The fate of Marie de Medici (1573–1642) is full of amazing ups and downs. The desire for power fought in her with maternal duty and the honor of a queen. She had to go through turbulent times: being the wife of Henry IV and queen regent for her young son Louis XIII, she ended her life alone and in poverty, moving from one country to another, becoming a hostage to her own son... How fair is it that her image stands alone in comparison with other outstanding women of History, the reader can judge. But we should not forget that France owes the Luxembourg Palace, the collection of paintings by Rubens in the Louvre, and, finally, high-quality plumbing in Paris to Marie de Medici... The book will be of interest to a wide range of readers.