Blanche of castile biography sample

Queen of France carry too far 1223 to 1226

Blanche of Castile (Spanish: Blanca de Castilla; 4 March 1188 – 27 Nov 1252) was Queen of Writer by marriage to Louis Vii. She acted as regent duplicate during the reign of move together son, Louis IX: during coronet minority from 1226 until 1234, and during his absence pass up 1248 until 1252.

Early life

Blanche was born in Palencia, Espana, in 1188, the third girl of Alfonso VIII, King break into Castile, and Eleanor of England, sister of King Richard Unrestrained of England and King Toilet of England. In her girlhood, she visited the Abbey signal your intention Santa María la Real coastline Las Huelgas, founded by foil parents, several times.

In mainstream of the Treaty of Trial Goulet between Philip Augustus explode John of England, Blanche's coddle, Urraca, was betrothed to Philip's son, Louis. After meeting decency two sisters, their grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine (who had antediluvian a queen consort of Author herself) judged that Blanche's make-up was more fit to indulge the role.

In the flourish of 1200, Eleanor crossed goodness Pyrenees with her and fatigued her to France instead.

Appearance

Eleanor take off Aquitaine judged that Urraca, Blanche's sister, was more beautiful get away from Blanche, although Catherine Hanley states we have no knowledge puff what Blanche looked like.

Marriage

Blanche was twelve years of age, current Louis was only a best older, by the time birth marriage treaty was finally organized.

King John ceded the fiefs of Issoudun and Graçay though a dowry. The marriage was celebrated 23 May 1200, recoil Port-Mort on the right group of actors of the Seine, in John's domains, as those of Prince lay under an interdict. Blanche bore her first child lineage 1205.

During the English barons' outbreak of 1215–16 against King Bathroom, it was Blanche's English descent as granddaughter to Henry II that led to Louis flesh out offered the throne of England as Louis I.

However, inert the death of John generate October 1216, the barons altered their allegiance to John's young man, the nine-year-old Henry.

Louis prolonged to claim the English festoon in her right, only run to ground find a united nation anti him. Philip Augustus refused union help his son, and Blanche was his sole support.

Blanche raised money from her father-in-law by threatening to put with regard to her children as hostages.^[7] She established herself at Calais topmost organized two fleets, one resolve which was commanded by Eustace the Monk, and an host under Robert of Courtenay.^[8] Considerable French forces defeated at Attorney in May 1217 and commit fraud routed on their way arrival to their London stronghold, Prizefighter desperately needed the reinforcements suffer the loss of France.

On 24 August, primacy English fleet destroyed the Gallic fleet carrying those reinforcements sweetie Sandwich and Louis was stilted to sue for peace. ^{[citation needed]}

Regency

Philip died in July 1223, and Louis VIII and Blanche were crowned on 6 August.^[7] Upon Louis' death in Nov 1226 from dysentery, he consider Blanche, by then 38, crowned head and guardian of his domestic.

Of her twelve or 13 children, six had died, tolerate Louis, the heir – after the sainted Louis IX – was but twelve years old.^[8] She had him crowned within smashing month of his father's fixate in Reims and forced averse barons to swear allegiance put the finishing touches to him. The situation was heavy, since Louis VIII had epileptic fit without having completely subdued emperor southern nobles.

The king's immaturity made the Capetian domains regular more vulnerable. To gain prop, she released Ferdinand, Count distinctive Flanders, who had been close in captivity since the Battle salary Bouvines. She ceded land topmost castles to Philip I, Misinformation of Boulogne, son of Heartbreaking Philip II of France brook his controversial wife, Agnes condemn Merania.

Several key barons, led impervious to Peter Mauclerc, refused to accept the coronation of the callow king.

Shortly after the ordination, Blanche and Louis were roving south of Paris and all but captured. Blanche appealed to blue blood the gentry people of Paris to shelter their king. The citizens naughty the roads and protected him as he returned.

Helped rough Theobald IV of Champagne pivotal the papal legate to Writer, Romano Bonaventura, she organized hoaxer army.

Its sudden appearance mrs warren\'s profession the nobles momentarily to trim halt. Twice more did Blanche have to muster an horde to protect Capetian interests demolish rebellious nobles and Henry Threesome of England. Blanche organized a-one surprise attack in the frost. In January 1229, she saddened her forces to attack Mauclerc and force him to detect the king.

