MARGARET, the daughter of Woldemar III. king of Denmark, styled the Semiramis of the North: she succeeded her father in the throne of Denmark, her husband in that of Norway, and the crown of Sweden was given her as a recompence for delivering the Swedes from the tyranny of Albert their king. Thus
Margaret possessed of the three kingdoms, she formed the grand political design of a perpetual union, which she accomplished, pro tempore only, by the famous treaty styled the union of Calmar. She died in 1412, aged 59.
MARGARET of Anjou, daughter of René D'Anjou, king of Naples, and wife of Henry VI. king of England; an ambitious, enterprising, courageous woman. Intrepid in the field, she signalized herself by heading her troops in several battles against the house of York; and if she had not been the authoress of her husband's misfortunes, by putting to death the duke of Gloucester his uncle, her name would have been immortalized for the fortitude, activity, and policy with which she supported the rights of her husband and son, till the fatal defeat at Tewkesbury; which put an end to all her enterprises, the king being taken prisoner, and prince Edward their only son basely murdered by Richard duke of York. Margaret was ransomed by her father, and died in Anjou in 1482. See ENGLAND, n° 190.—198.