Blanche of Castile, Queen and Regent of France, 1188-1252

Blanca de Castilla was a Spanish princess who became the most powerful human being in France as Regent and Queen, from 1226 to 1252. From ?lie Berger's, Histoire de Blanche de Castille, Reine de France (Paris, 1895), there can be no question that Blanche ruled France during a critical period of Capetian expansion, even imperialism. Berger's biography remains the best scholarly treatment of the manuscript sources, which include the Tr?sor des Chartes; manuscripts from provincial archives, Biblioth?que nationale, and Public Record Office (London); Annales monastici, the Chronica majora by Mathieu de Paris; the Monumenta Germani , and especially the Recueil des historiens de France, comptes royaux, and collections of the Recueil des historiens de France

?lie Berger (1850-1925) was a doctor of letters, member of the ?cole fran?aise de Rome, archivist in the Archives Nationales, professor of paleography in the ?cole des chartes, and conservator in the Mus?e Cond?. At various times Berger was a member of the Acad?mie des inscriptions et belles-lettres, and the Comit? des travaux historiques et scientifiques, Pr?sident of the Soci?t? de l'?cole des chartes, and Pr?sident of the Soci?t? de l'histoire de France.

This edition of Blanche of Castile, Queen and Regent of France, 1188-1252 is the best English translation of this greatest monograph on the Spanish-born monarch who changed the course of French history.

Translated by Dr. Frank H. Wallis