Louise of Savoy 1476 – 1531

Biography

Born on September 20, 1476, in Pont-d’Ain, Louise of Savoy came into a world of nobility and privilege that would shape her remarkable life. She would become known foremost as the mother of King Francis I of France, a role through which she wielded considerable influence over the French crown and its affairs during one of the nation’s most transformative periods.

Louise’s life spanned fifty-five years, ending on October 2, 1531, in Grez-sur-Loing. Throughout her lifetime, she served as an important figure in the French court, her position as mother to the reigning monarch granting her both authority and responsibility in matters of state and family. Her dedication to her son’s reign and to France itself left a lasting impression on the royal household.

Upon her death, Louise was laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Saint-Denis, France—a final resting place reserved for those of royal significance. This honor reflected both her elevated status and the esteem in which she was held by the French monarchy. Her legacy endured through her son’s continued reign and through the generations that followed.