The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Blanche of Castille

Born 1188; died Nov. 26 or 27, 1252. French queen.

Between 1226 and 1236, Blanche of Castille was regent during the minority of her son, Louis IX (king from 1226–70). She also ruled France while Louis IX was away on the Seventh Crusade from 1248 to 1252. In 1229 she concluded the Peace of Paris, which ended the Albigensian Wars. Blanche of Castille fought successfully against rebellious feudal lords, who were supported on a number of occasions by the English king.

References in periodicals archive

Finally, Field's discussion of the piety of both Blanche of Castille and Isabelle herself is very insightful, both in his recognition of the paradoxes both women embodied and in his deft characterization of Isabelle's piety as "a studied simplicity" (128).

Isabelle of France: Capetian Sanctity and Franciscan Identity in the Thirteenth Century

Inaccuracies and stereotypes abound; for example, Servadio seems to consider several aspects of the lives of women at this time as novel innovations unheard of before, from the use of makeup (common since at least Roman times) to the exercise of political power by women (powerful medieval queens Eleanor of Aquitaine and Blanche of Castille spring immediately to mind).

Medici Women: Portraits of Power, Love, and Betrayal from the Court of Duke Cosimo I

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.