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
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 {{link=Saint Bartholomew's Day, 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.