By Charles, Count of Angoulême, came from an illustrious family. His great grandfather was French King Charles V and his father was Jean, the younger brother of the celebrated poet/prince Charles, Duke of Orleans. This made him the cousin of Louis, the Duke d’Orleans.
When King Louis XI died, his son and heir was only twelve years old when he became King Charles VIII. His elder sister, Anne de Beaujeu, was acting as Regent. Louis d’Orleans decided to challenge her authority. Charles d’Angoulême joined his cousin Louis d’Orleans in a rebellion known as the “Mad War”. Unfortunately for the two cousins, Anne de Beaujeu won the day. Louis was imprisoned and Charles returned to his land.
He lived there with Antoinette de Polignac, a woman from a prestigious local family. Their affair did not stop Charles’ roving eye and he also fell for Jeanne Comte (Leconte?), a pretty young commoner. The two women lived in, sharing Charles.
His domestic bliss was threatened when the King’s sister Anne decided to arrange his marriage with Louise of Savoy. Being in disgrace, Charles did not have the option to refuse. It must have come as a pleasant surprise to find his very young bride (under 12 at the time of the marriage – Charles was 28) did not seem shocked by his domestic arrangements.
Just over a year after François’ birth, his father’s easy life with the three women and five children came to an abrupt end. Charles d’Angoulême had been hunting in freezing conditions and he died from a resulting chill at the age of 36. It was New Years Day 1496. He had no idea that nineteen years later – to the day – his baby son would become King of France.
Charles’ unexpected death left Louise a widow at 19. She had no intention of remarrying, nor did she even consider evicting her husband’s two mistresses and their children. Louise kept the unusual household together at the château of Cognac where she took great care with the education of her children. Her late husband had been as interested in books as women and they had an impressive collection for the time.
François was surrounded by two generations of women, all of whom adored him. It was a situation he would always enjoy and find perfectly normal.