Margarita of Navarre: biography of Henry IV's wife

History knows many famous and great women. Among them there are rulers, scientists, actresses, writers and amazing beauties. Margarita of Navarre did not do great things, but many know about her. In history under this name are known several representatives of the fair sex. Today we will talk about the first wife of King Henry IV.

Childhood and youth

Margaret of Navarre belonged to the dynasty of French kings. She was the youngest child in the family. Her mother is the famous queen of France and one of the most influential women of Europe of the XVI century - Catherine de Medici. Father - Henry II of Valois.

Since childhood, Margarita was noted for its beauty and charm. For this, she was nicknamed the pearl of France. She captivated not only a pleasant appearance, but also wit. Clever not by years the future queen studied literature, philosophy, medicine and owned several languages: Ancient Greek, Italian, Spanish.

Marriage

Parents presaged for husbands for Margarita one of several contenders: the King of Portugal, the Spanish heir and the future of the King of Navarre. Rumors of the bride's windyness destroyed the matrimonial plans with Spain and Portugal, and Marguerite was married to Henry Bourbon. Marriage was a forced political union, and no feelings of the newlyweds were forthcoming.

XVI century in France - the time of the struggle between Protestants and Catholics. Two years before his marriage, Margarita de Valois began a serious romance with Duke Henry de Guise. She was ready to marry him, but her parents forbade her to think about this marriage. This marriage could upset the delicate balance that was established between the two opposing groups, as the Duke was the unofficial head of the Catholics in France.

In 1572, nineteen-year-old Margarita became the wife of Henry of Navarre, one of the leaders of Protestants (Huguenots). At the time he was 18 years old.

"Bloody wedding"

Many Huguenots arrived in Paris, including their leaders. This was taken advantage of by Henry de Guise and his supporters. The event that occurred on August 24, 1572, went down in history as Bartholomew's Night, when Catholics attacked and killed Protestants who came to the wedding. Historians believe that the inspiration and organizer of this massacre was Catherine de 'Medici. Apparently, Margarita Navarre, whose biography is full of tragic and terrible events, was unaware of the plans of the mother and de Giza. Some researchers are even sure that the Queen of France hoped that her daughter would die with Henry, and this would give her additional trump cards in the fight against the hated Huguenots. But Margarita showed amazing courage and coolness. She did not allow her husband to be killed, refusing to go to divorce with him, as the family insisted. The Queen of Navarre saved several of his men. Whatever their relationship later, Henry IV never forgot who he owed to saving on that terrible night.

Margarita - Queen of Navarre: life under supervision

After the events of August 24, Henry was forced to flee Paris. Margarita remained virtually a hostage to her own family. She was suspected of helping her husband escape. And it was really so. Only after 6 years, she was able to reunite with her husband when a temporary peace was concluded between Protestants and Catholics. Until 1582, she lived in Navarre, where she created a brilliant courtyard. At the insistence of her mother returned to Paris, but after a quarrel with King Henry III, who believed that she was busy with herself and little help to the family in political affairs, Margarita went to Navarre to her husband. But Henry was already carried away by another, and the queen was out of work.

She went to her county, Agen. Margarita Navarre again began relations with the Duke de Guise and took part in intrigues against her husband and brother, King Henry III. The next 18 years she spent in the castle of Husson, in which at first she was not long a prisoner. With the help of the Duke de Guise, she gained freedom and became the mistress of the fortress.

Divorce with Henry IV and the last years of life

In 1584, Henry IV was crowned in Chartres Cathedral. After a quarrel with Margarita in 1585, their relationship was actually broken. The childless king had to take care of the heir. For great compensation, he obtained a divorce in 1599-m. Despite the fact that the relationship between Margarita and Henry in marriage was complex, after his death, the Queen of Navarre (this title was left to her) supported the second wife of her ex-husband, Maria Medici.

Margarita of Navarre, whose biography is extremely interesting, died in 1615 at an advanced age. Last years she spent in Paris and until the end she remained an active participant in the political life of France.

Margarita of Navarre and her image in art

In life, she was fascinated by beauty and wit, after the death of the biography of an amazing woman became an inspiration for many works of art. Margarita of Navarre (Margot) became the central character of the novel by Alexander Dumas senior. Her appearance here is highly romanticized, many of the facts of the biography are distorted in favor of the writer's creative intent or simply invented. But the image turned out to be unusually whole and alive. "Queen Margot" is rightfully considered one of the best novels of Dumas.