3-098-911 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Treaty of Cambrai, 1871. Margaret of Austria and Louise of Savoy signing the treaty that ended the aspirations of King Francis I of France over Italy, among other economic and territorial concessions included in the agreement. Modesto Lafuente's General History of Spain recounts the signing of the peace in these terms: "Having agreed to meet in Cambrai, they alone, without intermediaries, without noise, and without ceremonies or formalities, held their conferences aimed at such a laudable end. These were Margaret of Austria, widow of Savoy, aunt of the emperor, and Louise of Savoy, mother of Francis I of France [...] Their friendly negotiations resulted in the Peace of Cambrai (August 5, 1529), also known as the Ladies' Peace." The participation of two women in this process was seen both as a picturesque historical exception and as an edifying example of the role that women began to assume in the political development of the 19th century.