Marguerite de Provence at The Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

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Margaret of Provence (1221 – 20 December 1295) was a fearless Queen of France as the wife of King Louis IX. Margaret boldly accompanied Louis on his first crusade. Her sister Beatrice also joined in, and together they faced numerous challenges. Despite initial success, like capturing Damietta in 1249, the crusade turned disastrous after the king's brother was killed and Louis then captured. Queen Margaret swiftly took charge of negotiations and gathered a significant amount of silver for her husband's ransom. In doing so, she became the only woman to ever lead a crusade. In 1250, while in Damietta, she gave birth to her son Jean Tristan. The chronicler Joinville reported on Margaret's remarkable bravery after Louis was made prisoner in Egypt: she decisively acted to ensure a food supply for the Christians in Damietta and went as far as to ask the knight guarding her bedchamber to kill her and her newborn son if the city fell to the Arabs. She also convinced some of those who had been about to leave to remain in Damietta and defend it. Joinville recounted incidents that showcased Margaret's good humor, such as when he sent her fine cloth, and she mistakenly knelt down thinking he was bringing her holy relics. When she realized her mistake, she burst into laughter and ordered the messenger, "Tell your master evil days await him, for he has made me kneel to his camelines!" However, Joinville also noted with disapproval that Louis rarely inquired about his wife and children. In a moment of extreme danger during a terrible storm on the sea voyage back to France from the Crusade, Margaret begged Joinville to do something to help; he told her to pray for deliverance, and she vowed that when they reached France she would go on a pilgrimage and offer a golden ship with images of the king, herself, and her children in thanks for their escape from the storm. Margaret could only reply that she dared not make such a vow without Louis's permission, fearing he would never let her make the pilgrimage. In the end, Joinville promised to make the vow for her, and when they reached France, he did so. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access free of charge.