You’ve probably heard some version of the "noblewoman stranded on a desert island" trope. Usually, it’s a romanticized Victorian novel or a Hollywood survival flick. But the real story of Marguerite de la Rocque makes Cast Away look like a weekend at a spa. Honestly, it's one of the most brutal, messed-up chapters in the history of North American exploration.
We aren't talking about a shipwreck. This wasn't an accident. In 1542, Marguerite was intentionally dumped on a freezing, rock-strewn island off the coast of Newfoundland by her own relative.
Imagine being a French aristocrat. You're used to silk, servants, and the comforts of the Renaissance. Then, suddenly, you’re standing on a beach watching your only ride home sail away. The wind is biting. The "demons" are howling. And you’re basically expected to die.
The Scandal That Led to a Death Sentence
Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval was a man with a lot of titles and even more debt. He was a privateer, a friend of King Francis I, and the newly appointed Lieutenant-General of New France. He was also Marguerite’s guardian—and likely her cousin or uncle.
The two of them were sharing a ship called the Valentine on a colonizing mission to Quebec. Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, Marguerite messed up. She started an affair with a young man on board.
Some historians say Roberval was a strict Calvinist who couldn't stomach the "sin." Others, who've looked at the legal records, point out that he stood to inherit her massive estates in Périgord if she "disappeared." It was a convenient excuse.
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Roberval pulled the ship over at the Isle of Demons.
He didn't just leave Marguerite. He dumped her, her lover (whose name was kept secret by early writers to protect his family's reputation), and her maid, Damienne. They were given a few supplies: some knives, a bit of food, a Bible, and an arquebus (an early shotgun).
Survival on the Isle of Demons
The "Isle of Demons" isn't just a spooky name. 16th-century sailors actually believed the place was inhabited by physical devils and malevolent spirits. Today, we're pretty sure it was Quirpon Island or perhaps a spot near Harrington Harbour.
The "demons" were likely the guttural roars of walruses and the screaming of seabirds, echoing off the jagged rocks. But to three terrified French people, it sounded like hell.
Things went south fast.
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- The lover died first.
- Then the maid, Damienne, succumbed to the elements and probably scurvy.
- Marguerite, who had become pregnant on the ship, gave birth to a child in a cold, damp hut.
The baby didn't survive. Marguerite was left completely alone, burying her family in the frozen ground while firing her gun at bears to keep them from digging up the bodies.
She lived like this for two years.
She hunted. She trapped. She even killed a polar bear that was "white as an egg." For a woman who grew up in French courts, the transformation must have been jarring. She reportedly spent her nights reading the New Testament and her days figuring out how not to starve.
The Rescue and the Aftermath
In 1544, a group of Basque fishermen spotted smoke. They found a woman in rags, emaciated but very much alive.
When Marguerite de la Rocque returned to France, she became a sensation. You’d think she would have sued Roberval or demanded his head. Strangely, there’s no record of her ever bringing charges against him. Maybe she was just happy to be home. Maybe she knew his connection to the King made him untouchable.
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She eventually settled in Nontron and became a schoolmistress. She spent the rest of her life teaching girls how to read and write in the Château de la Mothe.
Why We Keep Telling This Story
Marguerite’s ordeal was first recorded by the Queen of Navarre in her famous Heptaméron. Later, the royal cosmographer André Thevet claimed he spoke to Marguerite personally to get the details.
It survives because it’s a story of pure, stubborn resilience.
Most people think of the early exploration of Canada as a male-only venture involving Jacques Cartier and tough fur traders. Marguerite reminds us that women were there from the jump, often facing much worse odds.
What you can actually learn from Marguerite's story:
- Contextualize "Expert" Opinions: Early maps included the Isle of Demons because everyone thought it was there. Just because everyone believes a "fact" doesn't mean it's grounded in reality.
- Resilience is a Skill: Marguerite wasn't a survivalist. she was a noblewoman. She learned to hunt because she had to.
- Question Motives: Whenever you see a "moral" punishment in history, look for the money. Roberval’s greed was a much stronger motivator than his religious piety.
If you ever find yourself on the North Shore of Quebec or the tip of Newfoundland, look out at those grey, rocky islands. It’s a lot easier to appreciate the scenery when you aren't fighting off polar bears with a 16th-century musket.
Next Steps for History Buffs:
If you want to see the primary sources yourself, look for a translation of the 67th novella in the Heptaméron by Marguerite de Navarre. For a more "scientific" (for the 1500s) take, check out André Thevet’s Cosmographie universelle. Modern archaeological surveys of Quirpon Island continue to look for traces of 16th-century European habitation, though the shifting landscape of the North Atlantic makes finding a small wooden hut from 1542 nearly impossible.