Germaine de Foix became the second wife of Ferdinand, King of Spain.
The Queen apparently acted in an arbitrary manner towards Anne de Rohan, who clandestinely married a natural son of the house of Bourbon, and who, after a stormy scene with her royal mistress, left the court and was imprisoned by her father at a château in a forest until, hearing that her husband had married somebody else in Germany, she became the wife of her cousin, Pierre de Rohan.[313]
Cæsar Borgia had insisted on a wife being found for him, and the person so sacrificed was Charlotte, the youngest daughter of Alain d’Albret. His consent was bought by an enormous dowry from the Pope and a cardinal’s hat for one of his family. Five years later Cæsar Borgia was killed in a skirmish, and the Duchess de Valentinois, his widow, who was universally respected, retired in peace with her daughter to a castle in Berry.[314]
In April came disastrous news from Milan, which had revolted against the French, who now only held the fortress itself.[315] The King sent Louis de la Trémoille and the Cardinal d’Amboise immediately to take command, and the wise counsels of the one and the military capacity of the other so rapidly turned the tide that France was again victorious, Sforza was taken prisoner, “and thus,” says the chronicler, “was the duchy of Milan twice conquered in seven months and a half, and for this time the war in Lombardy finished.”[316]
Ludovico Sforza--Shipbuilding--Queen’s gardens--Library--Treasures--Dress--Betrothal of Claude de France--Archduke and Archduchess--Illness of King--Maréchal de Gié--Second illness of King--Queen in Bretagne--Second betrothal of Princess Claude.
Ludovico Sforza was imprisoned at Loches, at first rigorously, but afterwards with indulgence, being allowed books, paper, ink, cards, _paume_, &c. He died in captivity.
Louis had a project for the conquest of Naples, which displeased the Queen, by whom he was in most matters greatly influenced, and whom he called “_Ma Bretonne_.” She saw that these expeditions always caused disasters to France, and had much more sympathy with his desire for a crusade against the Turks, who had invaded Greece. Out of her own revenues she raised soldiers and sailors and had twelve large ships built in the seaports of Bretagne. The largest, _Marie la Cordelière_, of 2,000 tons, carried 100 guns.[317] Anne took the deepest interest in the navy, upon which she spent large sums, but managed her affairs so well that in spite of her princely generosity she had no debts but always plenty of money.