| Blanche of Valois | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Queen consort of Germany | |
| Tenure | 11 October 1347 – 1 August 1348 |
| Queen consort of Bohemia | |
| Tenure | 26 August 1346 – 1 August 1348 |
| Coronation | 2 September 1347 |
| Born | c. 1317 |
| Died | 1 August 1348 Prague |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Margaret, Queen of Hungary Catherine, Electress of Brandenburg |
| House | Valois |
| Father | Charles of Valois |
| Mother | Mahaut of Châtillon |
Blanche of Valois (baptisedMarguerite; 1317–1348) wasQueen of Germany andBohemia by her marriage to King and later Holy Roman EmperorCharles IV. She was the youngest daughter ofCharles of Valois and his third wifeMahaut of Châtillon.
Born in 1317,[1] Blanche was the youngest daughter ofCharles of Valois and his third wifeMahaut of Châtillon.[2] She grew up at the French court of her cousinCharles IV of France, who was a nephew to her father. She spent much time with Charles' wifeMarie, who was an aunt to her future husband.
A betrothal between Blanche andCharles, eldest son ofJohn of Bohemia was contracted in 1323.[3] Charles had been staying at the French court as he had been sent by his father to be educated; he had been baptised Wenceslaus but changed his name upon the betrothal in honour of King Charles.
The importance of Blanche's position grew when King Charles died without male heirs and so Blanche's brother succeeded asPhilip VI of France. He had his son and heirJohn betrothed and later married to Charles' sister,Jutta.
AtPrague in May 1329, Blanche and Charles were married. The couple lived apart for the first several years of marriage; Blanche lived inLuxembourg whilst Charles was inItaly focusing on securing the Empire with his father. The couple began to live together upon Charles' return in 1334, at which time, the couple were made Margrave and Margravine ofMoravia. Blanche entered Prague on 12 June with French ladies and courtiers. The couple clashed with the Bohemian nobility who had gained strength because of King John's frequent trips abroad; despite this challenge, Blanche learned Czech and German, had a social life and would remain in Bohemia when Charles traveled abroad. Within the first year of married life, the couple had a short-lived son.
Blanche was close to her stepmother-in-law,Beatrice of Bourbon. As French was the native language of both women, they communicated easily. Blanche was more popular at court than Beatrice; she was always compared unfavourably to Blanche and this was possibly because Beatrice never learned Czech or German whilst Blanche did.
John put pressure on Blanche due to the birth of only a daughter, Margaret, and the absence of a living male child. The pressure resulted in Blanche moving toBrno in 1337; for the next several years, Blanche and Charles had no children. However, the couple had a second daughter in 1342 named Katherine. On 11 July 1346, Charles was electedking of Germany in opposition toHoly Roman EmperorLouis IV. His election was supported byPope Clement VI, who was at odds with Louis. While the conflict in Germany continued, Blanche's father-in-law John allied himself with Blanche's brother, King Philip. John was killed in theBattle of Crécy (26 August 1346). Charles escaped the battlefield relatively unharmed and succeeded to the Kingdom of Bohemia. Blanche became queen.
On 11 October 1347, Louis IV died suddenly and Charles gained wider recognition as king of Germany. However, less than a year later on 1 August 1348, Blanche died after a short illness aged thirty-two. Her death was a large blow to Charles who still did not have a son and heir, large political loss with France and a full-fledged marriage. Desperate for a son, Charles remarried the following year toAnna of Bavaria. Seven years after the death of Blanche, Charles became emperor; he was eventually succeeded by his sonSigismund, whom he had with his fourth wifeElizabeth of Pomerania.
Blanche was buried in Saint Vitus, Prague Castle.
Blanche and Charles had two daughters:
Blanche was portrayed by Czech actressDaniela Kolářová in the 1969 filmSlasti Otce vlasti.
Blanche of Valois Cadet branch of theCapetian dynasty Born: 1317 Died: 1 August 1348 | ||
| Royal titles | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by Beatrice of Bourbon | Queen consort of Bohemia 26 August 1346 – 1 August 1348 | Vacant Title next held by Anna of Bavaria |
| Vacant Title last held by Margaret II of Hainaut | German Queen 11 October 1347 – 1 August 1348 | |
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