She was named for Saint Michael the Archangel after her father noted an improvement in his health after a pilgrimage to Mont Saint-Michel in 1393.

On 10 September 1419, Michelle's father-in-law John the Fearless was assassinated, with involvement from her brother, Charles (1403–1461), the new dauphin as a part of the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War.

The civil war was fought for power during the mental instability of King Charles VI (Michelle's father).

It has also been suggested that the Armagnac party wanted John dead to prevent a likely rapprochement between him and the dauphin, which could have diminished their influence.

In 1540, the abbey was destroyed on the orders of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, causing only a fragment of her tomb to remain to this day.