Stephanie, Queen of Navarre

Stephanie or Estefania (died after 1066) was the wife of García Sánchez III of Navarre, making her Queen consort of Navarre. Amongst the children produced from this marriage was Sancho IV of Navarre. The life of Queen Stephanie is surrounded by mystery and speculation; her origins, number of marriages and children are not certain.[1]

Origins

Parentage

Stephanie was born at an unknown date though it could be predicted that it was close to García Sánchez's own birth in 1016.[2] The parentage of the future consort has been speculated amongst historians with two noblemen being most favoured as Stephanie's father. Bernard-Roger, Count of Bigorre and his wife Garsenda are the preferred couple for Stephanie's parentage according to Salazar y Acha.[3] Salazar y Acha agrees with the opinion of Languedoc historians who held that she was the daughter of the Count and Countess of Bigorre, explaining Stephanie's presence in Barcelona as a lady in the court of her maternal aunt Ermesinde of Carcassonne married to Ramon Borrell, count of Barcelona. If this is the case, then Stephanie is sister of Gerberge, wife of Ramiro I of Aragón. Although, Acha does not use a direct quote or source reference therefore, Stephanie's parentage is not certain. As a result, it is possible to argue she was in fact the daughter of Ermesinde and Ramon as this would also explain Stephanie's presence at the court in Barcelona.

Possible First Marriage

According to Histoire Générale de Languedoc a marriage contract attributed to Stephanie (again, no quote or source reference) dated 1036 exists, but this is not reproduced by Marca.[4]

References

  1. ↑ CHAWLEY, Charles. "TOULOUSE NOBILITY", Medieval Lands
  2. ↑ II #56, III.1 #145; Moriarty, Plantagenet Ancestry of King Edward III and Queen Philippa of Hainault, p80, 109
  3. ↑ Marca (Béarn), p. 709.
  4. ↑ Histoire Générale de Languedoc 3rd Edn. Tome IV, p. 117, citing Marca (Béarn), p. 709.
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