May 10

Four Queens
By Nancy Goldstone

Imagine a family whose 4 daughters all became queens!  Count Raymond Berenger and Countess Beatrice of Provence are not highly prominent royal figures.  They are married in their early teens and their first children (twin boys) die in infancy.  They then have four daughters in the 1220s; they see that the girls are well educated and cultured.  Like their parents, the girls will have their marriages arranged for them.  

Marguerite marries young Louis of France, who will become Louis IX.  When his domineering mother Blanche dies, Marguerite is able to help her somewhat weak husband; he is the Saint Louis of history and legend, thanks to his leading of Crusades to the Holy Land.  

Eleanor marries Henry, who would become King Henry III of England and who was hoping an alliance with Provence would strengthen his power.  She was also an instrumental advisor to her husband.  This was during the time when English kings were still French speakers.

Sanchia marries Richard, younger brother of King Henry of England. While Richard was considered a capable leader, he was only a younger brother and ended up "King of the Romans" (Germany).

Finally, Beatrice marries Charles of Anjou, a younger brother of King Louis IX, who became King of Sicily.


Of course the geography of western Europe was much different from what it is today, with many smaller kingdoms (e.g., Sicily) now part of a united country.

It was encouraging to read of women (from a single family) who wielded influence over their husbands and kingdoms, especially back in the 13th century.  A chart shows the Count and Countess of Provence's family tree.