Blanche of Montferrat
Encyclopedia
Blanche of Montferrat or Bianca di Montferrato (1472- 30 March 1519), was the Duchess of Savoy and titular Queen consort
of Cyprus
, Jerusalem
, and Armenia as the wife of Charles I of Savoy
. She acted as regent
for her only son Charles from 1490 until his accidental death in 1496.
, and Elisabetta Sforza, daughter of Francesco I Sforza
, Duke of Milan and Bianca Maria Visconti
, after whom Blanche was named.
On 1 April 1485, she married Charles I, Duke of Savoy, and the titular King of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia. The marriage produced two children:
Upon the death of her husband in 1490, she acted as regent for her young son, who had succeeded his father in his regnal and titular titles. She remained the ruler of Savoy until her son, who was seven years old at the time, was accidentally killed in a fall at Moncalieri
. Her surviving child, Yolande died three years later, without having produced any children; therefore Blanche's line became extinct.
In her will dated 12 February 1519, she names her choice of burial place which was the chapel of the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Carignano. She names her heir as Charles III, Duke of Savoy
, and in default, the latter's younger brother Philippe, Count of Genevois.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Cyprus
Kingdom of Cyprus
The Kingdom of Cyprus was a Crusader kingdom on the island of Cyprus in the high and late Middle Ages, between 1192 and 1489. It was ruled by the French House of Lusignan.-History:...
, Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
, and Armenia as the wife of Charles I of Savoy
Charles I of Savoy
Charles I , surnamed the Warrior, was the Duke of Savoy from 1482 to 1490 and titular king of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia from 1485 to 1490....
. She acted as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for her only son Charles from 1490 until his accidental death in 1496.
Marriage and regency
Blanche was the eldest daughter of William VIII, Marquess of MontferratWilliam VIII, Marquess of Montferrat
William VIII Palaiologos was the Marquess of Montferrat from 1464 until his death.He was the third son of Marquess John Jacob, and inherited the Marquisate after the death of his elder brother John IV. He obtained by Emperor Frederick III the territories lost to Savoy from 1435...
, and Elisabetta Sforza, daughter of Francesco I Sforza
Francesco I Sforza
Francesco I Sforza was an Italian condottiero, the founder of the Sforza dynasty in Milan, Italy. He was the brother of Alessandro, with whom he often fought.-Early life:...
, Duke of Milan and Bianca Maria Visconti
Bianca Maria Visconti
Bianca Maria Visconti was Duchess of Milan from 1450 to 1468.-Early years:Born near Settimo Pavese, Bianca Maria was the illegitimate daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan and last of the Visconti rulers, and Agnese del Maino, the only person the shy, secluded Filippo ever loved...
, after whom Blanche was named.
On 1 April 1485, she married Charles I, Duke of Savoy, and the titular King of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia. The marriage produced two children:
- Yolande Louise of Savoy (2 July 1487- 13 September 1499), married Philibert II of Savoy; died childless at the age of 12.
- Charles II, Duke of SavoyCharles II, Duke of SavoyCharles II or Charles John Amadeus , was the Duke of Savoy from 1490 to 1496 but his mother Blanche of Montferrat was the actual ruler as a Regent...
(23 June 1489- 16 April 1496)
Upon the death of her husband in 1490, she acted as regent for her young son, who had succeeded his father in his regnal and titular titles. She remained the ruler of Savoy until her son, who was seven years old at the time, was accidentally killed in a fall at Moncalieri
Moncalieri
Moncalieri is a town and comune of approximately 58,000 inhabitants about eight kilometers directly south of downtown Turin , in Piedmont, Italy. It is notable for its castle, built in the 12th century and enlarged in the 15th century, which later became the favorite residence of Maria Clotilde...
. Her surviving child, Yolande died three years later, without having produced any children; therefore Blanche's line became extinct.
In her will dated 12 February 1519, she names her choice of burial place which was the chapel of the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Carignano. She names her heir as Charles III, Duke of Savoy
Charles III, Duke of Savoy
Charles III of Savoy , often called Charles the Good, was Duke of Savoy from 1504 to 1553, although most of his lands were ruled by the French between 1536 and his death....
, and in default, the latter's younger brother Philippe, Count of Genevois.