Jeanne d’Albret

Queen of Navarre

Born January 7 1528, brought up in the French court by her uncle King Francis I of France.

When she was 13 her Uncle forced her to marry a German prince. Jeanne was adamant against the engagement and twice wrote official protests against it. Even so she was eventually carried bodily to the alter and married against her will. She did not live with her husband for he went straight off to war and she retuned home.
Her husband the Duke soon turned against the French King. Her Uncle then “remembered” her protests and had the marriage annulled.

Around the age of 20 more suitors came including Antoine de Borbon heir to the French throne to whom she was married in 1548.

Living with her husband in France, (He now being the King of France and she now the Queen of Navarre) on Dec 5 1560 they openly declared themselves to be of the Reformed Faith. Antoine however, went back to Catholicism a little later.
Many tried to force Jeanne to go to Mass, others tried to kill her, so to escape this persecution she fled back to Navarre, returning later only to rescue her 13 year old son Henry so he would not be raised Catholic.

Jeanne and her son Henry fought for the Huguenots of France who asked the now 16 year old Henry to become a Huguenot leader, but the time was not right for that yet. Later though, one of the great Huguenot leaders (the prince of Conde) died in battle and the army began to despair. Gaspard de Cologney knew how respected Jeanne was and called her to come and help rally the troops. This she did with great success, putting forward her son and the son of Conde as new leaders. While all the Huguenot army was gathered around Jeanne made a notable speech, here is part of it:

“Soldiers, you weep. But does the memory of Conde demand nothing but profitless tears? No, let us unite and summon back our courage to defend a cause which can never perish.
Because Conde is dead, is all therefore lost? Does our cause cease to be Just and Holy? No, God, Who has already rescued you from perils innumerable has raised up brothers-in-arms worthy to be your leaders.
And I offer you everything in my power to bestow - my dominions, my treasures, my life, and that which is dearer to me that all – my children.
I swear to defend to my last sigh the holy cause which now unites us, which is that of Honour and Truth.”

She supported her son right to the walls of Paris where in 1570 the Huguenots forced the Catholics to make peace. This peace lasted only two years.

Jeanne died suddenly in Paris during the midst of her son’s marriage negotiations and did not live to see the conclusion of the wedding plans —or the brutal slaughter of thousands of Protestants on the 24 of August 1572 who had came to Paris for the wedding (This is known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre where an estimated 50,000 Huguenots were murdered throughout France)

Recognising the importance of Scripture, Jeanne funded the translation and publication of the New Testament in the Basque and Bearnese languages - and this throughout wars and unrest!

John Calvin said of her:
“She has banished all idolatry from Navarre and has set an example of virtue”

Phillip of Spain (one of her worst persecutors) noted: “She is too much of a woman to have as a daughter-in-law” But Jeanne was not afraid of him “I rely on God, Who is more powerful than the King of Spain”