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Description
Four Queens is a rich pageant of glamour, intrigue, and feminine power at a time when women were thought to have played limited roles. In thirteenth-century Europe, four sisters from a single family—Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provençe—rose from obscurity to become the... read more
Summary
A collective biography of four lovely and literate sisters, Marguerite, Eleanor, Sanchia, and Beatrice, all daughters of Count Raymond Berenger V of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy, in the 13th Century.
Marguerite (b. 1221, when her mother was only 15 years old) was 12 when she was married...
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Cast of Characters/Important People
- Count Raymond Berenger V of Provence: His grandfather was Alfonso II, king of Aragon
- Beatrice of Savoy, countess of Provence: One of ten children, eight of whom were boys. Her father was Thomas, "a bellicose, domineering man." She married Raymond Berenger V in 1219, when he was 14 and she 12. Had twin sons in 1220 who did not survive, followed by four girls in the next 10 years.
- Marguerite of Provence, Queen of France: Born in 1221, first daughter of Beatrice of Savoy and Raymond Berenger V. Married King Louis IX on May 27, 1234. Had first son on 25 Feb, 1244 (Louis X), and second son on 1 May 1245 (Philip).
- Eleanor of Provence, Queen of England: Born in 1223, second daughter of Beatrice of Savoy and Raymond Berenger V. Married King Henry III in Canterbury on 14 January 1236, and was coronated queen of England at Westminster on 19 Jan 1236. No dowry.
- Sanchia of Provence: Born in 1228, third daughter of Beatrice of Savoy and Raymond Berenger V. Married in 1245 to Richard of Cornwall. Her dowry was paid by Henry III, Richard's older brother. Sanchia and Richard had a son in Fall 1246 who died a month later.
- Beatrice of Provence: Fourth daughter of Beatrice of Savoy and Raymond Berenger V. Beatrice was 13 when her father died in 1245. She inherited the county of Provence, "for it is the custom of that country that the last child have all, and there be no male heir." After being pursued by many suitors, Pope Innocent IV decided she should marry Charles, Count of Anjou, younger brother of Louis IX. The cermony was held at Aix on 31 Jan 1246.
- Louis IX, king of France: Firstborn of Blanche of Castile (the White Queen) and Louis VIII. his father was crown prince when he was born; his grandfather Philip Augustus was still king.
- Henry III, king of England: b. 1207 to Isabella and Henry II. Raised at court by William the Marshal, the justiciar (regent).
- Richard, Earl of Cornwall (the lionhearted): b. 1209 to Isabella and Henry II. Sent to Corfe Castle in Dorset and raised by a tutor. Married first to Isabella Marshall, then to the much younger Sanchia of Provence.
- Charles, Count of Anjou.: Charles was born after his father, Louis VIII, died. Younger brother of King Louis IX. Married to Beatrice of Provence on 31 Jan 1246.
First Sentence
"Bordered to the west by the Rhone, to the northeast by the dramatic mountains of Savoy, and to the south by the blue-green waters of the Mediterranean, Provence, with its inviting vineyards, gentle climate, and profusion of sunlight and flowers, embodied the medieval ideal of an exquisite garden."
Table of Contents
List of Maps
Preface
I. The Land of Song
II. The White Queen
Marguerite
III. A Royal Wedding
Eleanor
IV. Royal Rivals
V. Queen Eleanor
VI. Family Affairs
Sanchia
VII. Ambition and Obedience
VIII. A War and a Wedding
Beatrice
IX. An Unlikely Inheritance
Marguerite
X. A Vow
XI. The Crusade of Louis IX
XII. The Queen's Gamble
Eleanor
XIII. Queenscraft
Sanchia
XIV. A Royal Windfall
Marguerite
XV. TGhe Return of the Queen
Eleanor
XVI. A Royal Reception
Sanchia
XVII. Queen of the Romans
Beatrice
XVIII. Royal Sibling Rivalry
Eleanor
XIX. Prelude to War
XX. A Queen in Crisis
Beatrice
XXI. Four Queens
Marguerite
XXII. The Last Crusade
XXIII. Endgame
Epilogue
A Note on Medieval Money
Genealogical Charts
Bibliographic Note
Selected Bibliography
List of Illustration Credits
Acknowledgements
Index
Authors & Contributors
- Nancy Bazelon Goldstone (Author)
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