Marie of France, Countess of Champagne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marie of France |
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Seal of Marie of France
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| Countess consort of Champagne | |
| Tenure | 1164 – 17 March 1181 |
| Born | 1145 Kingdom of France |
| Died | 11 March 1198 (aged 52–53) County of Champagne |
| Burial | Meaux Cathedral, Seine-et-Marne |
| Spouse | Henry I, Count of Champagne |
| Issue | Henry II, Count of Champagne Marie, Latin Empress Theobald III, Count of Champagne Scholastique, Countess of Mâcon |
| House | Capet |
| Father | Louis VII of France |
| Mother | Eleanor of Aquitaine |
Marie of France (1145 – 11 March 1198) was a French princess from the Capet family. She became the Countess of Champagne when she married Henry I, Count of Champagne. Marie was a very important woman in her time. She acted as a ruler, called a regent, for the County of Champagne three different times.
She was the daughter of two powerful rulers: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII of France. This made her sister to Alice of France. She also had many half-siblings, including famous kings like Richard I of England and John, King of England, and Philip II of France.
Contents
Early Life of Marie
Marie was born in 1145. Her birth was seen as a special event. When Marie was just two years old, her parents went on a long journey to the Holy Land for the Second Crusade.
Her parents' marriage faced difficulties. They had another daughter, Alice, but they really wanted a son to inherit the throne. Because they didn't have a son, their marriage ended when Marie was seven years old. Marie and her sister Alice stayed with their father, King Louis VII. Their mother, Eleanor, quickly remarried a powerful duke named Henry.
Marie's Marriage
In 1153, when Marie was about eight years old, her father arranged for her to marry Henry I, Count of Champagne. This was a common practice for royal children to form alliances between powerful families.
Before her marriage, Marie was sent to live in a special abbey. There, she received a good education, learning Latin. In 1159, she officially married Henry I, becoming the Countess of Champagne.
Marie as a Regent
Marie became a regent for Champagne when her husband, Henry I, left on a long trip to the Holy Land. This was from 1179 to 1181. A regent is someone who rules a country or region when the official ruler is away or too young.
While her husband was gone, Marie's father, King Louis VII, died. Her half-brother, Philip Augustus, became the new King of France. At first, Marie had some disagreements with her half-brother. However, they later became friends.
Sadly, Marie's husband died soon after he returned from his trip in 1181. This meant Marie became regent again, this time for her young son, Henry. He was not old enough to rule by himself.
Marie later retired to a nunnery for a few years. But she had to return to her role as regent one more time. This happened when her son, Henry II of Champagne, went on the Third Crusade from 1190 to 1197. He stayed in the Middle East and even married the Queen of Jerusalem. During Marie's time as regent, Champagne grew stronger and more important.
Supporting Writers and Artists
Marie of France loved books and poetry. She was a "patron" of literature, which means she supported writers and poets. Her court became a place where many talented people gathered.
Some famous writers she supported include Andreas Capellanus and Chrétien de Troyes. Chrétien de Troyes even said that Marie gave him the idea for his famous story, Lancelot: The Knight of the Cart. She also supported poets like Bertran de Born and Bernart de Ventadorn.
Marie could read and write in both French and Latin. She collected many books and had her own large library. Her half-brother, King Richard I of England, even mentioned her in a poem he wrote while he was held captive.
Marie's Death
Marie died on March 11, 1198. She passed away not long after hearing the sad news that her son had also died. She was buried in Meaux Cathedral.
Sadly, in 1562, her tomb was destroyed during a period of unrest.
Marie's Children
Marie and her husband, Henry I of Champagne, had four children:
- Henry II, Count of Champagne (1166–1197): He married Isabella I of Jerusalem.
- Scholastique of Champagne (1172–1219): She married William IV of Macon.
- Marie of Champagne (c. 1174 – 1204): She married Baldwin I of Constantinople.
- Theobald III, Count of Champagne (1179–1201): He married Blanche of Navarre.
Images for kids
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A robot icon, linking to a Spanish article about Marie of France for children.
See also
In Spanish: María de Francia (1145-1198) para niños
