Blanche of Bourbon

Blanche of Bourbon (* 1339, † 1361 ) was Queen of Castile. She was a daughter of Peter I of Bourbon and Isabella of Valois.

On June 3, 1353 at the age of 14, she married in Valladolid, Spain, King Peter I of Castile, later called " the Cruel " or " the righteous ". Previously, on July 9, 1352 she was married to him in a long distance wedding in the Abbey of Preuilly. They married because King Peter wanted a connection to France.

Marriage

It is believed that King Peter had already married his mistress, the Castilian nobleman María de Padilla before his marriage with Blanche, but he fought it off. There were great difficulties to the bridal money that was promised to him for marriage with Blanche. Peter may possibly have seen cheated by his father to the dowry.

Three days after the wedding, leaving Peter and Blanche returned to Maria de Padilla. With Mary he later had four children, including

• Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York,
• The Infanta Constance of Castile.

Blanche's cousin, John II of France, appealed to Pope Innocent VI. , That he excommunicate Peter due to the capture of Blanche, but the Pope decided otherwise.

Doña Blanca

In Spain it is known as Blanche de Bourbon Doña Blanca de Borbón. Pedro I imprisoned his young wife Doña Blanca de Borbón one, first in the castle of Arevalo, then in Valladolid, Siguenza, in Toledo, Jerez and last in Medina- Sidonia, in - viewed from France - remotest corners of our country.

Death

Blanche finally died eight years after their wedding in Medina -Sidonia at the age of 22 years. A legend claims that she had been murdered by an archer, to her husband, the king, had sent. Another legend speaks of poisoning.

However, the modern science assumes that she died from an illness, probably tuberculosis.

Blanche and Peter had no children.

Swell

• Edward Everett Hale and Susan Hale. The Story of Spain. Story of the nations. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1886. Googlebooks.com Accessed November 16, 2007
• Jones, William H. Blanche de Bourbon, and other poems. London:. Hookham and Sons, 1855 googlebooks.com Accessed November 16, 2007