Blanche of Navarre, Duchess of Brittany

Blanche of Navarre (1226 – 12 August 1283), also known as Blanche of Champagne, was the daughter of Theobald the Troubador, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne,[1] and his second wife Agnes of Beaujeu. She was a member of the House of Champagne. By her marriage to John I, Duke of Brittany, she became Duchess consort of Brittany.

Blanche of Navarre
Tomb effigy
Duchess consort of Brittany
Tenure1236–1283
Born1226
Died12 August 1283
Naples
Burial
Abbey de la Joie, Hennebont
SpouseJohn I, Duke of Brittany
Issue
Among others
John II, Duke of Brittany
Peter, Lord of Hade
Alix, Countess of Châtillon
HouseBlois-Champagne
FatherTheobald I of Navarre
MotherAgnes of Beaujeu

Life

Blanche was firstly betrothed to Otto III, Count of Burgundy;[1] 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:[2] 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.

Marriage and children

Blanche and John had:

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.

Notes

  1. Evergates 2007, p. 104.
  2. O'Neill 1996, p. 401.
  3. O'Neill 1996, p. 417.

References

  • Evergates, Theodore (2007). The Aristocracy in the County of Champagne, 1100-1300. University of Pennsylvania Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • O'Neill, John P., ed. (1996). Enamels of Limoges: 1100-1350. Metropolitan Museum of Art.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Preceded by
Margaret of Huntingdon
Duchess consort of Brittany
1236–1283
Succeeded by
Yolande of Dreux
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