History knows many famous and great women.Among them is the ruler, scientists, actress, writer and amazing beauty.Marguerite of Navarre did not commit great acts, but they know a lot about it.In the history of this name known for some of the fair sex.Today we will speak about the first wife of King Henry IV.
Childhood and adolescence
Marguerite of Navarre belonged to a dynasty of French kings.He was the youngest child in the family.Her mother is the famous Queen of France and one of the most influential women in Europe XVI century - Catherine de Medici.The father - Henry II of Valois.
Since childhood Margarita different beauty and charm.For that it was nicknamed the pearl of France.She captivated not only good looks but also wit.Smart precocious future queen studied literature, philosophy, medicine, and spoke several languages: Greek, Italian, Spanish.
Marriage
parents away in their husbands for margaritas one of several contenders: the King of Portugal, the Spanish heir and future king of Navarre.Rumors about the frivolity of the bride destroyed matrimonial plans with Spain and Portugal, and Margaret was married to Henry of Bourbon.The marriage was forced political union, and about any feelings newlyweds out of the question.
XVI century in France - the struggle between Protestants and Catholics.Two years before her marriage at Marguerite de Valois began a serious affair with the Duke de Guise by Henry.She was ready to marry him, but her parents forbade think about this marriage.This marriage could upset the delicate balance established between the two warring groups, as the Duke was the unofficial head of Catholics in France.
In 1572, nineteen Margarita becomes the wife of Henry of Navarre, one of the leaders of the Protestants (Huguenots).He at that time was 18 years old.
«Blood Wedding»
the celebration came to Paris a lot of Huguenots, including their leaders.He took advantage of Henri de Guise and his supporters.The event, which took place August 24, 1572, became known as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, when Catholics attacked and killed Protestants come to the wedding.Historians believe that the inspirer and organizer of the massacre was Catherine de Medici.Apparently, Margaret of Navarre, whose biography is full of tragic and terrible events, was unaware of the plans for the mother and the de Guise.Some researchers even believe - Queen of France had hoped that her daughter would die together with Henry, and this will give it an additional trump card in the fight against the hated Huguenots.But Margaret has shown amazing courage and composure.It is not allowed to kill her husband, refusing to divorce him as the family insisted.The Queen of Navarre, and saved several of his men.Whatever their relationship later, Henry IV never forgot who he is obliged to escape that terrible night.
Margarita - Queen of Navarre: life under the supervision of
After the events of August 24, Henry was forced to flee from Paris.Margarita remains practically a hostage of his own family.She suspected that she helped her husband escape.And it was true.Only 6 years later she was able to reunite with her husband when he was awarded a temporary peace between Protestants and Catholics.Until 1582, she lived in Navarre, where she created a brilliant courtyard.At the insistence of his mother he returned to Paris, but after falling out with King Henry III, who thought that she was busy and a little help in the political affairs of the family, Margaret moved to Navarre to her husband.But Henry was already fascinated by the other, and the queen was out of work.
She went to his county in Agen.Marguerite of Navarre again began a relationship with the Duke de Guise and participated in intrigues against her husband and brother of King Henry III.The next 18 years she spent in the castle Yusson, in which at first was a captive for long.With the help of the Duke de Guise, she received freedom and became the mistress of the fortress.
divorce with Henry IV and the last years of his life
In 1584 Henry IV was crowned in Chartres Cathedral.After a quarrel with Margaret in 1585 their relationship was actually broken.Childless king had to take care of the heir.For the big payoff he got a divorce in 1599-m.Despite the fact that the relationship between Margaret and Henry were married complicated after the death of the Queen of Navarre (a title she was left) supports the second wife of her ex-husband, Marie de Medici.
Marguerite of Navarre, whose biography is extremely interesting, died in 1615 at the ripe old age.In recent years she spent in Paris until the end remained an active participant in the political life of France.
Marguerite of Navarre and its image in art
In life, she captivated the beauty and wit, after the death of the amazing biography of a woman became the inspiration for many works of art.Marguerite of Navarre (Margot) was the central character of the novel by Alexandre Dumas the elder.Look it is highly romanticized, many biographical facts are distorted in favor of the writer's creative plan, or simply invented.But the image has turned unusually intact and alive."Queen Margot" is considered one of the best novels of Dumas.
