User:MKH223/Violant of Bar

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Violant of Bar (c. 1365 – 3 July 1431) was queen consort of Aragon by marriage to Joan I of Aragon. She was active in matrimonial politics and served as "Queen-Lieutenant" (regent) of Aragon as proxy of her spouse from 1388 until 1395.

Life[edit]
She was the daughter of Robert I, Duke of Bar and Marie of Valois. Violant was the eighth of eleven children. She was married in 1380 at the age of 15 to Joan, Duke of Girona, the heir apparent to the throne of Aragon, thus becoming Duchess of Girona and Countess of Cervera.

Her husband became King of Aragon in 1387. He was often ill, and Violant wielded considerable administrative power on his behalf: in 1388, she was queen-lieutenant and governed Aragon as such for seven years. She transformed the Aragonese court into a center of French culture. She especially cultivated the talents of Provençal troubadours (poet-musicians).

Violant died in Barcelona on 3 July 1431 at the age of sixty-six

Matrimonial Politics[edit]
Violant of Bar's marriage to Duke Joan was not well received by his father, King Pere III, who wanted Joan to marry his granddaughter, Maria, Queen of Sicily, to reunite the two polities. Joan refused to marry his half-niece, and in retaliation King Pere III and his wife failed to show up to the marriage ceremony and reception. Violant was chosen by Joan because he was a Francophile, and he used her as a political pawn as a way to strengthen ties between Aragon and France, and also as a way for the Aragonese crown to support the Avignon Papacy. She also had no real alternative to the proposal, as it was a guaranteed way to be protected and provided for, and she would still have contact with her family even if she had a low probability to ever see them again. Marrying Joan was also an opportunity for her to gain power as the wife of a duke (and later a king) and as a mother to children who would also have to be used in the game of matrimonial politics.

Despite having no choice of who she married, Violant played a big role in the marriage of her children, servants, and vassals. Monarchs had a hand in the marriages of their subordinates since anyone they were married to would be an ally in any potential conflict. Violant made sure the marriages were suitable to all parties, as she knew that if the marriages were suitable, then the political relationship would be strengthened through appreciation as well as marriage. She used her influence on treasurers dragging their feet on paying dowries, noble cousins to bless marriages, and even parties of the marriage on finalizing the marriage by threatening to withdraw from the union.

Within The Family[edit]
Violant took special care when arranging the marriages of her family members. In 1382, she writes to her parents to allow her to input her and her husband's thoughts before arranging the marriage of her sister. Since this is two years after Violant's controversial marriage, she wants her to marry someone in the Aragonese royalty so her family would get more prestige in the court. This marriage would also make the connections stronger between the families and between Aragon and France.

Juan I of Castile and Violant often wrote back and forth about the marriage. First in 1384 when the bishop of Osuna appeared in Aragon, sent by Juan to suggest the marriage of Juan's youngest son to Violant's stepdaughter, Joana Darcona. Knowing that the youngest son would never inherit the title of King, Violant told her husband that the marriages would not be reasonable, and the families honor would be at stake. Violant made a countersuggestion that Joana Darcona be married to Juan's eldest son, Enrique III. At the same time Joana Darcona's future was being negotiated, Juan and Violant were negotiating about her daughter, Violant of Aragon. Juan offered to have Violant of Aragon marry the youngest son of the duke of Anjou. As this was an identical marriage offer as with Joana Darcona, there was a counteroffer made that Violant of Aragon marry the eldest son of the duke of Anjou. Neither Juan nor Violant were willing to capitulate to the other, so neither wedding happened. Then in 1388, Juan wanted to marry Joan's sister to his brother Fadrique, duke of Benavente, to which Violant agreed.

In early 1389, The viscount of Rocaberti wrote to Violant with information that the duke of Turaine had become divorced. Violant responds to the viscount to start arranging the marriage of the duke and Joana Darcona. This marriage would fortify the already strong relationship between Joan and King Charles IV of France, which would then become inseparable. Unfortunately, Violant is unable to successfully arrange the marriage despite her best efforts.

There was an offer from King of England to marry one of their daughters, but it was never arranged due to Violant's loyalty to her cousin, Charles IV, who told her to not arrange the marriage because they are enemies.

In 1392 Violant brokered a marriage for Joana Darcona with Mateu, count of Foix and viscount of Castellbo, further strengthening the connection between Aragon and France. In the same year, Violant married her other daughter to Louis II of Anjou, who was the King of Naples. This put her in a position of political and strategic power as Queen of Naples.

Only one son of Violant and Joan, Jaume (James), was able to have marriage plans. Born in 1384, he was their only heir and named Dauphin at the age of four. The marriage agreement was with Carlos III of Navarre. Violant requested to have the Navarrian princess sent to her, which was refused. Violant then threatened to kill the marriage. Unfortunately, the Dauphin died in 1388