Margaret (German: Margarete; French: Marguerite; Dutch: Margaretha; Spanish: Margarita) was born on 10 January 1480. She was the second child on Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy, co-sovereigns of the Low Countries. She was named after her step-grandmother, Margaret of York. In 1482, Margaret’s mother died and her older brother, Philip the Handsome (aged 3), succeeded her as sovereign of the Low Countries, with his father Maximilian as regent. In 1482, King Louis XI of France signed the Treaty of Arras, where her father promised to give Margaret’s hand in marriage to Louis’ son Charles. The engagement took place in 1487. Margaret was transferred to the guardianship of Louis XI, who died soon after. She was educated at the French court and prepared for her future role as Queen of France. She was raised as a fille de France , under the supervision of her fiancé’s sister and regent, Anne . Margaret developed a genuine affection for Charles. However, in the autumn ...