Blanche of France, Infanta of Castile

Template:Infobox French Royalty Blanche of France (1253-1323) was a daughter of Louis IX of France and Marguerite of Provence. Her paternal grandparents were Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile, her maternal grandparents were Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy. Among her siblings were Philip III of France and Isabella, Queen of Navarre.

Biography

In November 1268 Blanche married Ferdinand de la Cerda, Infante of Castile, eldest son of Alfonso X of Castile and Violant of Aragon, they had two sons

Alfonso (1270-1324), who married Mahaut, daughter of John I of Brienne, Count of Eu. They had four sons and three daughters.
Fernando (1275-1322), who married Juana Núñez de Lara, called "la Palomilla", Lady of Lara & Herrera, daughter of Juan Núñez de Lara “el Mayor” and Teresa Álvarez de Azagra. They had one son and three daughters. One daughter, Blanca Núñez de Lara, was the mother-in-law to King Henry II of Castile.

Ferdinand predeceased his father in 1275 at Ciudad Real. Blanche and Ferdinand's sons did not inherit the throne of their grandfather, since their uncle, the second son, Sancho, enforced his claim, even by rebelling. Blanche's brother Philip warned Sancho that he would invade Castile on behalf of his two nephews.

Blanche left Castile never to return, her sons were sent to live with their grandmother Violant of Aragon who had them sent to the fortress of Játiva so they would be safe from Sancho. Blanche died at the court in Paris in 1323.