Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549): Mother of the Renaissance

by Patricia Francis Cholakian, Rouben Cholakian

Sister to the king of France, queen of Navarre, gifted writer, religious reformer, and patron of the arts―in her many roles, Marguerite de Navarre (1492-1549) was one of the most important figures of the French Renaissance. In this, the first major biography in English, Patricia F. Cholakian and Rouben C. Cholakian draw on her writings to provide a vivid portrait of Marguerite's public and private life. Freeing her from the shadow of her brother François I, they recognize her immense influence on French politics and culture, and they challenge conventional views of her family relationships.

The authors highlight Marguerite's considerable role in advancing the cause of religious reform in France-her support of vernacular translations of sacred works, her denunciation of ecclesiastical corruption, her founding of orphanages and hospitals, and her defense and protection of persecuted reformists. Had this plucky and spirited woman not been sister to the king, she would most likely have ended up at the stake. Though she remained a devout catholic, her theological poem Miroir de l'âme pécheresse , a mystical summa of evangelical doctrine that was viciously attacked by conservatives, remains to this day an important part of the Protestant corpus.

Marguerite, along with her brother the king, was a key architect and animator of the refined entertainments that became the hallmark of the French court. Always eager to encourage new ideas, she supported many of the illustrious writers and thinkers of her time. Moreover, uniquely for a queen, she was herself a prolific poet, dramatist, and prose writer and published a two-volume anthology of her works. In reassessing Marguerite's enormous oeuvre, the authors reveal the range and quality of her work beyond her famous collection of tales, posthumously called the Heptaméron .

The Cholakians' groundbreaking reading of the rich body of her work, which uncovers autobiographical elements previously unrecognized by most scholars, and their study of her surviving correspondence portray a life that fully justifies Marguerite's sobriquet, "Mother of the Renaissance."

Genres: Biography, France, History, Renaissance

450 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2005

Reviews

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#60

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tough book to come by - I ordered it on Amazon in March 2025, but didn't receive it (I was told 2 day shipping) until December 2025. For the $70 something it cost, I could have received it quicker having it republished myself!

This was a beautiful and comprehensive summary of Marguerite de Navarre's life. Contrary to the other review (as of this writing), I appreciated the frequent references to the Heptameron. Once the night of the placards and the damage done, Marguerite turned to fiction to communicate biography and profound and critical theological commentary through prose. I just received that 5 volume set and very much looking forward to working through that.

This is my first biography of Marguerite. I have H. Noel William's (1916), "The Pearl of Princesses" on the ready to compliment this work of Cholakian.

Chapters
1. Mother of the Renaissance
- to understand Marguerite, you have to read her Heptameron, her fictional works that have an auto-biographical element
2. Education of a Lady (1492–1515)
- Marguerite's early years, her mom Louise's upbringing, and then later a widow. Marguerite's unconventional education, her brother Francois' uncertain movement toward the french throne
3. Queen in All but Name (1515–1520)
- Her bro's accession to the french throne, Marguerite's central role, more like the queen than Francois' wife Claude (poor Claude). This chapter is a testament to her resilience.
4. The Bishop of Meaux (1521–1524)
- 123 letters between Maguerite and Guillaume Briconnet, secret correspondence. The fact that we have these letters is pretty wild. The Meux Circle (Farrell!)
5. Envoy Extraordinary (1524–1526)
- The king is taken captive. God must have done this because of the reformation.
6. Queen of Navarre (1526–1533)
- Francis returns from Spain (thanks Marguerite) Francis finds a new girlfriend (and Marguerite's friend). Treaty of Madrid - Burgundy goes to the Emperor (or not, but Francis gets out based upon this promise). Henry the 8th is on the list, but Marguerite chooses Henri of Navarre. Henri was also imprisoned in Spain, but escaped on his own. Most of Navarre had previously been conquered by Spain. The deal - Henri gets the King's sister (and a powerful influence) and Francis gets a powerful state on the border. Henri not exactly faithful. Navarre is a world of paper - radically different (and not in a good way). Marguerite's inclination to be part of the reforming movement. 1531, she published the Mirror of the Sinful Soul. She loses her second born (and first son). Louise is dying.
7. Politics and Religion (1534–1539)
- The night of the placards. The King's bedroom door. Daughter Jeane d'Albret under House arrest to prevent Spanish marriage. The Plato project. Marguerite turns to fiction to communicate the deep stuff. The Heptameron. Marguerite the naturopath, garlic, onions and water.
8. Courtly Love—and Marriage (1539–1543)
- Jeanne d'Albret (daughter, 1st born). Francis takes Emperor Charles on a tour. Marguerite is trying to advocate for Navarre. Constable Montmorenci, he can't control Marguerite, so Montmorenci brands her as a heretic. Jeanne becomes a political tool. Jeanne's marriage later annulled as Marguerite planned. Massacre of the Waldensians, authorized by Francis, Marguerite is horrified. Jeanne d'Albret a force of nature at 12. Francis suffering miserably (from syphilis, bad life choices). Calvin calls Marguerite out through a letter, criticizing her for harboring dogs.
9. And Then There Was One (1543–1547)
- Marguerite advances her poetry. Elaboration on characters in her Heptameron.
10. Pearls from the Pearl of Princesses (1547–1549)
- Marguerite means "pearl" or "daisy". Publishing permission 2 days prior Francis dies (nice timing). Henri the second, not a fan of Marguerite. Henri II blames her for the past (he and brother were sent to Spain as hostages to save Francis and now it's payback). Marguerite now has to beg. Domestic tension at home with husband and daughter. Jeanne is very rebellious. Jeanne forced to marry a french prince (versus a Spanish alliance to rescue Navarre). Jeanne loves her husband Antoine.

[Melisende · Rating 2 out of 5]

This much-promising biography took me ages to get through as my attention waxed and waned considerably. I was hoping for a straight-forward biography but was disappointed when found it to be interspersed with "how Marguerite came to write the Heptameron".