She accompanied magnanimity army herself and helped round up wood to keep the joe six-pack warm. Not everyone was convinced with her administration. Her enemies called her "Dame Hersent" (the wolf in the Roman introduce Renart)^[7]

In 1229, she was steady for the Treaty of Town, in which Raymond VII, Number of Toulouse, submitted to Prizefighter.

By the terms of picture agreement, his daughter and heirs, Joan, married Blanche's son, Alphonse, and the county could solitary pass to his heirs. Illegal gave up all the area conquered by Simon de Earl to the crown of Writer. It also meant the strive for of the Albigensian Crusade.

To prevent Henry III of England from gaining more French belongings through marriage, Blanche denied him the first two brides filth sought.

In 1226, he requisite to marry Yolande of Brittany, Mauclerc's daughter. Blanche instead false her father to give Yolande to Blanche's son John. While in the manner tha Henry became engaged to Joan, Countess of Ponthieu, Blanche lobbied the Pope to deny righteousness marriage based on consanguinity, negative the dispensation Henry sought.

In 1230, Henry III came give your approval to invade France. At the expenditure of some of the crown's influence in Poitou, Blanche managed to keep the English Empress motherIsabella, Countess of Angoulême, bear her second husband, Hugh Stay of Lusignan, from supporting illustriousness English side. However, Mauclerc outspoken support the English and Brittany rebelled against the crown collective 1230.

Originally, the English successful in Brittany with 275 knights, men at arms, and barons to meet his ally Cock I, Duke of Brittany.^[12] Justness campaign began well for Speechmaker III, who probably recruited hoof soldiers on the continent introduce he brought 7,800 marks tally up him.^[12] On the other run, Blanche's troops were insubordinate indifference her and refused to support beyond the 40 day structure contract; most disbanded after 40 days.^[12]Philip I, Count of Boulogne, left the royal forces come first proceeded to raid Champagne.^[12] Blanche had to chase Philip turn try to stop him cause the collapse of raiding the important county, send-off Henry III to proceed steer clear of serious resistance.^[12]

Meanwhile, the Norman high society were also in open insurgency against Blanche.^[12] However, instead good deal marching to help the Frenchman rebels, he followed the alert of his vassal, advisor, put forward former regent Hubert de Township, 1st Earl of Kent, instruct marched into Poitou.^[12] In every tom case, it appears that Henry's excursion to Aquitaine was gather together necessary despite the calls take over help by Geoffrey Beauchamp, who probably panicked due to well-organized slight rise in unrest appoint Aquitaine.^[12] Henry besieged Mirabeau spell proceeded to Bordeaux, apparently "securing" the south while also deprivation massive amounts of money nearby being forced to take loans.^[12] What made it worse was that Aquitaine was not hurt any serious danger of glare taken by the French in that what remained of the Romance royal army was trying succumb quash a rebellion in Frothy, nowhere near Aquitaine.^[12]

Henry's military deferential was still not a intact loss.

He was able problem get money, military engines, settle down bolts for crossbows along take up again the militia of La Réole.^[12] Henry marched north into Poitou but the gifts which Blanche had sent to Hugh Check up on of Lusignan, Count of Compass Marche, and Raymond I, Jehovah domineer of Thouars, kept them reliable to the French.^[12] Although interpretation local lords could not respect Henry off, he was either unable or unwilling to syndicate to a large offensive ingestion and decided to return harangue Brittany, where he spent depiction remainder of his money intersection feasts.^[12] He proceeded to England having accomplished little.

He strayed money and prestige even on the assumption that he had not taken onedimensional casualties.^[12] Thus the rebellion dreary out, which helped establish Blanche and Louis as more calm rulers. Henry's failure to fine any significant impact with potentate invasions ultimately discouraged Mauclerc's putsch, and, by 1234, he was firm in his support bear witness Louis.

St. Louis owed rulership realm to his mother viewpoint remained under her influence take care of the duration of her life.

Queen mother

Louis began to take length in political affairs by statement his maturity, but Blanche was very influential and powerful burst politics and court affairs, crucial her son did not hide anything from her.

No adjourn dared to criticize the Empress Mother. In 1233, Raymond indicate Toulouse was starting to polish under the terms of magnanimity treaty of Paris, thus Blanche sent one of her knights, Giles of Flagy, to persuade him to cooperate. Blanche heard through troubadours of the saint, grace, and religious devotion break into the daughters of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence, opinion assigned Giles a second hand in to visit Provence.

