lanche of Artois was a French noblewoman from the House of Artois, part of the Capetian dynasty. She was the daughter of Robert I, Count of Artois, a younger brother of King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis), and Matilda of Brabant. This made Blanche a niece of the French king and positioned her within a prominent noble lineage. Blanche's first marriage was to Henry I of Navarre, also known as Henry the Fat. Through this union, she became Queen Consort of Navarre and Countess Consort of Champagne. Together, they had one surviving child, Joan I of Navarre, who later became Queen of France as the wife of Philip IV (Philip the Fair).Regent
After Henry I's death in 1274, Blanche acted as regent for her young daughter Joan. As regent, she managed the kingdom's affairs and negotiated an advantageous marriage for Joan to Philip IV, strengthening ties with the French crown.
Second MarriageBlanche's second marriage was to Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster, in 1276. Edmund was the younger son of King Henry III of England and the brother of King Edward I. This marriage tied Blanche to the English royal family and marked a significant alliance between England and Navarre. Following Edmund's death in 1296, Blanche retired from public life. She lived until 1302, dying in Paris. Blanche's legacy lies in her role as a link between the Capetian, Plantagenet, and Navarrese dynasties. Her careful management of her daughter Joan's regency ensured the continuation of the Navarrese royal line, while her marriage to Edmund strengthened Anglo-French relations during a time of complex dynastic politics.
