Blanche of Castile child Louis IX of France
Blanche of Castile (Spanish: Blanca de Castilla; 4 March 1188 – 27 November 1252) was Queen of France by marriage to Louis VIII. She acted as regent twice during the reign of her son, Louis IX: during his minority from 1226 until 1234, and during his absence from 1248 until 1252.Early life
Blanche was born in Palencia, Spain, in 1188, the third daughter of Alfonso VIII, King of Castile, and Eleanor of England, sister of King Richard I of England and King John of England. In her youth, she visited the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas, founded by her parents, several times. In consequence of the Treaty of Le Goulet between Philip Augustus and John of England, Blanche's sister, Urraca, was betrothed to Philip's son, Louis. After meeting the two sisters, their grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine (who had been a queen consort of France herself) judged that Blanche's personality was more fit to fulfil the role. In the spring of 1200, Eleanor crossed the Pyrenees with her and brought her to France instead.Issue
Blanche (1205 – died soon after).
Agnes (1207 - died soon after).
Philip (9 September 1209 – before July 1218), betrothed in July 1215 to Agnes of Donzy.
Alphonse (b. and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 26 January 1213), twin of John.
John (b. and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 26 January 1213), twin of Alphonse.
Louis IX (Poissy, 25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270, Tunis), King of France as successor to his father.
Robert (25 September 1216 – 9 February 1250, killed in battle, Manssurah, Egypt), Count of Artois.
Philip (20 February 1218 – 1220).
John (21 July 1219 – 1232), Count of Anjou and Maine; betrothed in March 1227 to Yolande of Brittany.
Alphonse (Poissy, 11 November 1220 – 21 August 1271, Corneto), Count of Poitou and Auvergne, and by marriage, of Toulouse.
Philip Dagobert (20 February 1222 – 1232).
Isabelle (March 1224 – 23 February 1270).
Etienne (end 1225 – early 1227).
Charles (end 1226/early 1227 – 7 January 1285), Count of Anjou and Maine, by marriage Count of Provence and Folcalquier, and King of Sicily.
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