Mother to the most famous king of France, Louise of Savoy (1476-1531) played a major role in the monarchy’s politics, as well as in the intellectual and artistic life of the time. 

Daughter of Duke Phillip of Savoy and Margaret of Bourbon, in 1490 she married Charles of Valois, Count of Angoulême (1460-1496), the grandson of Louis of Orléans. As Queen Anne of Brittany had given birth to one male heir only, who died in 1502 after just a few days, Louise’s son, Francis of Angoulême, became heir to the throne. Francis I became King of France in 1515 whereas his sister Margaret later became Duchess of Alençon and then Queen of Navarre. A very proud mother, Louise of Savoy played a pivotal role at the start of the reign of Francis I, serving twice as Regent of France (1515-1516 and 1525-1526). The catalyst behind the coalition against Charles V, Louise of Savoy negotiated the "Ladies’ Peace" (Treaty of Cambrai) with Margaret of Austria in 1529, then continued to dominate French politics by appointing her loyal supporters to posts as advisers to the king.

Her taste for illumination, painting, tapestry and goldsmithery, as well as her interest in literature certainly influenced the artistic and architectural choices of Francis I.

The National Museum of the Renaissance at the Château of Écouen will be staging an exhibit devoted to Francis I, slated to open 14 October 2015.