UNITED STATES
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM 13F

                               FORM 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: December 31, 2001
Check here if Amendment [ ]; Amendment Number:
This Amendment (Check only one.): [ ] is a restatement
                                  [ ] adds new holdings entries.

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name:    Principal Life Insurance Company
Address: 711 High Street
         Des Moines, IA  50392

13F File Number:  28-793

The institutional investment manager filing this report and the  person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name:   Michael Roughton
Title:  Vice-President
Phone:  515-248-3842
Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:



    Michael Roughton        Des Moines, Iowa       February 14, 2002

Report Type (Check only one.):

[ ] 13F HOLDINGS REPORT.
[X] 13F NOTICE.
[ ] 13F COMBINATION REPORT.

List of Other Managers Reporting for this Manager:
Form 13F File Number: 28-
Name: Principal Financial Group, Inc.

I AM SIGNING THIS REPORT AS REQUIRED BY THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.