King of Navarre consort of Henry II Queen Marguerite

Born in Angoulême in 1492, she was the sister of Francis I of France and later became queen of Navarre through her marriage to Henry II of Navarre. Raised in a highly educated court, she became known for her learning, her sharp mind, and her influence in French cultural life.

She played an important role in the French Renaissance as both a writer and a patron of scholars and religious thinkers. She is best remembered for Heptaméron, a collection of tales that blends wit, moral reflection, and close observation of human behavior.

Marguerite de Navarre died in 1549. She was also the mother of Jeanne d'Albret and the grandmother of the future Henry IV of France, linking her not only to great literature but also to a major royal line in French history.