GERMANA DE FOIX: BIOGRAPHY, RELATIONSHIP WITH CARLOS I AND CARLOS V - HISTORY - 2025

Germana de Foix (Foix, France, 1488 - Valencia, Spain, 1538) is considered one of the most important historical figures in France and Spain, after Queen Isabel la Católica. De Foix was queen consort of Aragon and viceroy of Valencia, titles awarded by the marriage alliances she had throughout her life.

In large part, this was due to the political importance that his family had in relation to the French Crown. She is also remembered for the romance she had with Carlos I, the grandson of Philip the Fair, who later became Carlos V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

From the union of both, Isabel de Castilla was born, whom Germana used to call infanta, despite the fact that that title was not granted. Although some historians raised doubts about this relationship, documentation has recently been found that has confirmed this fact.

Biography

Germana de Foix was born in 1488 in Etampes, Foix, in France, being the daughter of Juan de Foix, count of Etampes and viscount of Narbonne; and of Maria de Orleáns, sister of Luis XII of France.

After the death of their father, Germana and her brother Gastón, came under the control of the king due to the debts incurred by their house over the years.

On the one hand, his brother Gastón was a candidate for Navarra thanks to the rights his father had over the Crown. However, Germana would go on to marry Fernando II of Aragon, after the death of Isabel la Católica.

The agreement managed to consolidate after King Louis XII of France signed the Treaty of Blois with Ferdinand II of Aragon, for the conclusion of the confrontations between both countries and so that the latter would not have to face future uprisings by Felipe el Beautiful.

Link for political reasons

There are historical records that affirm that Fernando himself emphasized on several occasions that their alliance corresponded exclusively for “political reasons”. At that time, Germana was 18 and Fernando was 54.

After the marriage celebrated on March 18, 1506, the figure of Germana began to be popular among the court for being a woman of great beauty, cheerful and for having unusual customs for the time.

In view of this, and despite the goals that Fernando de Aragón had on marriage, he tried to protect his wife from any man who wanted to get close to her, regardless of his intentions.

Descent with Fernando de Aragón

Thanks to her personality and the act of giving up her rights to the Crown of Navarre after the death of her brother Gastón, Germana managed to gain the trust of her husband, so he shared with her his duties as monarch until naming her as a lieutenant product of his long absences.

At the same time, Fernando de Aragón made sure to increase his sexual potency through concoctions in order to conceive a child. Finally, on May 3, 1509, the firstborn of the marriage was born under the name of Juan de Aragón y Foix who, however, died a few hours after his birth.

Seven years later, Germana became a widow due to the health problems suffered by Fernando who, according to historical records, died from the intake of herbs that promised to help him boost his sexual vigor.

From this point on, some important points in the life of Germana de Foix can be summarized:

- After the death of Felipe the Catholic, Carlos I is sent to Castile to care for and protect Germana, according to the requirements made in the will of his grandfather.

- Carlos I and Germana maintained a relationship until she married Juan de Branderburgo-Anbach, which ended the union.

- Carlos I named her viceroy and general lieutenant of Valencia. The mandate of Germana and Juan de Blanderburgo-Anbach is recognized as a repressive era with conspiracies, internal fights and confrontations with pirates.

- A short time later, Germana became a widow again, so she married Fernando de Aragón, Duke of Calabria. At this time it is estimated that Germana's characteristic beauty had disappeared due to a sudden increase in weight, but it is believed that her husband was always in love with her.

- He died in Liria in 1538, at the age of 49. Her body was transferred from Valencia to Valledolid at her request. However, despite the fact that her husband had complied with her request, she was again transferred to Valencia.

Relationship with Carlos I and Carlos V

Before dying, Fernando de Aragón made his grandson Carlos I promise to take care of Germana, because she would be exposed to an unstable situation from a political point of view.

Both met in Valladolid in 1517. At that time, Germana was 28 years old and the new king was 17. From that meeting, Carlos I assumed the responsibilities delegated by his grandfather, for which he took care of his grandmother promptly.

It is estimated that, after establishing some trust, they began to spend time together. There are even records where Carlos I organized banquets and tournaments in honor of Germana, and even had a passageway that communicated the residences of both so that they could see each other freely.

With the passage of time, an intense love relationship developed from which Isabel de Castilla is believed to have been born, although she was not officially recognized.

To improve the king's public image and remove doubts about their relationship, Germana married Juan de Branderburgo-Ansbachl, ending her relationship with Carlos I.

Later years

In 1519 Carlos I happened to become Carlos V of the Sacrum Germanic Roman Empire (also called Carlos the Emperor). By that time, his relationship with Germana de Foix had ended, although he tried to secure positions of importance for him.

In fact, thanks to his connection with Germana, Carlos V was able to improve his relations with the nobility of Aragon, especially at the time of making his rise as Caesar of the empire.

One of the records where the relationship between the two is affirmed is evidenced in Germana's will, where he leaves a pearl necklace to the "Infanta Isabel de Castilla, daughter of the emperor."

This fact was hidden for several years, although the reasons are unknown since Isabel de Castilla had died shortly after the rise of Carlos V.

Was he obese?

One of Germana de Foix's most exalted traits was her incredible beauty and sexual attractiveness. However, her weight gain occurred during her marriage to John of Branderburg, a fact that was documented in various historical records.

As a result of her overweight, Germana de Foix passed away due to complications from dropsy. So it is considered that Germana suffered from obesity.

References

1. Calderón, Monica. (sf). Historical curiosities of Carlos, King Emperor. Germana de Foix, the queen who was widowed twice because of sex. In Rtve. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Rtve de rtv.es.
2. Carlos I of Spain. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
3. Foix salads (Carlos I and Germana de Foix, the story of a passion). (2017). On RedMusix. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In RedMusix from redmusix.com.
4. Germana de Foix: sexual passion and power. (2016). In New Tribune. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Nueva Tribuna de nuevatribuna.es.
5. Germana de Foix, queen of hearts. (sf). In Spain Fascinating. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Spain Fascinante from espanafascinante.com
6. Germana de Foix. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
7. Queen Germana de Foix and her relationship with Carlos V. (2017). In Actually Notes. Retrieved: March 22, 2018. In Actually Notes from actuallynotes.com.