Marie de Cleves was the third wife of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and the mother of his only son, King Louis XII of France. She was born a German princess, the last child of Adolph I, Duke of Cleves and his second wife, Marie of Burgundy. As fifth daughter might not hope in a splendid marriage, but the policy decided otherwise. The Duchess of Burgundy married her to the, from the English captivity just recently released Duke of Orléans, who was 30 years her senior.

After many barren years they found the way to each other hearts as it is beautifully depicted in Hella S Haase's excellent novel: In a dark wood wandering.

Maria was a patron of letters and commissioned many works; she was also an active poet herself, producing ballads and other verses.