Queen Marcia facts for kids

Queen Marcia was a legendary queen from ancient British history. She is known as the third female ruler and a regent for her son. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule themselves. Her story comes from an old book by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who described her as a very famous and respected woman in early British history.

The Story of Queen Marcia

Marcia became a queen when she married King Guithelin. After Guithelin passed away, Marcia became the ruler of Britain. Their son, Sisillius II, was only seven years old at the time, so Queen Marcia ruled as his regent for about five years. She was known for being a very smart and educated noblewoman, skilled in many different areas.

The Marcian Laws

Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote that Queen Marcia was a very wise woman who created a set of laws. These laws were called the Lex Martiana, or the Marcian Laws. Much later, a famous king named Alfred the Great translated these laws into Old English. He thought they were named after the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, but they were actually from Queen Marcia. These laws became an important part of the legal system in that time.

End of Her Rule

Queen Marcia's rule as regent ended when she passed away. Her son, Sisillius II, then became king around 358 BC.