Tenure 1295–1310 Mother Maria of Hungary Name Blanche Anjou | ||
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IssueAmong Others JamesAlfonso IV of AragonMariaIsabella, Queen of Germany Children Alfonso IV of Aragon, James of Aragon Parents Charles II of Naples, Mary of Hungary, Queen of Naples Similar People James II of Aragon, Peter III of Aragon, Alfonso IV of Aragon, Peter IV of Aragon, Charles Martel of Anjou | ||
Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou
Blanche of Anjou (1280 – 14 October 1310) was Queen of Aragon as the second spouse of King James II. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, she is also known as Blanche of Naples. She served as Regent or "Queen-Lieutenant" of Aragon during the absence of her spouse in 1310.
Contents
Life
Blanche was the daughter of Charles II of Naples and Maria of Hungary. Among her siblings were Robert I of Naples, Saint Louis of Toulouse, Philip I of Taranto, titular Emperor of Constantinople, Charles Martel, titular King of Hungary, Eleanor, Queen of Sicily, and Maria, Queen of Majorca. She was originally betrothed in 1290 to John I, Marquess of Montferrat. Her father was helping him defend Montferrat, hoping to make John his vassal. However, the engagement was broken off and John died childless in 1305.
The new Pope Boniface VIII, elected in 1294 at Naples under the auspices of King Charles, mediated between the latter and James II of Aragon, and the Treaty of Anagni was signed: James was to marry Blanche and was promised the investiture, by the pope, of Sardinia and Corsica, while he was to leave the Angevin a free hand in Sicily and even to assist him if the Sicilians resisted.
On 29 October or 1 November 1295 at Vilabertran, Blanche and James were married.
Blanche died on the 14 October 1310, during her regency in the absence of James. Her death was probably linked to the birth of her daughter Violante, who was born in October 1310. Blanche was buried at Santes Creus. She was survived by her husband, children and mother.