People Mentioned in the Heptameron

This section provides depth information about the people mentioned in the Heptameron. Marguerite the Navarre drew much of her inspiration for the stories from real life events involving the nobles and aristocracy of Europe, including some really scandalous gossip. Contemporary readers would probably have been familiar with the stories and have been able to identify the thinly disguised real names behind the characters and situations.

Many of the biographies of the historical personages mentioned or alluded to in the Heptameron are very interesting and deserve to be better known than the often abbreviated references in the text. Here we have assembled short biographies and informative articles concerning some of the more fascinating people whose lives are mentioned in this wonderful medieval work.

The Priests -- the unholy lecherous scoundrels of the Heptameron. Is Marguerite De Navarre an accurate portrayal or meant as social satire?

Francois Olivier -- the interesting life of a court favorite and political survivor

Brantome -- His history of the secret lives and love affairs of the French court touches on many of the same subjects as the Heptameron. His mother is believed to have been one of the women on which Marguerite based her characters.