Blanche of France, Duchess of Orléans

For other people of the same name, see Blanche of France.

Blanche of France
Duchess of Orléans
Tomb of Blanche in Notre-Dame
Tenure	1345–1376
Born	(1328-04-01)1 April 1328
Died
Burial	Basilica of St Denis
Spouse	Philip, Duke of Orléans
House	Capet
Father	Charles IV of France
Mother	Jeanne d'Évreux

Blanche of France (1 April 1328 – 8 February 1382) was the posthumous daughter of King Charles IV of France and his third wife Jeanne d'Évreux.

Succession

As with his brother before him, Charles IV died without a male heir, thus ending the direct line of the House of Capet. Twelve years earlier, a rule against succession by females, arguably derived from the Salic law, had been recognized as controlling succession to the French throne. Application of this rule barred Charles' 1-year-old daughter Mary from succeeding as the monarch.

Jeanne was also pregnant at the time of his death. Since it could have been possible that she would give birth to a son, a regency was set up with the heir presumptive Philip of Valois, a member of the House of Valois (the next-most-senior branch of the Capetian dynasty), being the regent. After two months, Jeanne gave birth to Blanche. The regent thus became the King and in May was consecrated and crowned Philip VI. At this time, a further rule of succession, again arguably based on the Salic law, was recognized as forbidding not only inheritance by a woman, but also inheritance through a female line.

Marriage

Blanche married on 8 January 1345 her cousin Philip, Duke of Orléans (1336–1375), son of King Philip VI of France and Queen Joan the Lame. They had no children but Philip had illegitimate children. He had died in 1376, his title and lands returning to the royal domain.

Blanche died in 1392 and is buried in the chapel of Notre-Dame in the Basilica of St Denis.

Family tree

Family of Blanche of France, Duchess of Orléans

16. Louis IX of France               8. Philip III of France                       17. Margaret of Provence               4. Philip IV of France                             18. James I of Aragon               9. Isabella of Aragon                       19. Violant of Hungary               2. Charles IV of France                                   20. Theobald I of Navarre               10. Henry I of Navarre                       21. Margaret of Bourbon               5. Joan I of Navarre                             22. Robert I of Artois               11. Blanche of Artois                       23. Matilda of Brabant               1. Blanche of France                                         24. Louis IX of France               12. Philip III of France                       25. Marguerite of Provence               6. Louis, Count of Évreux                             26. Henry III, Duke of Brabant               13. Maria of Brabant                       27. Adelaide of Burgundy               3. Jeanne d'Évreux                                   28. Robert II of Artois               14. Philip of Artois                       29. Amicie de Courtenay               7. Margaret of Artois                             30. John II, Duke of Brittany               15. Blanche of Brittany                       31. Beatrice of England