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Marguerite of France (born 1282)
Encyclopedia
Margaret of France a daughter of Philip III of France
and Maria of Brabant, was Queen of England as the second wife of King Edward I
, who was her father's first cousin.
, her half-brother King Philip IV
's wife.
Edward agreed and sent his brother Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster
, to fetch the new bride. Edward had been deceived, for Blanche was to be married to Rudolph III of Habsburg
, the eldest son of King Albert I of Germany
. Instead, Philip offered her younger sister Margaret, a young girl of 11, to marry Edward (then 55). Upon hearing this, Edward declared war on France
, refusing to marry Margaret. After five years, a truce was agreed, under the terms of which Edward would marry Margaret, would regain the key city of Guienne, and receive £15,000 owed to Margaret.
Edward was then 60 years old. The wedding took place at Canterbury
on 8 September 1299. Margaret was never crowned, being the first uncrowned queen since the Conquest
.
Edward soon returned to the Scottish border to continue his campaigns and left Margaret in London
, but she had become pregnant quickly after the wedding. After several months, bored and lonely, the young queen decided to join her husband. Nothing could have pleased the king more, for Margaret's actions reminded him of his first wife Eleanor, who had had two of her sixteen children abroad.
In less than a year Margaret gave birth to a son, Thomas of Brotherton
who was named after Thomas Becket
, since she had prayed to him during her pregnancy. That Margaret was physically fit was demonstrated by the fact that she was still hunting when her labour pains started.
The next year she gave birth to another son, Edmund
.
It is said that many who fell under the king's wrath were saved from too stern a punishment by the queen's influence over her husband, and the statement, Pardoned solely on the intercession of our dearest consort, queen Margaret of England, appears.
She favored the Franciscan
order and was a benefactress of a new foundation at Newgate
. Margaret employed the minstrel Guy de Psaltery and both she and her husband liked to play chess.
Margaret soon became firm friends with her stepdaughter Mary of Woodstock
, a nun, who was two years older than the young queen. She and her stepson, Edward, Prince of Wales
, the future king Edward II (who was two years younger than her), also became fond of each other: he once made her a gift of an expensive ruby and gold ring, and she on one occasion rescued many of the Prince's friends from the wrath of the King.
The mismatched couple were blissfully happy. When Blanche died in 1305 (her husband never became Emperor), Edward ordered all the court to go into mourning to please his queen. He had realised the wife he had gained was "a pearl of great price". The same year Margaret gave birth to a girl, Eleanor, named in honour of Edward's first queen, a choice of which surprised many, and showed Margaret's unjealous nature.
When Edward went on summer campaign to Scotland in 1307, Margaret accompanied him, but he died in Burgh by Sands
.
upon his father's death, since the title had been meant for her own son. She attended his wedding to her half-niece, Isabella of France
, and a silver casket was made with both their arms. Margaret retired to her castle in Marlborough after her coronation, but she stayed in touch with Isabella and her half-brother Philip by letter during the confusing times leading up to Gaveston's death.
She assisted at the birth of prince Edward
.
In 1318, she died in her castle at Marlborough.
, by this time a dower house
, and used her immense dowry to relieve people's suffering. Her saying was, "when Edward died, all men died for me". She died just 10 years after her husband, at the age of 36, and was buried at Greyfriar's Church
, Newgate
.
Philip III of France
Philip III , called the Bold , was the King of France, succeeding his father, Louis IX, and reigning from 1270 to 1285. He was a member of the House of Capet.-Biography:...
and Maria of Brabant, was Queen of England as the second wife of King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, who was her father's first cousin.
Early life
Her father died when she was only three years old and she grew up under guidance of her mother and Joan I of NavarreJoan I of Navarre
Joan I , the daughter of king Henry I of Navarre and Blanche of Artois, reigned as queen regnant of Navarre and also served as queen consort of France.-Life:...
, her half-brother King Philip IV
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
's wife.
Marriage
Three years after the death of his beloved first wife, Eleanor of Castile, at the age of 49 in 1290, Edward I was still grieving. But Edward decided that he would marry Blanche of France at any cost and sent out emissaries to negotiate the marriage with her half-brother, King Philip. It was much to Edward's benefit to make peace with France to free him to pursue his wars in Scotland. Philip agreed to give Blanche to Edward on the following conditions:- A truce was concluded between the two countries.
- Edward gave up the province of Gascony.
Edward agreed and sent his brother Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster
Earl of Lancaster
The title of Earl of Lancaster was created in the Peerage of England in 1267, merging in the crown in 1399. See also Duke of Lancaster.-Earls of Lancaster :...
, to fetch the new bride. Edward had been deceived, for Blanche was to be married to Rudolph III of Habsburg
Rudolph I of Bohemia
Rudolf I of Habsburg was Duke of Austria and Styria from 1298 and King of Bohemia and titular King of Poland from 1306 until his death...
, the eldest son of King Albert I of Germany
Albert I of Germany
Albert I of Habsburg was King of the Romans and Duke of Austria, the eldest son of German King Rudolph I of Habsburg and his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg.-Life:...
