Yolande of Aragon was titular Queen of no less than four Kingdoms: Sicily, Jerusalem, Cyprus and Aragon. Her historical importance lay chiefly in her influence in France. Though not well remembered, she was the strong figure behind her son-in-law Charles VII and backed up Joan of Arc's rise.
Yolande was born in 1384, as daughter of the King of Aragon. Her maternal grandmother had also been a French princess of the House of Valois. Whenever her father was ill, her mother Yolande of Bar would rule as regent, setting an example for female rule to her daughter.
In 1400, the younger Yolande married Louis II of Anjou, who claimed rule of Naples, but only effectively ruled parts of it at times. After the death of Yolande's father and older sister, she would also claim rule of Aragon, but never got to wield power there.
At the start of the fifteenth century, the situation in France detoriated again. The King Charles VI, still had long intervals in which he didn't recognize anyone and was generally considered a madman. In the power vaccuum stepped his brother, Louis of Orleans, and cousin John of Burgundy. Soon at odds with each other, John had Louis murdered, causing further chaos.
Henry V of England saw his chance, invaded and beat the French army at Azincourt in 1415. Many of Yolande's allies were either killed or taken captive during this battle. Two dauphins died in quick succession. Henry's marriage to princess Catherine of Valois further strengthened Henry's claim and a treaty was signed that promised him the rule of France once Charles VI had died. Charles's eldest surviving son, another Charles, was said to be illegimate even by his own mother.
Charles stayed at Yolande's court in the south. Despite requests from his mother, she refused to hand him over and he married her daughter Marie in 1422. The English and their Burgundian allies retained power over Paris and large parts of France, even after the unexpected death of Henry V in 1422.
In spite of the seemingly hopeless situation, Yolande managed to have the Duke of Brittany switch sides to Charles. She was also quick to support Joan of Arc, who gave a huge boost to the morale of Charles's cause. Soon, Charles was crowned at Rheims as Charles VII. In the following decades, the English were pushed out, until they only retained Calais.
As Charles matured, she faced a power struggle with some of his advisors, but ultimately triumphed. Yolande died in 1442.
Portrayals of Yolande of Aragon in fiction:
- Rita Vake in play The Lark (1955)
- Geneviève Casile in series Catherine (1986)
- Faye Dunaway in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)
- Appears in The Queen of Four Kingdoms by Princess Michael of Kent (2014)
