Maria de Medici (1573–1642) had to endure turbulent times as the wife of the famous Navarre. After his death, she was declared regent under the young King Louis XIII and ruled the country for seven years, maintaining relative peace and tranquility. Her image was always somewhat shaded, veiled in comparison with other outstanding women of History. How fair this is is for the reader to judge. The story about the wife of the Great Rake and the mother of her august son, who besides him had four more children, will remind you that the powers that be in personal terms are not much different from mere mortals... The book will be of interest to a wide range of readers.