Blanche of Artois

Blanche of Artois (1248 – 2 May 1302) was the queen consort of Navarre; after her husband Henry I of Navarre's death, she served as regent from 1274 to 1284 on behalf of her daughter, Joan I. Besides Navarre, she ruled the counties of Brie, Champagne, Troyes et Meaux.

In 1276, she became Countess of Lancaster by marrying into the English royal family.

She was the daughter of Count Robert I of Artois and Matilda of Brabant.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Family
* 2 First marriage
* 3 Second marriage
* 4 Ancestry

[edit] Family

Blanche's paternal grandparents were Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile, and her maternal grandparents were Henry II, Duke of Brabant and Marie of Hohenstaufen, daughter of Philip of Swabia.
[edit] First marriage

Blanche married Henry I of Navarre (ruled 1270–1274) who died in 1274. This marriage was politically adavantageous for Navarre, Blanche having been the niece of King Louis IX of France. Together they had two children:

* Theobald - d. 1270 fell from a battlement at the castle of Estella
* Joan I of Navarre, who became Queen regnant of Navarre and Queen consort of France

[edit] Second marriage

After Henry's death, Blanche married Edmund Crouchback (1245–1296), in 1276, an English prince who was a younger son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. Edmund was also a widower, his young wife having died the same year as Blanche's husband.

Edmund and Blanche had four children:

* Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (1278 – 22 Mar 1322)
* Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster (1281 – 22 September 1345)
* John, Lord of Beaufort (c. 1282 – 1327)
* Mary (c. 1284 – c. 1289)

Ancestry
Ancestors of Blanche of Artois


































16. Louis VII of France











8. Philip II of France


















17. Adèle of Champagne











4. Louis VIII of France
























18. Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut











9. Isabelle of Hainaut


















19. Margaret I, Countess of Flanders











2. Robert I, Count of Artois






























20. Sancho III of Castile











10. Alfonso VIII of Castile


















21. Blanche of Navarre











5. Blanche of Castile
























22. Henry II of England











11. Eleanor of England


















23. Eleanor of Aquitaine











1. Blanche of Artois




































24. Godfrey III, Count of Leuven











12. Henry I, Duke of Brabant


















25. Margaret of Limburg











6. Henry II, Duke of Brabant
























26. Matthew, Count of Boulogne











13. Matilda of Flanders


















27. Marie I, Countess of Boulogne











3. Matilda of Brabant






























28. Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor











14. Philip of Swabia


















29. Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy











7. Marie of Hohenstaufen
























30. Isaac II Angelos, Byzantine Emperor











15. Irene Angelina


















31. Irene










Preceded by
Isabelle of France Queen consort of Navarre
Countess consort of Champagne
1270–1274 Succeeded by
Margaret of Burgundy