Marie de France is the name given to a poet of the late twelfth century who wrote in Anglo-Norman French, probably at the court of Henry II of England. She names herself in the epilogue to her Fables, saying she is from France. Her identity is unknown, though she has been tentatively identified with several noblewomen of the period. She is also credited with the Fables and the Espurgatoire seint Patriz, and is the earliest known woman poet in French.
The Lais of Marie de France are twelve short narrative poems in octosyllabic rhyming couplets, preserved together in one manuscript (British Library, Harley 978) with a general prologue in which Marie dedicates them to a 'noble king', probably Henry II. She says she has heard Breton lais, songs commemorating adventures, and has put them into verse so they will not be forgotten.
