Louis XII of France & Joan of Valois
A king annulled his marriage by claiming his wife was too ugly to consummate -- then she became a saint.
Key Facts
What Happened
In 1476, the young Duke of Orleans (later King Louis XII) was forced by King Louis XI to marry the king's daughter, Joan of France. The marriage was a political tool -- Louis XI wanted to ensure the Orleans branch could not produce heirs who might challenge the throne. Joan was described by contemporaries as physically frail and possibly suffering from a spinal deformity, though the severity has been debated by historians.
When Louis XII ascended to the French throne in 1498, he immediately sought to annul his marriage to Joan so he could marry Anne of Brittany, the widow of the previous king. Marrying Anne would reinforce France's claim to the strategically vital Duchy of Brittany. The annulment proceedings were described by historians as 'one of the seamiest lawsuits of the age.'
Louis claimed that Joan was so physically malformed that he had been unable to consummate the marriage, and that he had been coerced into the union by Louis XI. Joan fought fiercely, producing witnesses who testified to Louis's own boast of having 'mounted my wife three or four times during the night.' Louis then pivoted to claiming that his sexual performance had been 'inhibited by witchcraft.' Pope Alexander VI, who had his own political reasons to support Louis, granted the annulment on December 15, 1498.
Joan was made Duchess of Berry and retired to Bourges, where she founded the religious Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She died in 1505 and was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Her story is one of history's most striking examples of how a woman demonized in divorce proceedings can ultimately be vindicated -- though it took 450 years.
Legal Breakdown: Forced marriage and annulment on false pretenses
Annulment Based on Coercion
The primary legal basis for the annulment was that Louis had been forced to marry by King Louis XI. Coercion remains a valid ground for annulment in both civil and religious law. If you were pressured, threatened, or forced into a marriage, you may have grounds for annulment rather than divorce, which can have different legal and financial implications.
False and Humiliating Claims in Proceedings
Louis's claims about Joan's physical appearance and his allegations of witchcraft were humiliating and largely false. In modern divorce proceedings, false allegations about a spouse's physical or mental condition can constitute defamation and may result in sanctions. Courts increasingly penalize parties who make baseless claims designed to humiliate.
Political Influence on Judicial Outcomes
Pope Alexander VI had clear political motivations for supporting Louis's annulment, compromising the impartiality of the proceedings. While modern judicial systems have stronger independence protections, the influence of wealth, power, and connections on divorce outcomes remains a concern, particularly in jurisdictions with elected judges.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you were coerced into marriage, annulment may be available and may have different implications than divorce.
- →False and humiliating claims in divorce proceedings can backfire -- courts penalize dishonesty.
- →The truth often emerges eventually, even if the initial proceedings seem unfair -- maintain your integrity.
- →A powerful opponent can influence legal outcomes, but a skilled attorney can help level the playing field.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.