How did this political wedding ceremony play out?

When the marriage was agreed upon, my dear Amadeus was three years old, and I was three months! Even if we weren’t old enough to give our consent, that didn’t stop our folks (she laughs). After many patient years, a marriage ceremony took place at Chalon-sur-Saône on 30 October 1393. He was ten and I was seven… I didn’t move to Savoy until ten years later when I was 17 years old. A bride must leave them wanting more…

Weren’t things also delayed due to financial matters?

It’s true, there was the matter of the dowry – the money that a wife brings along with her when she marries (she sighs)… When you’re the daughter of the duke of Burgundy, it can be sky-high: 100,000 gold francs in my case. You can’t just hand over that sort of money from one day to the next. Papa had arranged to pay in four instalments, but it’s rare for dowries to be paid over time. Unsurprisingly, the accounts weren’t settled until 1434, 48 years after the engagement!

What sort of duchess were you?

My father’s court was pretty flashy. So, in the beginning I had to go full ‘Savoy’… People from the Alps are about as lively as monks mid-Lent! It was a nice surprise when the countship was elevated to a duchy in 1416. I was the wife of Duke Amadeus VIII! But don’t be fooled, that doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun beforehand. I was most proud of my little menagerie. At the Château de Ripaille, I installed a dovecote, attracting stags and ewes, even a cheetah! It was unheard of in Savoy! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep it for long, as it was too dangerous…

Was it love at first sight with Amadeus?

Yes and no. He was intelligent and alright to look at, but he could be so boooring. Religion was the real love of his life. My dear Amadeus was suuuuper religious. When it came to reproduction, he was only interested when he wanted an heir. Otherwise, not a peep. Despite not being the friskiest member of the court, he was rather kind. And we did grow close having lived together for 19 years. After my death, he didn’t remarry; that shows you what a good man he was, he just wasn’t very good at expressing his emotions. And, no, he didn’t wear underpants in the Savoy colours – sorry to disappoint you.

How did you spend your days?

My main task was to provide my dear Amadeus with heirs. I spawned nine, six of which reached the ‘age of reason’. You don’t realise how dangerous giving birth is! Pregnancy was what killed me in fact… But let’s talk about something more light-hearted. Papa gave me the very best education. He introduced me to falconry. Galloping after a hunting hawk, what a rush! I also loved music (she grins). Dearest Amadeus obviously loved religious music. He brought lots of singers and musicians to the chapel. I played the organ. Impressive, right? When I put my fingers to the keys, there was a guaranteed party in the pews.