Margaret of Navarre

Margaret of Navarre

Born April 11 1492

Margaret was won to faith by the preaching of LeFevre around the year 1512

Margaret influenced her brother Francis King of France to protect Protestantism. Her influence went only so far, however, and he later banned reformed books and began allowing persecution, only putting a halt to executions when his sister Margaret was in Paris.

Margaret was able to secure the release of many preachers and Christian poets who were imprisoned for declaring the Truth of the Gospel.
One example of Margaret’s influence is with Berquin, a French nobleman and a vocal Protestant, he was arrested in 1523 then released at the request of Margaret. Two years later Berquin is once again in trouble and examined severely but he continued strong saying: “I will not yield a single point.” Again he was liberated because of Margaret’s influence. He was finally arrested in 1529 and this time none of Margaret’s efforts could get him released – he was put to death for refusing to agree with the Papists.

In 1527 Margaret married Henry the Catholic King of Navarre. He began to show disapproval of her practicing Protestantism and treated her harshly for her faith. When her brother (who was always very fond of her) heard of this he threatened war with Navarre. This made King Henry afraid so he promised to allow Reformed worship. Then becoming curious, he looked further into his wife’s beliefs and was soon converted from Roman Catholicism to the protestant faith!

Margaret died December 21 1548 praying that her children would continue working for Reformed freedoms.

Margaret’s prayer was answered in her daughter Jeanne d’Albret and Grandson Henry II.