She lived in the provinces both before and
after her marriage, in 1509, to her relation, Charles, Duke of Alencon,
who was older than herself by three years, and though a fair soldier
and an inoffensive person, was apparently of little talents and not
particularly amiable. The accession of her brother to the throne
opened a much more brilliant career to her. She and her mother jointly
exercised great influence over Francis; and the Duchess of Alencon, to
whom her brother shortly afterwards gave Berry, was for many years one
of the most influential persons in the kingdom, using her influence
almost invariably for good. Her husband died soon after Pavia, and
in the same year (September 1525) she undertook a journey to Spain on
behalf of her captive brother. This journey, with some expressions in
her letters and in Brantome, has been wrested by some critics in order
to prove that her affection for Francis was warmer than it ought to have
been--an imputation wanton in both senses of the word.
She was sought in marriage by or offered in marriage to divers
distinguished persons during her widowhood, and this was also the time
of her principal diplomatic exercise, an office for which--odd as it now
seems for a woman--she had, like her mother, like her niece Catherine of
Medicis, like her namesake Margaret of Parma, and like other ladies of
the age, a very considerable aptitude and reputation.
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