BLANCHE DE CASTILLE

Thème.

Blanche de Castille's biographers do not agrée upon the date of her birth ; some prétend that she was boni in 1184, while others argue that it was in 1188. In spite of the feudal laws and customs, she succeeded in obtaining the regency of the kingdom and the guardianship of her son, Louis IX. She soon had to fight against many of the nobility, who tried to overthrow her government ; but partly by force, partly by diplomacy, she quickly conquered the coalition which had been f ormed against her.

When the king became of âge, she turned over to him the kingdom, then in a prospérons condition. ISTor was her work at an end. In 1268, Louis IX. went to Palestine on a crusade, and it became the queen's duty to send hira re-enforcements and money. This she did for four years, and when the wealth of France had been exhausted, in 1251, she ordered the nobles to go to the Holy Land to fight under the flag of their king.

Louis IX. had in his mother the utmost confidence, and he often called lier the " illustrious queen of the French."

Blanche was haughty, but noble and kind to the poor. She was energetic and was possessed of ail the qualities of a great ruler. She died in 1253.