Blanche of Valois
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Blanche of Valois (1316 – 1 August 1348) was the first wife of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor.
[edit] Family
She was a daughter of Charles of Valois and his third wife Mahaut of Chatillon.
Her paternal grandparents were Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol and Marie of Brittany.
Marie was a daughter of John II, Duke of Brittany and Beatrice of England. Beatrice was a daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.
[edit] Marriage
In May, 1329, Blanche married Charles of Bohemia. Her husband was the eldest son of John I of Bohemia and Elisabeth I of Bohemia. Both bride and groom were about thirteen years old. They had two children:
- Margaret of Bohemia (1335 - 1349). Married Louis I of Hungary.
- Katharine of Bohemia (19 August 1342 - 26 April 1395). She married first Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria and secondly Otto V, Duke of Bavaria.
On 11 July 1346, Charles was elected King of Germany in opposition to Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor. His election was supported by Pope Clement VI who was in conflict with Louis. Charles was widely regarded as a papal puppet ("rex clericorum" as William of Ockham called him).
While the conflict in Germany continued, her father-in-law John of Bohemia was also allied with Philip VI of France. He was killed in the Battle of Crécy (26 August 1346). Charles escaped the battlefield relatively unharmed and succeeded to the Kingdom of Bohemia. Blanche became his Queen consort.
On 11 October 1347, Louis IV died suddenly and Charles gained wider recognition as King of Germany. Blanche died however before Charles was crowned the undisputed ruler of Germany on 25 July 1349.
| Preceded by Beatrice of Bourbon |
Queen consort of Bohemia 26 August 1346 - 1 August 1348 |
Succeeded by Anna of Bavaria |
| Preceded by Margaret, Countess of Hainaut |
German Queen 11 October 1347 - 1 August 1348 |
Succeeded by Anna of Bavaria |
