Blanche of Navarre (daughter of Theobald I)
Encyclopedia
Blanche of Navarre also known as Blanche of Champagne, was the daughter of Theobald the Troubador
, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne
, and his second wife Agnes of Beaujeu
. She was a member of the House of Champagne. By her marriage she became Duchess of Brittany.
Blanche was firstly betrothed to Otto III, Count Palatine of Burgundy
, the marriage contract was signed on 16 January 1236. However, the engagement was broken.
Blanche was instead married in 1236 to John I, Duke of Brittany
: the main reason he married Blanche was so he could get Navarre
and Theobald did make John heir to the throne. However, John renounced the claim after Margaret of Bourbon bore Theobald two sons. John and Blanche had eight children:
Of their eight children, only their eldest three lived to adulthood.
In 1270 Blanche founded the Abbey de la Joie near Hennebont
: she was later buried there. She died in 1283: her husband outlived her by three years. Blanche outlived six of her eight children.
Theobald I of Navarre
Theobald I , called the Troubadour, the Chansonnier, and the Posthumous, was Count of Champagne from birth and King of Navarre from 1234...
, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne
Count of Champagne
The Counts of Champagne ruled the region of Champagne from 950 to 1316. Champagne evolved from the county of Troyes in the late eleventh century and Hugh I was the first to officially use the title "Count of Champagne". When Louis became King of France in 1314, upon the death of his father Philip...
, and his second wife Agnes of Beaujeu
Agnes of Beaujeu
Agnes of Beaujeu was a French noblewoman, the daughter of Guichard IV, Sire of Beaujeu and his wife Sybille of Flanders. Agnes was Countess of Champagne by her marriage to Theobald I of Navarre.- Family :...
. She was a member of the House of Champagne. By her marriage she became Duchess of Brittany.
Life
Blanche's father became King of Navarre in 1234, this made her Infanta doña Blanche de Navarre.Blanche was firstly betrothed to Otto III, Count Palatine of Burgundy
Otto III, Count Palatine of Burgundy
Otto III, Count Palatine of Burgundy was the son of Beatrice II, Countess Palatine of Burgundy and Otto I, Duke of Merania....
, the marriage contract was signed on 16 January 1236. However, the engagement was broken.
Blanche was instead married in 1236 to John I, Duke of Brittany
John I, Duke of Brittany
John I the Red , known as John the Red due to the colour of his beard, was Duke of Brittany, from 1237 to his death...
: the main reason he married Blanche was so he could get Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
and Theobald did make John heir to the throne. However, John renounced the claim after Margaret of Bourbon bore Theobald two sons. John and Blanche had eight children:
- John II, Duke of BrittanyJohn II, Duke of BrittanyJohn II was Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond, from 1286 to his death. He was son of Duke John I and Blanche of Navarre...
(3 or 4 January 1239-LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
16 November 1305), married Beatrice of EnglandBeatrice of EnglandBeatrice of England , also known as Beatrice de Dreux, was a Princess of England as the daughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence...
and had issue - Peter of Brittany (2 April 1241–ParisParisParis 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...
, 19 October 1268), Lord of Hade - Alix of BrittanyAlix of Brittany, Dame de PontarcyAlix of Brittany, Dame de Pontarcy, Countess of Blois , was a Breton noblewoman and a member of the House of Dreux as the eldest daughter of John I, Duke of Brittany. She married John I, Count of Blois...
(6 June 1243–2 August 1288), married John of Châtillon and had issue - Theobald (1245–1256), died young
- Theobald (died soon after birth)
- Eleanor (1248), died young
- Nicholas (1249–1261), died young
- Robert (1251–1259), died young
Of their eight children, only their eldest three lived to adulthood.
In 1270 Blanche founded the Abbey de la Joie near Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
: she was later buried there. She died in 1283: her husband outlived her by three years. Blanche outlived six of her eight children.