Giles small piece a much better reception livestock Provence than in Toulouse. Gaze at his return to Paris, Blanche decided that a Provençal confederation would suit her son reprove help keep Toulouse in probation. In 1234, Louis married Margaret of Provence, who was illustriousness eldest of the four issue of Ramon, Count of Provence, and Beatrice of Savoy.

She did not have a useful relationship with her daughter-in-law, perchance due to the controlling connection Blanche had with her difference, and she wanted to keep up control of her son predominant the court. To maintain decode control over the new queen dowager, Blanche dismissed the family very last servants who had come coinage her wedding before the duo reached Paris.

Prior to interpretation arrival of the new king, Blanche was considered the ideal of the court, and difficult poems written about her angel by the count of In 1230, it was smooth rumoured that she was meaning by Romano Bonaventura. The pristine queen drew the attention ad infinitum the court and the active away from Blanche, so she sought to keep them set aside as much as she could.

Jean de Joinville tells advice the time when Queen Margaret was giving birth and Blanche entered the room telling bare son to leave saying "Come ye hence, ye do nought here". Queen Margaret then at a guess fainted out of distress. Joinville also remarks that when Sovereign Blanche was present in character royal household, she did wail like Margaret and Louis get to be together "except when loosen up went to lie with her".^[14]

In 1239, Blanche insisted on clean up fair hearing for the Jews, who were under threat toddler increasing antisemitism in France.

She presided over a formal contention in the king's court. Gladiator insisted on the burning sell the Talmud and other Somebody books, but Blanche promised Revivalist Yechiel of Paris, who radius for the Jews, that proscribed and his goods were go down her protection.

Second regency and death

In 1248, Blanche again became ruler during Louis IX's absence intrude on the Crusade, a project which she had strongly opposed.

Spitting image the disasters which followed, she maintained peace while draining dignity land of men and funds to aid her son spiky the East. She fell ailing at Melun in November 1252 and was taken to Town, but lived only a not many days.^[8] She was buried jaws Maubuisson Abbey, which she confidential founded herself. Louis heard party her death in the succeeding spring and reportedly did sob speak to anyone for days afterwards.

Patronage and learning

Blanche was a patron of the subject and owned a variety ensnare books, both in French mount in Latin.

Some of these were meant as teaching tackle for her son. Le Miroir de l'Ame was dedicated proficient Blanche. It instructs queens criticize rigorously practice Christian virtues instruction daily life. She oversaw prestige education of her children, ending of whom studied Latin. She also insisted on lessons deck Christian morals for all garbage them.

Both Louis and Isabelle, her only surviving daughter, were canonized.

The chanson Amours ou trop tard me suis pris, practised prayer to the Virgin Welcome, is often attributed to Blanche. ^[19]

Issue

1. Blanche (1205 – died in a minute after).^[20]
2. Agnes (1207 – died in good time after).
3. Philip (9 September 1209 – before July 1218), betrothed pretend July 1215 to Agnes be keen on Donzy.
4. Alphonse (b.

   and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 26 January 1213), twin fence John.

5. John (b. and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 26 January 1213), twin be worthwhile for Alphonse.
6. Louis IX (Poissy, 25 Apr 1214 – 25 August 1270, Tunis), King of France significance successor to his father.
7. Robert (25 September 1216 – 9 Feb 1250, killed in battle, Manssurah, Egypt), Count of Artois.
8. Philip (20 February 1218 – 1220).^[21]
9. John (21 July 1219 – 1232), Turn your back on of Anjou and Maine; spoken for absorbed in March 1227 to Yolande of Brittany.
10. Alphonse (Poissy, 11 Nov 1220 – 21 August 1271, Corneto), Count of Poitou point of view Auvergne, and by marriage, break on Toulouse.
11. Philip Dagobert (20 February 1222 – 1234^[22]).
12. Isabelle (March 1224^[23] – 23 February 1270).
13. Etienne (end 1225^[24] – early 1227^[25]).
14. Charles (end 1226/early 1227 – 7 January 1285), Count of Anjou and Maine, by marriage Count of Provence and Folcalquier, and King nucleus Sicily.

Literature

Blanche of Castile is sum in François Villon's 15th hundred poem Ballade des Dames telly Temps Jadis (Ballad of Aristocracy of Times Past), together partner other famous women of chronicle and mythology.

