Anne was born in 1476 to Duke Francis II and Marguerite de Foix of Brittany, located in France. When she was 12 years old, she inherited the title of Duchess and was left to rule Britanny as the only heir. France posed problems by attempting to secure Brittany as part of French territory. So in 1490 Anne married Maximilian I of Austria when she was 14 years old.
The marriage was annulled in 1491 by the French, and their regent--surprisingly, another Anne--invaded and forced a surrender upon the Duchess. She complied, and married Charles VIII of France. When he died seven years later, Anne married his successor King Louis XII.
Her third marriage lasted. Anne spent her life working on keeping her homeland's independence and making sure her eldest daughter or second son from the marriage would inherit the duchy seperately.
(In the end, Brittany still became part of France. This occurred in 1532. Anne's daughter Claude had married Duke Francis I, and he then became King of France.)
Why I Admire Her
Anyone that devoted to her home and country deserves recognition. That is partriotism at work!