Blanca of Navarre (daughter of Sancho VI)
Encyclopedia
Blanche of Navarre was Countess-consort of Champagne
, then Regent
of Champagne, and finally also regent of her native kingdom of Navarre
.
(d. 1194) and Sancha of Castile
. Her maternal grandparents were Alfonso VII of Castile and Berenguela of Barcelona. Her eldest brother, Sancho VII of Navarre
, succeeded their father as King of Navarre and was the last male descendant of the first dynasty of Kings of Navarre, the Pamplona dynasty, dying childless. Her brother, Ramiro of Navarre, was Bishop of Pamplona and her elder sister, Berengaria of Navarre
, married Richard I of England
and Aquitaine, the northern neighbour of their kingdom.
, who died young in 1201, leaving her pregnant. When she gave birth to a son, he immediately became Count Theobald IV of Champagne (1201-53). Blanche ruled the county as regent
until Theobald turned 21 in 1222. The regency was plagued by a number of difficulties. Blanche's brother-in-law, count Henry II
had left behind a great deal of debt, which had not been paid off when Theobald III died.
Furthermore, their son Theobald IV's right to the succession of Champagne was challenged by Henry's daughter Philippa
and her husband, Erard I of Brienne
, Count of Ramerupt and one of the more powerful Champagne
nobles. The conflict with the Briennes broke into open warfare in 1215, in what became known as the Champagne War of Succession, and was not resolved until after Theobald came of age in 1222. At that time Theobald and Blanche bought out their rights for a substantial monetary payment. Blanche had also arranged the dowry of Henry II's elder daughter Alice of Champagne
, when she married the young Hugh I of Cyprus
. In the 1230s, in order to settle with Alice, Theobald IV had to sell his overlordship over the counties of Blois
, Sancerre
, and Chateaudun
to Louis IX of France
.
Since some barons suspected Theobald for having a hand in the death of Louis VIII
, Blanche of Castile
withdrew his invitation to the coronation of Louis IX and proffered it to Blanche instead.
Blanche also took over administration of the kingdom of Navarre
when her brother Sancho VII went into retirement ("El Encerrado"). Blanche died in 1229, her brother in retirement remaining as King of Navarre and her son Theobald continuing as Count of Champagne. Their eldest sister, Berengaria of Navarre
, Queen of England, died without issue in 1232, leaving Sancho as the sole surviving child of Sancho VI. When he died in 1234, Blanca's son Theobald IV of Champagne was recognised as the next King of Navarre. Theobald had married twice during Blanca's lifetime and had one daughter by his second wife, Blanche, by the time of Blanche of Navarre's death. However, he later had children by his third wife including Theobald II of Navarre
and Henry I of Navarre
.
Champagne (province)
The Champagne wine region is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name...
, then Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Champagne, and finally also regent of her native kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
.
Family
She was the youngest daughter of Sancho VI of NavarreSancho VI of Navarre
Sancho VI Garcés , called the Wise , was the king of Navarre from 1150 until his death in 1194....
(d. 1194) and Sancha of Castile
Sancha of Castile, Queen of Navarre
Sancha of Castile was daughter of Alfonso VII of León and Castile and his first wife Berenguela of Barcelona. She was a member of the Castilian House of Burgundy....
. Her maternal grandparents were Alfonso VII of Castile and Berenguela of Barcelona. Her eldest brother, Sancho VII of Navarre
Sancho VII of Navarre
Sancho VII Sánchez , called the Strong or the Prudent, was the King of Navarre from 1194 to his death...
, succeeded their father as King of Navarre and was the last male descendant of the first dynasty of Kings of Navarre, the Pamplona dynasty, dying childless. Her brother, Ramiro of Navarre, was Bishop of Pamplona and her elder sister, Berengaria of Navarre
Berengaria of Navarre
Berengaria of Navarre was Queen of the English as the wife of King Richard I of England. She was the eldest daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. As is the case with many of the medieval queens consort of the Kingdom of England, relatively little is known of her life...
, married Richard I of England
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
and Aquitaine, the northern neighbour of their kingdom.
Life
Blanche married Count Theobald III of ChampagneTheobald III of Champagne
Theobald III was Count of Champagne from 1197 to his death.Theobald was the younger son of Henry I of Champagne and Marie, a daughter of Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine...
