Blanche of Bourbon. Queen Blanche of Castile

Blanche of Bourbon (1339-1361). Noble French queen consort of Castile. It was the firstand, according to canon law, only lawful wife of King Peter I of Castile.

She was the daughter of the Duke of Bourbon Peter I and Elizabeth of Valois. A curious fact is that, despite going to ask the hand of Blanche de Bourbon, the Spanishdelegation, once in France, again reiterated the request that had been done to Blancaof Navarre, but she came to reject it for the same reasons. There is no knownexplanation for this event, but any objections put by members of that delegation to Blanca of Bourbon. Despite the doubts, the request marriage takes place. On July 2, 1352 signed the treaty of alliance between France and Castile and the marriage contract, which was ratified five days later in France by King John II and on 4 November of that year, King Peter did the same in Castile.

All negotiations, payment of dowry, and the rich dowry that Blanche would Castilla, werefully processed and paid by King John II of France. The Duke of Bourbon was kept out.

However, King John II delayed the first payment of 25,000 guilders for Christmas, aswas agreed. The delegation which was to move to Blanche would take seven months toreach its destination. During its way to Castile, Blanca stops at Avignon, where he met the Pope Innocent VI, who became his main and only defender.

Blanche never wanted marriage, and even three times reneged on this, but, forced by King John II, his father, his brother and even his own sister Juana, accepts his fate.

The marriage between King Pedro of Castile and Blanche of Bourbon is celebrated inValladolid on June 3, 1353. However, after two days of the bond held, the king leaves his wife, refusing to live with her ​​anymore.

Immediately after being abandoned by the king, Blanche spends some time in MedinaSidonia by the Queen Mother, but when civil war broke out in Castile, the king orders to be sent to the castle of Arevalo and then the Alcazar of Toledo, from where she sendsletters to Pope Innocent VI in saying that king Peter had introduced great hardship.

Thanks to these letters, which quickly and conveniently made ​​public-the people of Toledo rebels against the king and takes the side of Blanche, which also bind manynobles. Blanche left the Alcazar, disobeying her husband and takes refuge in the cathedral, from where he organized his followers and even get to give financial supportfor their cause.

Between 1355 and 1359 is confined to Blanche Castle Bishops of Sigüenza, and is subsequently transferred to The Harbour of St. Mary, to prevent it from being released by the Aragonese side and outside banner of their cause. Meanwhile, the king returnedto the castle of Urueña in Valladolid, where he lodged his mistress, Maria de Padilla,living with her permanently. 

In 1361, Blanche was sent to Medina Sidonia to keep her away from the fighting betweenPeter I and the kingdom of Aragon and at the same time, Pope Innocent VI lobbied forher release.

Queen Blanche died in 1361, aged 22, murdered by order of Peter the Cruel.