Blanche of Castile - J-blanchard.org

Name Class Date
Blanche of Castile, continued
Biography
rebellions, replacing rebel noble groups with
commoners, and organizing local militias. In a
short time she managed to stop the revolts and
establish truces with England and southern France.
Blanche, who served as regent of France while her
son King Louis IX was a minor, took the position
again when he went off to fight in the Crusades in
1248. During her second term as regent, she was in
poor health, but this did not stop her from actively
fulfilling her duties. She signed new laws and was
concerned with the needs of the poor. She worked
to protect the less fortunate against injustices.
Blanche died of a heart attack in 1252 and was
laid out in a nun’s habit on a bed of hay.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
1. Identify What were the qualities that helped Blanche unify France?
2. Summarize How did Blanche manage to bring stability to France?
3. Make Judgments Do you think the fact that Blanche of Castile was a woman was
an advantage or a disadvantage for her as a ruler? Explain your answer.
ACTIVITY
4. Blanche was of Spanish and English heritage, but she fell in love with France. Of
the countries and periods you have studied so far, where would you have liked to
live and in what era? Give several reasons why you think it would have been nice
to live there during that period. Include drawings or illustrations from the region.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
9 The Later Middle Ages