Michelle de Saubonne

Michelle de Saubonne, Madame de Soubise (1485–1549) was a French courtier who served as lady-in-waiting to Anne of Brittany, as the Governess of the Children of France, and as the governess for the children of Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara. She was dismissed from her court duties due to being a Hugenot.

Michelle de Saubonne
Lady of Soubise
Born1485 (1485)
Kingdom of France
Died1549 (aged 63–64)
Saintonge
Kingdom of France
Spouse(s)Jean IV of Parthenay, Lord of Soubise
FatherDenis de Saubonne, Lord of Fresnes-Coudray

Biography

Michelle de Saubonne was born in 1485 to Protestant humanist and nobleman Denis de Saubonne, Lord of Fresnes-Coudray. She was raised in the Calvinist faith.

In 1505 she was chosen to serve as a companion of Anne of Brittany and was charged with taking care of the queen's jewels and linens.[1] She shared the role of queen's secretary with Hélène de Laval. She was instrumental in bringing Jean Marot to the French court, whose poems were admired by the queen. She also introduced the queen to other writers of that time, including Jean Lemaire de Belges. In 1508 she married Jean IV of Parthenay, Lord of Soubise.[2][3] She was Parthenay's second wife. He died five years later. Through her son, Jean V de Parthenay, she is the grandmother of mathematician Catherine de Parthenay.[4] In 1510 she was appointed by Louis XII to the post of Governess of the Children of France. As royal governess, she was in charge of the education of the king and queen's youngest daughter, Renée of France.

She was banished from court in 1515 by Francis I of France for apposing the annexation of Brittany to the French crown, her sympathy for the Reformed Church, and for her support for Anne of Brittany over Louise of Savoy. She left the court with her four children and lived at her home in Park-Soubise, where she taught them Greek and Latin and instructed them in Reformed Christian teachings.

In 1528 she was invited to the Court of Ferrara by her former pupil, Renée de France, who had married Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara.[5] She was appointed as governess for the two daughters and son of the Duke of Ferrara.[6] Renée de France and her children began practicing Calvinism, despite the Counter-Reformation taking place in Ferrara. Ercole II did not approve of French influence at his court and had all French nobles dismissed, including de Saubonne. She returned to France and lived in Saintonge. She died in 1549 in Saintonge.

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References
  1. Tanguy, Geneviève-Morgane (July 6, 1991). "Les jardins secrets d'Anne de Bretagne". Fernand Lanore – via Google Books.
  2. "Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothèques publiques de France : Départements". Paris : Plon, Nourrit & cie. July 6, 1893 – via Internet Archive.
  3. Marot, Clément (July 6, 1824). Oeuvres complètes de Clément Marot. Rapilly. p. 405 – via Internet Archive. michelle.
  4. Audiat, Louis (July 6, 1868). Bernard Palissy: étude sur sa vie et ses travaux. Didier et Cie. p. 155 – via Internet Archive. michelle.
  5. Schaub, Marie-Karine; Poutrin, Isabelle (July 6, 2007). "Femmes & pouvoir politique: les princesses d'Europe, XVe-XVIIIe siècle". Editions Bréal – via Google Books.
  6. Sanchi, Luigi-Alberto; Mondrain, Brigitte (July 6, 2006). "Les Commentaires de la langue grecque de Guillaume Budé: l'œuvre, ses sources, sa préparation". Librairie Droz – via Google Books.
Court offices
Preceded by
?		 Governess of the
Children of France
1510-1515		 Succeeded by
Charlotte Gouffier de Boisy


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