, who died young in 1201, leaving her pregnant. When she gave birth to a son, he immediately became Count Theobald IV of Champagne (1201-53). Blanche ruled the county as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
until Theobald turned 21 in 1222. The regency was plagued by a number of difficulties. Blanche's brother-in-law, count Henry II
Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne was count of Champagne from 1181 to 1197, and King of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197, although he never used the title of king.- Early Life and Family :...
had left behind a great deal of debt, which had not been paid off when Theobald III died.
Furthermore, their son Theobald IV's right to the succession of Champagne was challenged by Henry's daughter Philippa
Philippa of Champagne
Philippa of Champagne, Lady of Ramerupt and of Venizy was the third daughter of Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem and Henry II, Count of Champagne. She was the wife of Erard de Brienne-Ramerupt who encouraged her in 1216 to claim the county of Champagne which belonged to her cousin Theobald IV, who...
and her husband, Erard I of Brienne
Erard of Brienne-Ramerupt
Érard de Brienne was a French nobleman. He was lord of Ramerupt and of Venizy, and also a pretender to the county of Champagne as an instigator of the Champagne War of Succession...
, Count of Ramerupt and one of the more powerful Champagne
Champagne, France
Champagne is a historic province in the northeast of France, now best known for the sparkling white wine that bears its name.Formerly ruled by the counts of Champagne, its western edge is about 100 miles east of Paris. The cities of Troyes, Reims, and Épernay are the commercial centers of the area...
nobles. The conflict with the Briennes broke into open warfare in 1215, in what became known as the Champagne War of Succession, and was not resolved until after Theobald came of age in 1222. At that time Theobald and Blanche bought out their rights for a substantial monetary payment. Blanche had also arranged the dowry of Henry II's elder daughter Alice of Champagne
Alice of Champagne
Alice of Champagne was the daughter of Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem and her third husband Henry II, Count of Champagne. Alice and her sister Philippa spent part of their life fighting for their father's homeland of Champagne, over another branch of their family...
, when she married the young Hugh I of Cyprus
Hugh I of Cyprus
Hugh I of Cyprus succeeded to the throne of Cyprus on April 1, 1205 underage upon the death of his elderly father Amalric of Lusignan, King of Cyprus and Jerusalem...
. In the 1230s, in order to settle with Alice, Theobald IV had to sell his overlordship over the counties of Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
, Sancerre
Sancerre
Sancerre is a medieval hilltop town , commune and canton in the Cher department of central France overlooking the Loire River. It is noted for its wine.-History:...
, and Chateaudun
Châteaudun
Châteaudun is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of Eure-et-Loir.-Geography:Châteaudun is located about 45 km northwest of Orléans, and about 50 km south-southwest of Chartres, on the river Loir, a tributary of the...
to Louis IX of France
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
.
Since some barons suspected Theobald for having a hand in the death of Louis VIII
Louis VIII of France
Louis VIII the Lion reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was a member of the House of Capet. Louis VIII was born in Paris, France, the son of Philip II Augustus and Isabelle of Hainaut. He was also Count of Artois, inheriting the county from his mother, from 1190–1226...
, Blanche of Castile
Blanche of Castile
Blanche of Castile , was a Queen consort of France as the wife of Louis VIII. She acted as regent twice during the reign of her son, Louis IX....
withdrew his invitation to the coronation of Louis IX and proffered it to Blanche instead.
Blanche also took over administration of the kingdom of Navarre
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre , originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, was a European kingdom which occupied lands on either side of the Pyrenees alongside the Atlantic Ocean....
when her brother Sancho VII went into retirement ("El Encerrado"). Blanche died in 1229, her brother in retirement remaining as King of Navarre and her son Theobald continuing as Count of Champagne. Their eldest sister, Berengaria of Navarre
Berengaria of Navarre
Berengaria of Navarre was Queen of the English as the wife of King Richard I of England. She was the eldest daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. As is the case with many of the medieval queens consort of the Kingdom of England, relatively little is known of her life...
, Queen of England, died without issue in 1232, leaving Sancho as the sole surviving child of Sancho VI. When he died in 1234, Blanca's son Theobald IV of Champagne was recognised as the next King of Navarre. Theobald had married twice during Blanca's lifetime and had one daughter by his second wife, Blanche, by the time of Blanche of Navarre's death. However, he later had children by his third wife including Theobald II of Navarre
Theobald II of Navarre
Theobald II , called the Young, was Count of Champagne and Brie and King of Navarre from 1253 until his death....
and Henry I of Navarre
Henry I of Navarre
Henry I the Fat was the Count of Champagne and Brie and King of Navarre from 1270...
.