Valois

Valois, Dame Ninette de, 1898-2001, English ballet director, b. County Wicklow, Ireland. She was originally named Edris Stannus. After attaining distinction as a dancer, most notably in Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (1923-26), she became choreographic director of both the Abbey Theatre and the Old Vic Theatre in 1926, the year she founded the Academy of Choreographic Art. With dancers from the school de Valois established (1931) the Vic-Wells Ballet (later the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Royal Ballet), which she directed for more than three decades (1931-63). She also founded a sister company, which became the Birmingham Royal Ballet. She was a noted choreographer as well; her best-known works date from the 1930s and include Job (1931), The Rake's Progress (1935), and Checkmate (1937). De Valois did much to increase the prestige of ballet in England, and in 1951 she was made a Dame of the British Empire. She retired in 1964 and was named Life Governor of the Royal Ballet. She wrote Invitation to the Ballet (1937) and Come Dance with Me (1957).

Valois, royal house of France that ruled from 1328 to 1589. At the death of Charles IV, the last of the direct Capetians, the Valois dynasty came to the throne in the person of Philip VI, son of Charles of Valois and grandson of Philip III. The direct Valois line ended (1498) with Charles VIII; the dynasty was continued by Louis XII (Valois-Orléans) and, after his death (1515), by the Valois-Angoulěme line, of which Francis I was the first to rule. At the death of Henry III (1589), the house of Bourbon, descending from a younger son of Louis IX, succeeded to the throne in the person of Henry IV.

Valois, historic region, now comprised in Aisne and Oise depts., N France. Crépy-en-Valois was its historic capital. It is a rich agricultural area. A county and later a duchy, Valois was the appanage of the royal house of Valois, which succeeded the elder Capetian line (see Capetians) on the French throne. It was incorporated into the royal domain in 1515.

Medieval county and duchy, northern France. It corresponds to the southeastern quarter of the modern département of Oise, with an adjacent portion of Aisne. It was under the Merovingian kings (circa 500–751) and their successors, the Carolingians, until it became a hereditary countship. In 1214 King Philip II Augustus annexed it to the royal domain. The duchy's last representative, Henry III, was succeeded in 1589 by the house of Bourbon. In 1790 it was abolished in the redivision of France into départements.

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or Margaret of France French Marguerite known as Queen Margot

(born May 14, 1553, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France—died March 27, 1615, Paris) Queen consort of Navarra who played a secondary part in the Wars of Religion (1562–98). The daughter of Henry II of France, her relations with her brothers Charles IX and the future Henry III were strained, and she had an early affair with Henri, duke de Guise, leader of the extremist Catholic party. She was married in 1572 to the Protestant king of Navarra, the future Henry IV of France, to seal the peace between Catholics and Protestants, but days later the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew's Day began. Aware of her involvement in conspiracies, Henry III banished her to the castle at Usson in 1586. She granted her husband an annulment in 1600 and lived out her life in Paris. She was known for her beauty, learning, and licentious life; her Mémoires provide a vivid picture of France during her lifetime.

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Crépy-en-Valois is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located 57.8 km. (35.9 miles) northeast from the center of Paris (as the crow flies).

Crépy-en-Valois is one of the satellite towns of Paris.

History

Crépy-en-Valois was founded in the tenth century by the count of Valois and served as the capital of the Valois county and duchy. During the Middle Ages, the city raised with the Champagne's market. Then, the Valois and the town of Crépy-en-Valois were annexed by the monarchy and administration was given to a member of the royal family. During the war against English in fourteenth century, the town was destroyed.

In 1828, Crépy-en-Valois annexed the commune of Bouillant. In 1861, a railway station was built and the city knew an economic growth. During World War I, Crépy-en-Valois was near the battlefield. The population of the town increased after World War II because Crépy is located near Paris (40 miles).

Transport

Crépy-en-Valois is served by Crépy-en-Valois station on the Transilien Paris – Nord suburban rail line and on regional rail lines.