Henrietta Marla (1609–1669)

French-born queen of Charles I of England. Name variations: Henrietta Marie. Born in Paris, France, Nov25, 1609; died at Château St. Colombes, near Paris, Aug 31, 1669;buried in Church of St. Denis, near Paris; dau. of Henry IV the Great (1553–1610), king of France (r. 1589–1610), and Marie de Medici (c. 1573–1642); sister of Elizabeth Valois (1602–1644, who m. Philip IV, king of Spain), Christine of France (1606–1663), and Louis XIII, king of France (r. 1610–1643); m. Charles I (1600–1649), king of England (r. 1626–1649), on May 11 (some sources cite June 13),1625; children: Charles II (b. 1630), king of England (r. 1649–1685); Mary of Orange (1631–1660), princess of Orange; James II (b. 1633), king of England (r. 1685–1688); Elizabeth Stuart (1635–1650); Anne Stuart (1637–1640, died of consumption at age three); Catherine (1639–1639); Henry (1640–1660), duke of Gloucester; Henrietta Anne (1644–1670), duchess of Orléans.

During England's Civil War, played an integral part, using all her influence to try to aid husband's cause; moved from France to England at time of marriage (1625); acted frequently in plays in the English royal court; conspired with Catholic monarchs and the pope for aid to husband during English Civil War (1642–49); lived in exile in France until her eldest son was invited to restore the Stuart dynasty to the English throne as Charles II (1660); moved to England (1662); returned to France to the Château at Colombes (1665) and died there (1669).

See also Henrietta Haynes, Henrietta Maria (Putnam, 1912); Erica Veevers, Images of Love and Religion: Queen Henrietta Maria and Court Entertainments (Cambridge University Press, 1989); and Women in World History.