The family gathered in Brussels to celebrate Christmas in December 1531 with Emperor Charles. Dorothea sat next to her illustrious uncle during the festivities. Two weeks later, Emperor Charles left Brussels and took John with him on his trip to Regensburg, where the Imperial Diet was set to open in May. The weather proved to be quite terrible, and many fell ill, including the Emperor and Prince John. Charles left town to take the waters and returned to find John delirious with a fever. The doctors soon gave up all hope, and Charles left again, saying he could not bear to see him die.1 John fell into unconsciousness and died in the early hours of 11 August 1532. He was only 14 years old.
Charles wrote Mary to inform her of John’s death and added, “I am writing to my little nieces, as you see, to comfort them. I am sure that you will try and do the same. The best remedy will be to find them two husbands.”2 Dorothea and Christina were still young, but their future marriages had already been under discussion for some time.
A suitor came forward in the form of Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan, who was 27 years older than Isabella. He was initially looking for the hand of her elder sister, Dorothea, who had inherited their brother’s claims, but he was told that she was promised to the King of Scots. On 10 June 1533, the wedding contract was signed by Emperor Charles, as their father was imprisoned following his attempt at regaining his kingdoms. Their aunt Mary was horrified that Christina was to marry so young and wrote to her brother, “Monseigneur, since the words of the treaty clearly show that the marriage is to be consummated immediately, and she will have her departure without delay, I must point out that she is not old enough for this, being only eleven and a half, and I hold that it would be contrary to the laws of God and reason to marry her at so tender an age.”3 Charles was not impressed and wrote back, “As for the question of issue, I fear the Duke’s advanced years will prove a greater barrier than my niece’s tender youth.”4 Nevertheless, Mary was determined to delay the wedding as long as possible, and she got her way.
The proxy wedding took place on 28 September 1533, and the ambassador for the Duke of Milan later wrote, “She is hardly shorter than her sister, and much handsomer and more graceful, and is indeed as well built and attractive a maid as you could wish to see. God grant this may lead to a happy marriage!”5 Mary refused to set a date for Christina’s departure and would not even consider letting her travel during the winter months. Eventually, Christina set out on 11 March 1534 in a black velvet litter drawn by four horses.
Francesco rode ahead to surprise Christina before her official entry into Milan. He showed her every kindness, but she would have noticed his walking stick and grey hair. On 3 May, Christina made her official entry into Milan, and she was welcomed by her husband’s half-brother. Christina was a vision in a white brocade gown and a long veil over her flowing hair, sitting on a white horse. One chronicler proclaimed her “a vision more divine than human.”6 The following day, the in-person wedding took place in the hall of the Rocchetta. Christina wrote to Dorothea, “We are as happy and contented as possible.”7
Christina soon won the hearts of the people, and her husband showered her with kindness. However, his health had been a concern for some time, and he suffered from catarrh and recurring fevers that often left him confined to his bed. In September 1535, Francesco again fell ill with a fever, and he lost the use of most of his limbs. He steadily became worse throughout September and October, and it became clear that he wasn’t going to survive. Christina was by his side until the end. He died on 2 November 1535. Christina was now a 13/14-year-old widow after just 18 months of marriage. Almost immediately, Christina was back on the marriage market, and new suitors were being discussed for the “little widow of Milan.”8
Suitors included the Prince of Piedmont, who died in 1536, and the future Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans. Emperor Charles wanted to “find a noble and suitable husband for our niece, the Widow of Milan, who is to us almost a daughter, and who has always shown herself so discreet and so obedient to our wishes.”9 Christina briefly met her uncle at Pavia the following May. Otherwise, she remained in Milan and solemnly remembered the first anniversary of her husband’s death in November 1536. At the end of the year, Christina was conducted to Pavia on the Emperor’s orders. She remained there for a few months and fell ill there with a fever during the summer months. By the end of August, her recovery was reported.
Emperor Charles wanted Christina to return to his sister in Flanders, and plans were finally finalised in October. On 15 October, the widowed Duchess left Pavia, and she travelled by way of Heidelberg, where her sister Dorothea lived with her husband, Frederick. Christina was magnificently entertained with banquets, jousts and dances. They had so much that Christina was invited to stay over for Christmas. However, Mary demanded that Christina return to Flanders as quickly as possible, and so the sisters parted ways again. On 8 December 1537, Christina once more set foot in the palace she had grown up in.
Part three coming soon.
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.36-37
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.37
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.42
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.43
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.44
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.49
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.52
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.62
- Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590 by Julia Cartwright p.63
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