Background
Margaret was born into the House of Dampierre, the eldest daughter of Archambaud VIII, Lord of Bourbon. Her mother was her father"s first wife, Alice of Forez, daughter of Guigues III, Count of Forez.
Margaret was born into the House of Dampierre, the eldest daughter of Archambaud VIII, Lord of Bourbon. Her mother was her father"s first wife, Alice of Forez, daughter of Guigues III, Count of Forez.
Margaret"s marriage lasted twenty years, during which she delivered seven children. Little is known of Margaret"s life as queen consort, until her husband"s death in 1253 brought her into the spotlight. Their son Theobald II of Navarre being 18 at the time could not, by the laws of the realm, become king until age 21.
Margaret, now queen dowager, became regent.
She immediately had to deal with a succession crisis in the kingdom. Margaret prevented the outbreak of an open rebellion by travelling with Theobald to the capital, Pamplona, and by allying with the neighbouring Kingdom of Aragon.
She also inherited her husband"s long-standing dispute with the Knights Templar, who had been buying lots of feudal property in Champagne despite his disapproval. Margaret resolutely prohibited them from acquiring any more land within the county.
King Theobald II reached the age of majority in 1256.
Number longer regent, Queen Margaret retired to her large dower lands, consisting of seven castellanies (as much as a third of the comital revenues), where she spent the rest of her life. She died in Provins and was buried at the Saint-Joseph de Clairval abbey in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain. Eleanor, died young Theobald II of Navarre Peter (died in 1265) Margaret, who in 1255 married Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine and bore him Theobald II of Lorraine Beatrice of Navarre, Duchess of Burgundy married Hugh IV Duke of Burgundy Henry I of Navarre married Blanche of Artois.