Blanche d'Evreux
Encyclopedia
Blanche of Navarre (1331 – 5 October 1398) was Queen consort of France as the wife of King Philip VI of France
.
She was the second child and daughter of Queen Joan II of Navarre
and King Philip III of Navarre
. She belonged to the House of Évreux
, a cadet branch of the House of Capet
, and married into the House of Valois, another cadet branch of the House of Capet.
by having Blanche marry Peter, eldest son and heir of King Alfonso XI
. However, Blanche was eventually betrothed to Prince John of France
.
As the most beautiful princess of her time —she was nicknamed the "Beautiful Wisdom" (Belle Sagesse)—, Blanche captivated the recently widowed King Philip VI of France
, father of her intended husband and almost forty years her senior. Their marriage on 29 January 1349 at Brie-Comte-Robert
alienated his son and many nobles from the king.
The union was short-lived: King Philip VI died one year later, on 22 August 1350, according to some chroniclers of exhaustion from constantly fulfilling his conjugal duties. Pregnant at that time, Blanche gave birth a daughter, Joan (also named Blanche), in May 1351.
After her husband's death, the Dowager Queen retired to Neaufles-Saint-Martin
near Gisors
in Normandy
. Soon after, the now King Peter I of Castile asked her hand in marriage, but she refused the offer, saying: "The Queens of France never remarried" (Les reines de France ne se remarient point).
She appeared in the French court on rare occasions, especially during the solemn entry of Isabeau of Bavaria
in Paris
, which was organized by her. Blanche also played a political role as a mediator between her brother King Charles II of Navarre
and France.
In 1371 her only daughter Joan was engaged with John
, eldest son and heir of King Peter IV of Aragon
; however, she died during the journey to Aragon for her marriage on 16 September 1371 in Béziers
.
Blanche died on 5 October 1398 at Neaufles-Saint-Martin. She is buried next to her daughter in the Basilica of St Denis, the necropolis of the Kings of France, north of Paris
.
, Blanche of Navarre has been alleged to be the seventh Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
.
She was the second child and daughter of Queen Joan II of Navarre
Joan II of Navarre
Joan II was Queen of Navarre from 1328 until her death. She was the only daughter of Margaret of Burgundy, first wife of King Louis X of France...
and King Philip III of Navarre
Philip III of Navarre
Philip III , called the Noble or the Wise, Count of Évreux and King of Navarre , was the second son of Louis of Évreux and Margaret of Artois and therefore a grandson of King Philip III of France...
. She belonged to the House of Évreux
House of Évreux
The House of Évreux was a noble French family, a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, which flourished from the beginning of the 14th century to the mid 15th century. A branch of it came to rule the Kingdom of Navarre....
, a cadet branch of the House of Capet
House of Capet
The House of Capet, or The Direct Capetian Dynasty, , also called The House of France , or simply the Capets, which ruled the Kingdom of France from 987 to 1328, was the most senior line of the Capetian dynasty – itself a derivative dynasty from the Robertians. As rulers of France, the dynasty...
, and married into the House of Valois, another cadet branch of the House of Capet.
Life
At first, the Kings of Navarre wanted to achieve an alliance with CastileCrown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
by having Blanche marry Peter, eldest son and heir of King Alfonso XI
Alfonso XI of Castile
Alfonso XI was the king of Castile, León and Galicia.He was the son of Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife Constance of Portugal. Upon his father's death in 1312, several disputes ensued over who would hold regency, which were resolved in 1313...
. However, Blanche was eventually betrothed to Prince John of France
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
.
As the most beautiful princess of her time —she was nicknamed the "Beautiful Wisdom" (Belle Sagesse)—, Blanche captivated the recently widowed King Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
, father of her intended husband and almost forty years her senior. Their marriage on 29 January 1349 at Brie-Comte-Robert
Brie-Comte-Robert
Brie-Comte-Robert is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.Brie-Comte-Robert is on the edge of the plain of Brie and was formerly the capital of the Brie française....
alienated his son and many nobles from the king.
The union was short-lived: King Philip VI died one year later, on 22 August 1350, according to some chroniclers of exhaustion from constantly fulfilling his conjugal duties. Pregnant at that time, Blanche gave birth a daughter, Joan (also named Blanche), in May 1351.
After her husband's death, the Dowager Queen retired to Neaufles-Saint-Martin
Neaufles-Saint-Martin
Neaufles-Saint-Martin is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
near Gisors
Gisors
Gisors is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located northwest from the center of Paris.Gisors, together with the neighbouring communes of Trie-Château and Trie-la-Ville, form an urban area of 12,669 inhabitants...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Soon after, the now King Peter I of Castile asked her hand in marriage, but she refused the offer, saying: "The Queens of France never remarried" (Les reines de France ne se remarient point).
She appeared in the French court on rare occasions, especially during the solemn entry of Isabeau of Bavaria
Isabeau of Bavaria
Isabeau of Bavaria was Queen consort of France as spouse of King Charles VI of France, a member of the Valois Dynasty...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which was organized by her. Blanche also played a political role as a mediator between her brother King Charles II of Navarre
Charles II of Navarre
Charles II , called "Charles the Bad", was King of Navarre 1349-1387 and Count of Évreux 1343-1387....
and France.
In 1371 her only daughter Joan was engaged with John
John I of Aragon
John I , called by posterity the Hunter or the Lover of Elegance , but the Abandoned in his lifetime, was the King of...
, eldest son and heir of King Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV of Aragon
Peter IV, , called el Cerimoniós or el del punyalet , was the King of Aragon, King of Sardinia and Corsica , King of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona Peter IV, (Balaguer, September 5, 1319 – Barcelona, January 6, 1387), called el Cerimoniós ("the Ceremonious") or el del punyalet ("the one...
; however, she died during the journey to Aragon for her marriage on 16 September 1371 in Béziers
Béziers
Béziers is a town in Languedoc in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the Hérault department. Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, every August. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event...
.
Blanche died on 5 October 1398 at Neaufles-Saint-Martin. She is buried next to her daughter in the Basilica of St Denis, the necropolis of the Kings of France, north of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In popular culture
In conspiracy theories, such as the one promoted in The Holy Blood and the Holy GrailThe Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail is a book by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln....
, Blanche of Navarre has been alleged to be the seventh Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.