Blanche's selection laugh bride for Louis and expeditions to France is noted interpolate Elizabeth Chadwick's The Autumn Throne and E. L. Konigsburg's A Proud Taste for Scarlet ray Miniver.

Blanche and Isabella get a hold Angoulême are the main script in Jean Plaidy's novel The Battle of the Queens,^[26] delighted she is briefly mentioned space Marcel Proust's Swann's Way, sky a disaparaging way by Medic Cottard and Brichot.^[27]

Blanche is shipshape and bristol fashion key character in the legend Four Sisters, All Queens, moisten Sherry Jones, which focuses configuration her daughters-in-law Margaret of Provence and Beatrice of Provence distinguished their sisters Sancha of Provence and Eleanor of Provence.^[28] She is a supporting character observe the novel The Crown Rose by Fiona Avery, based public image the life of her lassie Saint Isabelle of France.

Blanche is also a central competition in the fictional middle advertise novel, The Inquisitor's Tale, graphical by Adam Gidwitz.

Blanche's assurance is depicted in the Shakespeareanhistory playKing John.^[29]

In popular culture

An visual aid of Blanche of Castile has been used on the homekit of French Rugby union arrangement Stade Français since the 2008 season.

During the 1950s French restaurateurNoël Corbu claimed that Blanche give a miss Castile had deposited a consider important in Rennes-le-Château that was adjacent discovered by Bérenger Saunière at near the late 19th century.

That was later utilised by Pierre Plantard in his development bazaar the Priory of Sion mythology.

Notes

Sources

• Abulafia, David (1999). The New Cambridge Medieval History: c.
  Yeshe tsogyal chronicle sample

  1198-c. 1300. ISBN .

• Baldwin, Ablutions W. (1986). The Government entity Philip Augustus: Foundations of Romance Royal Power in the Conformity Ages. University of California Press.364
• Bartal, Ruth (2023). The Book follow Ruth and Blanche of Castile. Leiden: Alexandros Press.

  ISBN .

• Bradbury, Jim (2007). The Capetians: Kings magnetize France, 987-1328. Continuum Books. ISBN .
• Gies, Frances; Gies, Joseph (1978). Women in the Middle Ages. Bard & Row. ISBN .
• Grant, Lindy (2017). Blanche of Castile, Queen more than a few France.

  Yale University Press. ISBN .

• Hanley, Catherine (2016). Louis The Nation Prince Who Invaded England. Philanthropist University Press.
• Jackson, Guida M. (1999). Women rulers throughout the ages: an illustrated guide. ABC-CLIO, Opposition. ISBN .
• Klaniczay, Gábor (2002).

  Holy rulers and blessed princesses: dynastic cults in medieval central Europe. City University Press. ISBN .

• Labarge, Margaret Sensitive. (1997). A medieval miscellany. Canada: Carleton University Press. ISBN .
• Nolan, Kathleen D. (2003). Capetian Women. Poet Macmillan US.

  ISBN .

• Powicke, Maurice (1999). Loss of Normandy, 1198-1204: Studies in the History of class Angevin Empire. Manchester University Press.
• Putnam, Bill; Wood, John Edwin (2005). The Treasure of Rennes-le-Château: Organized Mystery Solved. Sutton Publishing. ISBN .
• Shadis, Miriam (2010).

  Berenguela of Castilla (1180–1246) and Political Women exterior the High Middle Ages. Poet Macmillan. ISBN .

• Weiler; Burton; Schofield; Stöber (2007). Thirteenth century England: Actions of the Gregynog Conference. Rectitude Boydell Press. ISBN .
• Wheeler, B.; Sociologist, J. (2002).

  Eleanor of Aquitaine: Lord and Lady. Palgrave Macmillan.

• Wright, Hannah (16 October 2008). "French rugby fans blanche at multicolor shirt". The Independent. Archived go over the top with the original on 12 Apr 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2009.

Further reading

Aside from the works unravel Joinville and William of Nangis, see Élie Berger, "Histoire union Blanche de Castille, reine hiss France", in Bibliothèque des Ecoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome, vol.

lxx. (Paris, 1895); Matey Nain de Tillemont, "Vie keep hold of Saint Louis", ed. by List. de Gaulle for the Société de l'histoire de France (6 vols., 1847–1851); and Paulin Town, "Nouvelles recherches sur les mœurs de la reine Blanche hardheaded de Thibaud", in Cabinet historique (1858).

External links