Blanche of CastileQueen of France and very nearly of England, Blanche of Castile was a beautiful, fascinating woman and a wise and able ruler whose personality and political power dominated Western Europe in the first half of the thirteenth century. She was the granddaughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the mother of France's only canonized king, Louis IX, and it was her efforts that led to the great victory over England at the Battle of Bouvines. Her husband, Louis VIII died after three years on the throne, leaving Blanche as regent during her sons minority from 1226 until 1234. Due to her shrewd combination of diplomacy, beating her enemies to the punch, and her influence on Louis IX, kept a whole France for him to inherit on her death. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 31
Page 28
... Normandy , where the terms of Blanche's betrothal to Louis had been agreed upon . But this time the French envoys could not reach agreement with those from England . The custom of the time required that all possible means of settlement ...
... Normandy , where the terms of Blanche's betrothal to Louis had been agreed upon . But this time the French envoys could not reach agreement with those from England . The custom of the time required that all possible means of settlement ...
Page 40
... Normandy . Since the setback at Mirebeau the news of the war told of nothing but French victories . The reconquest of the province was proceeding in the face of all opposition . Falaise was cap- tured by the French ; then Vaudreuil ...
... Normandy . Since the setback at Mirebeau the news of the war told of nothing but French victories . The reconquest of the province was proceeding in the face of all opposition . Falaise was cap- tured by the French ; then Vaudreuil ...
Page 93
... Normandy and Flanders that rebellion could most easily have broken out on Philip's death . Since Bouvines in 1214 , Count Ferdinand of Flanders had remained locked up in the fortress of the Louvre , and Normandy was a recent conquest ...
... Normandy and Flanders that rebellion could most easily have broken out on Philip's death . Since Bouvines in 1214 , Count Ferdinand of Flanders had remained locked up in the fortress of the Louvre , and Normandy was a recent conquest ...
Contents
Prologue | 9 |
BLANCHES HERITAGE | 47 |
THE REALM OF THE FLEURDELIS | 90 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abbey Alphonse Alphonse of Poitiers Anjou Archbishop army Artois Avignon barons Bishop Blanche and Louis Blanche's Brittany brother burghers called Carcassonne castle Champagne Christian chronicler Chronique Church Cistercian coronation Count of Toulouse court of France cross crowned crusaders daughter Eleanor Emperor English excommunicated father Ferdinand Flanders Frederick French National Archives Friars gone hand Henry Holy Land Holy Roman Hugh Isabella Joan of Toulouse Johanna John Lackland Joinville King John King Louis King of England King of France King Philip King's kingdom knew knights Lady later learned letter livres lords Louis and Blanche Louis VIII Louis's Lusignan Margaret Matthew Paris messengers monks mother never Normandy palace papal legate peace Peter Mauclerc Philip Hurepel Plantagenet Poitiers Poitou Pope Innocent III Provence Queen realm Robert royal Saint Saracens sent siege Sire suzerain taken Theobald throne told took town truce vassals wedding wife William Marshal