Margaret of France (died 1318)
| Margaret of France | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Queen consort of England | |
| Tenure | 8 September 1299 – 7 July 1307 |
| Born | c. 1279 Paris, France |
| Died | 14 February 1318 Marlborough Castle, Wiltshire |
| Burial | Christ Church Greyfriars, Newgate |
| Spouse | Edward I of England |
| Issue more... |
Thomas, Earl of Norfolk |
| House | Capet |
| Father | Philip III of France |
| Mother | Maria of Brabant |
Margaret of France (c. 1279 – 14 February 1318) was a daughter of Philip III of France and Maria of Brabant, was Queen of England as the second wife of King Edward I.
Her father died when she was three years old and she grew up under guidance of her mother and Joan I of Navarre, her half-brother King Philip IV's wife.
The death of Edward's beloved first wife, Eleanor of Castile, at the age of 49 in 1290, left him reeling in grief. However, it was much to Edward's benefit to make peace with France to free him to pursue his wars in Scotland. Additionally, with only one surviving son, Edward was anxious to protect the English throne with additional heirs. In summer of 1291, the English king had betrothed his son and heir, the future Edward II, to Blanche of France, half-sister to the French King Philip IV, in order to achieve peace with France. However, hearing of her renowned beauty, Edward decided to have his son's bride for his own and sent emissaries to France. Philip agreed to give Blanche to Edward on the conditions that a truce would be concluded between the two countries, and that Edward would give up the province of Gascony.
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 to marry Edward (then 55). Upon hearing this, Edward declared war on France, refusing to marry Margaret. After five years, a truce was agreed upon under the influence of Pope Boniface VIII. A series of treaties in the first half of 1299 provided terms for a double marriage: Edward I would marry Margaret and his son would marry Isabella of France, Philip's only surviving daughter. Additionally, the English monarchy would regain the key territory of Guienne and receive £15,000 owed to Margaret as well as the return of Eleanor of Castile's lands in Ponthieu and Montreuil as a dower first for Margaret, and then Isabella.
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