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

                                    Form 13F

                              Form 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: March 31, 2011

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, Iowa  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     May 11, 2011


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          Name

       28-10106                      Principal Financial Group, Inc.