Blanche of Castile, Queen and regent of France Quiz

Answer: Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine

Henry was notorious for the slaying of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, which happened after four knights heard him wish for his death. He did public penance afterwards.

Eleanor was notorious for reportedly having affairs during her first marriage and for her rebellion against Henry, who was her second husband.

John and Richard were their sons and both gained notoriety after they rebelled against their father. John also showed a great lack of respect for the church and was rumored to have murdered a nephew with his own hands.

Isabella of Angoulême would later become an enemy of Blanche and incited her second husband Hugh de Lusignan to fight her. She would also be suspected of trying to poison Blanche's son Louis.

Philip and Agnes lived together as husband and wife, but the Pope ordered Philip to go back to his first wife. When he did not listen, the pope placed France under an interdict.

Answer: Yes, they were very happy together

Unlike her own parents, Eleanor of England was very happy in her marriage to Alfonso VIII of Castile. They shared power and supported each other. After Alfonso died, Eleanor became sick with grief and died only a few weeks later.

Answer: Her grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor had traveled to the Holy Land when she had been a lot younger. She showed that she was still a tough cookie at the age of eighty, when she crossed the Pyrenees to escort her granddaughter back to France.

Answer: She suspected Blanche's personality was more suitable for a Queen of France

Urraca went on to marry Alfonso II of Portugal. Two of her sons became kings of Portugal in turn.

Answer: Louis the Lion

Louis was named so because of his bravery in fighting. The marriage between him and Blanche was consummated a few years after the wedding and turned out to be happy.

Answer: She organized two fleets and an army

Because Philip II was against the invasion, she threatened to take her children with her if he did not hand over money to his son. She raised more money and then traveled to Calais to organize two fleets and an army.

When John died, the English barons deserted Louis and decided to support John's young son Henry III instead. Louis had to go home after reinforcements were destroyed by an English fleet.

Answer: She mourned him, but took over power as regent immediately

Blanche did mourn, but not so much that she was incapacitated.

She never remarried.

Had she given lands away to Castile, she would probably have had a very short reign as regent.

Answer: He was very religious

Louis is now known as Saint Louis, for he was canonised in 1297. He spent much time in prayer every day, went on two crusades, and was known for his charity. He also had many churches built.

Answer: She decoded letters written by them herself and so proved they had stolen from the Knights Templars

She rode at the head of an army to negotiate with some of the ringleaders and promised them that her children would marry theirs.

She stalled afterwards, and they conspired again. When her son was in danger of capture, he asked her for help. She then turned to the people of Paris and raised another army. The rebels fled before they could meet in battle and a more lasting peace was negotiated.

Answer: To stay in France and become regent once more

She opposed the crusade, but did take up the regency again. The crusade was a failure and Blanche had to raise money to help him. Louis was captured and had to pay a ransom, which added to the expenses. Blanche's death in 1252 made it imperative that he return to France quickly.

The crusade did give Louis a lot of prestige and enhanced his reputation as a pious king.