Marguerite (Margaret) of France was the fourth and last child of King Philip III of France, and was Edward Longshank’s second wife, although over 40 years his junior. The wedding was politically-motivated and negotiations included the return of lands in France which Edward had forfeited in an earlier military reverse.
Despite the perfunctory approach to the arrangement, Edward quickly discovered that his teenage wife was the embodiment of the qualities required for a royal marriage such as beauty, piety and virtue.
Less than a year after her marriage, on June 1, 1300, she gave birth to a son, quickly followed buy a second son and a daughter who did not survive infancy.
Margaret was fond of her Stepson Edward II, Prince of Wales, only five years her junior. Which turned out to be lucky for him, at least in the short term…
...in 1305, Margaret was instrumental in reconciling Edward I with his wayward son, whose dubious choice of friends enraged the King. It is fair to say that she managed to spare many of the Prince’s friends from the worst of her husband’s wrath.
However, this was to turn sour after the death of Longshanks: Margaret was furious when the new king elevated his favourite, Piers Gaveston to Earl of Cornwall, taking the title that had been meant for one of Mary’s own sons. As much as her husband before her, Margaret despised Gaveston’s influence over her step-son and eventually provided funds to the English barons who brought about his exile.
