[4] Her early life followed a strict routine set forth by her father, Charles V, who used his daughter as part of his plans to secure his empire.

[5] In 1527, the year she turned five, she became engaged to the nephew of Pope Clement VII, Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence, to assist her father's ambition in gaining influence in Italy.

[9] On 4 November 1538 in Rome, the 15-year-old widow married Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma, the 14-year-old grandson of Pope Paul III.

[3] Although the union proved an unhappy one, it gave her years of experience in Rome, and produced twin sons, one of whom died in infancy.

As governor, Margaret faced the rising storm of discontent against the Inquisition and Spanish despotism, and Philip had left her but nominal authority.

Margaret was forced to adjust herself to the advice of Cardinal Granvelle, Philip's choice for her chief councilor, who would grow to be greatly disliked in the Habsburg Netherlands.

In 1566, Iconoclastic riots took place all over the Habsburg Netherlands but she managed to quell them, with the help of her stadtholders Philip of Noircarmes (who subjugated the cities of Tournai and Valenciennes) in Hainaut and William of Orange in Holland.

"[6] She personally asked to Pope Paul III to authorize the veneration of the Seven archangels while Antonio del Duca did the same under the protection of the Colonna family.