When Claude-Elizabethwas 15 the political situation in France started to change. Peace was coming with Spain. The two countries had been fighting over the lands of Navarre, Provance, Savoy, and the border lands of Aragon. Claude-Elizabeth's father, tired of the war, had entered negotiations with Spain's new king. Claude-Elizabethwas on the table, having recently become of a marriageable age. For the first time in 15 years, peace with Spain was an option, and the fifteen year old belle of the french court found herself the tenuous fiance of the 45-year-old King Phillip IX.
When the King had previously considered grooms for his eldest daughter, the princess was reported to have said, "Je n'accepterai pas moins qu'un prince, de préférence celui qui envisage de devenir roi."
"I wilt accept nay less than a prince, preferably one who plans to beest a king."
"I will accept no less than a prince, preferably one who plans to be a king." This was the first sign of the ambition and scathing wit that she would become known for.
Phillip had just ascended to the throne after his older brother, Ferdinand I had died childless. Phillip had two daughters from his first marriage to a Spanish noblewoman. One a few months older than Claude, Isabella, and one a year older, Maria.
7 months after Claude's 15th birthday and 5 after the start of negotiations Claude-Elizabethand Phillip were formally engaged. Two months later in 1563 they were married in proxy. The wedding was not what the young princess had surely dreamed of, the groom was not even in attendance. The ceremony, while elegant and expensive, was by no means lavish or queenly. Claude-Elizabethwouldn't even leave for Spain until all the troops were removed from the disputed territories.
Besides Claude's dowry, 250,000 livers at the time, (now worth about $95,974,285) the agreement left Spain with all of Navarre, split the duchy of Savoy in France's favor, and left France with Provence. Before the treaty Navarre was a semi independent state with a Queen of it's own. Part of ancient Navarre was already Spanish territory. The rest had three claims to it: the acknowledged Queen of Navarre, Jeanne d'Albert (a Protestant cousin of Henry II), the crown of France, and the crown of spain. The treaty giving the rest of Navarre to Spain was signed without input from Jeanne. Jeanne was an avowed protesent, something neither Catholic crown looked to favorably on. The Kings agreed to combine their forces, invade Navarre, execute the queen and imprison her 9 year old son.
In the time before Claude-Elizabeth left for Spain, France two queens with in her borders. This was a trying time for Claude, her world having tilted on its axis and being without support. She wrote to Hennrettia (currently away from court with her husband), "Je suis reine de mes terres, mais je m'agenouille devant ma mère. Je suis reine, mais rien n'a changé. Je doute que ma mère croie que je quitterai jamais cette dame et qu'elle soit égale à moi, et qu'elle laisse le pouvoir à High-Lone. Je suis une épouse sans mari et une reine sans couronne, ni royaume, ni cour. Je t'ai demandé de revenir, ma cousine, je ne sais pas à quelle heure je dois partir, et je voudrais te voir une dernière fois avant de quitter ces terres."
"I am queen of mine own lands, but I kneel to mine mother. I am queen but naught hath did doth change. I doubt mine mother believes yond i shalt ever leaveth and beest that lady equal did let high-lone hold power ov'r that lady. I am a jointress with nay husband and queen with nay coronet, kingdom, or court. I did bid thee to returneth mine cousin, I knoweth not at which hour I am to leaveth, and i shouldst like to see thee one last moment ere i leaveth these lands."
"I am queen of my own lands, but I kneel to my mother. I am queen but naught has changed. I doubt my mother believes that I shall ever leave and be her equal let alone hold power over her. I am a wife with no husband and queen with no crown, kingdom, or court. I bid you to return my friend, I know not when I am to leave, and I should like to see you one last moment before I leave these lands."
Claude-Elizabethwas sixteen before she would prepare to leave France. There was much to be done. The court would travel on progress to the border of Soule, the tip where Spain, France and Navvare all meet. They would stay at the Chateau Montalieu in Soule. All of the royal children were summoned to court to come on the royal progress. It took a slow carriage 8 days to travel the 410 miles between Paris and Soule but a fast one Only two days, if you traveled through the night. It took the court a month to reach Soule.
Claude-Elizabeth's younger siblings at this point are Louis, 8, Mary, 7, Elizabeth, 6, Antoinette and Francois, 5, and Marguerite, 4. The royal children would see the last part of the treaty enacted in Soule, the marriage of 18 year old Prince Charles, Duc d'Anjou and Orleans to 17 year old Princess Maria of Spain. The wedding of Charles and Maria, was more showy than Claude's had been. While politically, Phillpe and Claude's marriage was the cornerstone of the treaty, Charles and Maria's had all the pomp and circumstance of it. Not that Claude-Elizabethbegrudged her brother this, it was said she immensely enjoyed the week-long festivities that accompanied the couple's vows.
After two weeks at Soule the delegations parted ways. Claude, Elizabeth, Phillp and his courtiers left for Madrid and the royal palace while Charles, Maria, the rest of the royal family, and the french courtiers left for Paris.
As a sort of gift to Claude, Phillip left her in her care, Isabella, his youngest daughter. Claude-Elizabeth wasted no time getting the girl away from court. As she had learned from her mother and Louise, you ought to get rid of rivals before they even form. Isabella was one of the only people who could hope to rival Claude-Elizabethin any way. Claude-Elizabetharranged a marriage between Isabella and Hennrettia's half brother. Hennrettia, Marchioness de Verdana's father was the Duc de Epernon. After the death of Hennrettia's mother the duke remarried the daughter of the Duc de Brittany, a wealthy semi-independent French territory. That daughter, Priscille, was the Duc d'Britanny's only child. Upon the death of his grandfather, Christophe was to inherit Brittany. Christophe was second in line to Epernon after Hennrettia's older brother Édouard. His mother, Priscille had died in childbirth a year back.
The young Christophe was only 14. He would live on his father's estate at Epernon for several more years, in close contact with the loyal Hennrettia. Phillipe approved it and a letter was sent to the Duc who sent a reply back in the form of Christophe. The two were married and sent on their way before the group had even reached the court. Claude-Elizabethhad succeeded in getting rid of her biggest potential rival.
1-5 days was how long it took a carriage to reach Madrid from Soule. Claude-Elizabeth however decided to take a slow progress, to greet her new subjects. She took a month to travel the 248 miles to the Spanish court.