 14th-century women rulers 1365 births 1435 deaths Countesses of Savoy House of Valois Regents of Savoy 14th-century French women 14th-century French people 15th-century French women 15th-century French people {{france-noble-stub