Blanche of Burgundy
(c. 1296-c. 1326)
BIRTH
c. 1296
PLACE
Burgundy, France
DEATH
c. 1326
PLACE
FAMILY
HUSBAND
Charles IV of France
(1294-1328, last direct Capetian)
HOMES
RELIGIOUS VIEWS
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION UNCERTAIN
DENOMINATION UNCERTAIN
MEMBERSHIPS
AWARDS
Blanche of Burgundy was the first wife of Charles IV of France. The knights were executed, and Blanche was imprisoned with Margaret at Château Gaillard. When Charles became king in 1322, he sought to end the marriage. Pope John XXII annulled it on the grounds that Blanche's mother was Charles's godmother. Blanche, who had technically become queen in January 1322, was never crowned or freed. After the annulment she was moved to Gavray Castle in Normandy.
EARLY LIFE
Blanche was born around 1296, the youngest daughter of Otto IV, Count of Burgundy, and Mahaut, Countess of Artois. Her elder sister Joan married Philip, Count of Poitiers, the future Philip V. In 1308 Blanche married Charles, Count of La Marche, the youngest son of Philip IV. She lived at the French court with her sister and her cousin Margaret of Burgundy, the wife of the heir, Louis. The three young princesses were at the center of court life in the last years of Philip IV's reign.
In 1314 Blanche and Margaret were accused of adultery with the knights Gautier and Philippe d'Aunay. The knights were executed, and Blanche was imprisoned with Margaret at Château Gaillard.
When Charles became king in 1322, he sought to end the marriage. Pope John XXII annulled it on the grounds that Blanche's mother was Charles's godmother. Blanche, who had technically become queen in January 1322, was never crowned or freed.
After the annulment she was moved to Gavray Castle in Normandy. She died by early 1326; the traditional story that she ended her life as a nun at the Abbey of Maubuisson is unproven.
CAREER
DEATH
Blanche of Burgundy was the first wife of Charles IV of France. Blanche, who had technically become queen in January 1322, was never crowned or freed. In 1314 Blanche and Margaret were accused of adultery with the knights Gautier and Philippe d'Aunay. The knights were executed, and Blanche was imprisoned with Margaret at Château Gaillard. When Charles became king in 1322, he sought to end the marriage. Pope John XXII annulled it on the grounds that Blanche's mother was Charles's godmother. After the annulment she was moved to Gavray Castle in Normandy. She died by early 1326; the traditional story that she ended her life as a nun at the Abbey of Maubuisson is unproven. The main event and its setting are better documented than the precise final moments. Exact last words and private exchanges are not consistently preserved, so those details remain uncertain.
POPULAR BIOGRAPHIES
Blanche of Burgundy, Charles IV of France’s first wife, distinct from Blanche of Navarre. The two essay collections include studies of royal provision and penitential culture. Five dedicated biographies were not identified. These editorial selections include biographies where available, with personal writings, collective biography, reference works and related studies clearly labelled.
1. Capetian Women — Kathleen D. Nolan (editor). [Collective biography] Find on Amazon
2. The Capetians: Kings of France, 987–1328 — Jim Bradbury. [Related political and biographical history] Find on Amazon
3. Capetian France, 987–1328 — Elizabeth M. Hallam; Judith Everard. [Related political and biographical history] Find on Amazon
4. Medieval Futures: Attitudes to the Future in the Middle Ages — J. A. Burrow; Ian P. Wei (editors). [Historical essays; includes study of royal provision and salvation] Find on Amazon
5. Cultural Performances in Medieval France: Essays in Honor of Nancy Freeman Regalado — Eglal Doss-Quinby; Roberta L. Krueger; E. Jane Burns (editors). [Cultural and biographical essays; includes a royal penitential book] Find on Amazon
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