Saint Malo, home of the Duchess Anne de Bretogne (Brittany)
Although this card was never mailed it is technically a used card as it has a type written description on the reverse: “This is the home of the duchess Ann of Brittany in the 15th century.” The card has a divided back. Under the photograph is: “178 SAINT-MALO—Maison de la Duchesse Anne de Bretagne Fille de Francois II, duc de Bretagne, temme de Charles VIII, puss de Louis XII, elle donna la Bretagne à la France (1476-1514) Artaud et Nozals, Nantes. [“178 Saint Malo – Home of the duchess Anne of Brittany, daughter of Francois II, duke of Brittany. Under Charles VIII and Louis XII, she gave Brittany to France.”] The publisher/photographer is identified as Artaud et Nozals, Nantes. At the top of the picture is: “Côte d’Emeraude” or Emerald Coast.
The colors of the sea and shore were the inspiration for the name, Emerald Coast. It is located on the English Channel coast of eastern Brittany near Normandy, France. Saint-Malo is a walled city along this coastline.
Anne of Brittany was born on the 25 or 26 of January 1477, the daughter of Francis II, the Duke of Brittany. He was the last male heir of the House of Montfort. When he died in 1488, Anne, who only 11 years old, became the duchess regnant of Brittany, countess of Jantes, Montfort, and Richmond and viscountess of Limoges. Because Brittany was a strategic position, Anne had several suitors. When she was 12 she married Maximilian I of Austria by proxy, but was later forced to renounce that marriage by Charles VIII of France who saw that union as a threat. She eventually married Charles VIII in 1491 when she was 14. None of their children survived to adulthood. Charles died in 1498 and the throne passed to his cousin, Louis XII. Anne had to marry the new king. Louis XII loved her and she was able to reassert the independence of her duchy. Anne and Louis had two daughters.
It is thought that Anne learned to read and write in French and perhaps knew some Latin. She was raised by a governess and had several tutors as well as a butler and a court poet. Anne had a congenital displacement of her hips and as a result a limp. She had special heeled shoes to aid in walking more smoothly. She is said to have learned how to dance, sing and some music. Anne was a highly intelligent woman who spent much of her time administering the affairs of Brittany. She died at age 36 in 1514.
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Brittany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant-Malo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27%C3%89meraude
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