. Instead, Philip offered her younger sister Margaret, a young girl of 11, to marry Edward (then 55). Upon hearing this, Edward declared war on France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, refusing to marry Margaret. After five years, a truce was agreed, under the terms of which Edward would marry Margaret, would regain the key city of Guienne, and receive £15,000 owed to Margaret.
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
on 8 September 1299. Margaret was never crowned, being the first uncrowned queen since the Conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
.
Edward soon returned to the Scottish border to continue his campaigns and left Margaret in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but she had become pregnant quickly after the wedding. After several months, bored and lonely, the young queen decided to join her husband. Nothing could have pleased the king more, for Margaret's actions reminded him of his first wife Eleanor, who had had two of her sixteen children abroad.
In less than a year Margaret gave birth to a son, Thomas of Brotherton
Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk
Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk, Lord Marshal of England was the son of Edward I of England and Margaret of France.-Early life:...
who was named after Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
, since she had prayed to him during her pregnancy. That Margaret was physically fit was demonstrated by the fact that she was still hunting when her labour pains started.
The next year she gave birth to another son, Edmund
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent was a member of the English Royal Family.-Early life:He was born at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the son of Edward I Longshanks, King of England and his second wife, Margaret of France. He was 62 years younger than his father, who died when Edmund of Woodstock...
.
It is said that many who fell under the king's wrath were saved from too stern a punishment by the queen's influence over her husband, and the statement, Pardoned solely on the intercession of our dearest consort, queen Margaret of England, appears.
She favored the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order and was a benefactress of a new foundation at Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
. Margaret employed the minstrel Guy de Psaltery and both she and her husband liked to play chess.
Margaret soon became firm friends with her stepdaughter Mary of Woodstock
Mary of Woodstock
Mary of Woodstock , known anachronistically as Mary Plantagenet, was the seventh named daughter of Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile.-Early life:...
, a nun, who was two years older than the young queen. She and her stepson, Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, the future king Edward II (who was two years younger than her), also became fond of each other: he once made her a gift of an expensive ruby and gold ring, and she on one occasion rescued many of the Prince's friends from the wrath of the King.
The mismatched couple were blissfully happy. When Blanche died in 1305 (her husband never became Emperor), Edward ordered all the court to go into mourning to please his queen. He had realised the wife he had gained was "a pearl of great price". The same year Margaret gave birth to a girl, Eleanor, named in honour of Edward's first queen, a choice of which surprised many, and showed Margaret's unjealous nature.
When Edward went on summer campaign to Scotland in 1307, Margaret accompanied him, but he died in Burgh by Sands
Burgh by Sands
Burgh by Sands is a village and civil parish in the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England, situated near the Solway Firth. The parish includes the village of Burgh by Sands along with Longburgh, Dykesfield, Boustead Hill, Moorhouse and Thurstonfield....
.
Queen Dowager
Margaret was not pleased when Edward II made Piers Gaveston Earl of CornwallEarl of Cornwall
The title of Earl of Cornwall was created several times in the Peerage of England before 1337, when it was superseded by the title Duke of Cornwall, which became attached to heirs-apparent to the throne.-Earl of Cornwall:...
upon his father's death, since the title had been meant for her own son. She attended his wedding to her half-niece, Isabella of France
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, and a silver casket was made with both their arms. Margaret retired to her castle in Marlborough after her coronation, but she stayed in touch with Isabella and her half-brother Philip by letter during the confusing times leading up to Gaveston's death.
She assisted at the birth of prince Edward
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
.
In 1318, she died in her castle at Marlborough.
Issue
In all, Margaret gave birth to three children:- Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of NorfolkThomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of NorfolkThomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk, Lord Marshal of England was the son of Edward I of England and Margaret of France.-Early life:...
(1300–1338) - Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of KentEdmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of KentEdmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent was a member of the English Royal Family.-Early life:He was born at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the son of Edward I Longshanks, King of England and his second wife, Margaret of France. He was 62 years younger than his father, who died when Edmund of Woodstock...
(1301–1330) - Eleanor of England (4 May 1306 - 1311)
Later life
She never remarried after Edward's death in 1307, despite being only 26 when widowed. She lived out the remainder of her life in Marlborough CastleMarlborough Castle
Marlborough Castle, locally known and recorded in historical documents as The Mount, was an 11th-century royal castle located in the civil parish of Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire, on the Old Bath Road, the old main road from London to Bath...
, by this time a dower house
Dower house
On an estate, a dower house is usually a moderately large house available for use by the widow of the estate-owner. The widow, often known as the "dowager" usually moves into the dower house from the larger family house on the death of her husband if the heir is married, and upon his marriage if he...
, and used her immense dowry to relieve people's suffering. Her saying was, "when Edward died, all men died for me". She died just 10 years after her husband, at the age of 36, and was buried at Greyfriar's Church
Christ Church Greyfriars
Christ Church Greyfriars, also known as Christ Church Newgate, was an Anglican church located on Newgate Street, opposite St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. Built first in the gothic style, then in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren, it ranked among the City's most notable...
, Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
.