Margaret of Provence
| Margaret of Provence | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Queen consort of France | |
| Tenure | 27 May 1234 – 25 August 1270 |
| Coronation | 28 May 1234 |
| Born | Spring 1221 Forcalquier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence |
| Died | 20 December 1295 (aged 74) Paris |
| Burial | Saint Denis Basilica |
| Spouse | Louis IX of France |
| Issue among others... |
Isabella, Queen of Navarre Louis of France Philip III of France John Tristan, Count of Valois Peter, Count of Perche Blanche, Infanta of Castile Margaret, Duchess of Brabant Robert, Count of Clermont Agnes, Duchess of Burgundy |
| House | Barcelona |
| Father | Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence |
| Mother | Beatrice of Savoy |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Margaret of Provence (1221 – 20 December 1295) was Queen of France as the wife of King Louis IX.
Margaret was born in the spring of 1221 in Forcalquier. She was the eldest of four daughters of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence, and Beatrice of Savoy. Her younger sisters were Queen Eleanor of England, Queen Sanchia of Germany, and Queen Beatrice of Sicily. She was especially close to Eleanor, to whom she was close in age, and with whom she sustained friendly relationships until they grew old.
In 1233, Blanche of Castile sent one of her knights to Provence, partly to offset the troublesome Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse, and partly to meet Margaret, whose grace and beauty were widely reported. Margaret and her father entertained the knight well, and soon Blanche was negotiating with the count of Provence, so that his daughter might marry the king. Margaret was chosen as a good match for the king more for her religious devotion and courtly manner than her beauty. She was escorted to Lyon by her parents for the marriage treaty to be signed. From there, she was escorted to her wedding in Sens by her uncles from Savoy, William and Thomas. On 27 May 1234 at the age of thirteen, Margaret became wife of Louis IX of France and queen consort of France. She was crowned the following day. The wedding and her coronation as queen were celebrated at the cathedral of Sens.
The marriage was a difficult one in numerous aspects. Blanche still wielded strong influence over her son, and would throughout her life. As a sign of her authority, shortly after the wedding Blanche dismissed Margaret's uncles and all of the servants she had brought with her from her childhood. Margaret resented Blanche and vice versa from the beginning.
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