Michelle of Valois was born on 11 January 1395 as the daughter of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. Not much is known of her youth, but in June 1409 she married the future Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (also known as Philip the Good). They had a single daughter named Agnes who died as a child.
She was described as “melancholic” after her brother, the future Charles VII of France was involved in the murder of father-in-law, John the Fearless. Upon his death on 10 September 1419 Michelle became Duchess Consort of Burgundy.
While her husband was away Michelle fell ill and died suddenly on 8 July 1422. Rumours remain persistent that she was poisoned. She was interred in St. Bavon in Ghent, but only a fragment of her once magnificent tomb remains there.
Her husband remarried two more times after her death. In 1424 he married Bonne of Artois but she died just one year later. In 1430 he married Isabella of Portugal with whom he had three sons, of which one would survive to adulthood, the future Charles the Bold. He also had at least 18 illegitimate children by various mistresses.
The St Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent can be visited but it’s currently under some construction.
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