Michelle de Saubonne

She and Anne became best friends and, as she was dying, she asked Michelle de Saubon to be a mother and guardian for her daughter Renée, Duchess of Ferrara, from 1528 to 1536.

Renée's husband, Ercole II, was a Catholic and he resented having many French Protestants, also known as Huguenots in his court and diverting his wife's attention away from Catholicism.

Because of that and the conflict between the Protestants and Catholic peoples that reigned, she was dismissed from her court duties twice, the first in 1515 when Francis I of France had her ousted.

Michelle's influence in her and Renée's children's lives was significant, they were raised to be Protestants and they and fought against the Catholics for religious freedom.

[7] Saubonne ensured that her children received a good classical education, including the study of music, theology, and the Greek and Latin languages, as well as mastery of poetic songs.

As a royal governess, she was in charge of the education of the king and queen's youngest daughter, Renée of France.

Michelle de Saubonne was the governess to the royal couple's daughter, Renée, Duchess of Ferrara, from 1528 to 1536.

[15] Renée married Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara,[16] who was born into Este and Borgia families.

[17] When arrangements were made for her marriage, Renée stipulated that she would be bringing Michelle de Saubonne and her three daughters with her to Ferrara.

[20] For instance, the duchess welcomed John Calvin and Jean Marot to Ferrara[15][8] and the most influential people radiated around Michelle,[19] who was said by Guillaume Budé to be a woman of wisdom and important connections.

[23] Threats of violent treatment from Catholic husbands always posed a serious problem for women, and they frequently preferred to follow the reformed faith secretly within the safety of their lands or chateaux to lend support unobtrusively through offering patronage and protection to male leaders of the movement.The Duke of Ferrara went on a long trip to Rome in 1535, providing a peaceful and productive work-period at the court.

A fearless widow with an abrasive personality, she was gouvernante and the principal influence on Renée de France (Princess of the Blood and later Duchess of Ferrara), among others, and was twice banished from court for her religious views.