Clementia of Hungary was born in 1293 as the daughter of Charles Martel of Anjou, the titular King of Hungary, and Clementia of Austria. In 1315, Clementia married King Louis X of France – his first wife had died imprisoned only four months before that. From that marriage, Louis only had a daughter.
Clementia was pregnant when Louis died in June 1316 and the court awaited the birth. If it was a son he would be King from birth. On 15 November 1316, Clementia gave birth to a son named John who immediately became King John I of France. Tragically, he would live for only five days and afterwards the throne was seized by Louis’s brother who became King Philip V. Philip refused to pay her the income that her husband had promised her and Clementia had to fight for it.
Clementia died in 1328 – still only 35 years old – and she left behind many impressive belongings and a detailed inventory was made upon which Medieval Art in Motion: The Inventory and Gift Giving of Queen Clémence de Hongrie by Mariah Proctor-Tiffany is based. It is a wonderful and richly designed hardcover with many beautiful photos of Clementia’s items. I am, however, baffled by the use of her name as “Clémence de Hongrie” in an English publication. The author uses all the name in French but gives no further explanation for her choice. I found it all very distracting. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it certainly an interesting angle for such an unknown Queen.
Medieval Art in Motion: The Inventory and Gift Giving of Queen Clémence de Hongrie by Mariah Proctor-Tiffany is available now in both the UK and the US.
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