Blanka of Navarre (Champagne)

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Blanka of Navarre († 1229 ) was through her husband Countess of Champagne , then regent of the country and finally also regent of her homeland, the Kingdom of Navarre .

She was the youngest daughter of King Sancho VI. († 1194) and Sancha of the Kingdom of Castile . Her maternal grandparents were Alfonso VII , King of Castile and Berenguela of Barcelona .

Blanka married Theobald III. , Count of Champagne , who died in 1201 while she was pregnant. Her child, Theobald IV , immediately became Count of Champagne. Blanka remained regent of the country until her son grew up in 1222.

Her reign suffered from a number of problems. Blanka's brother-in-law, Count Heinrich II of Champagne, had left behind a large mountain of debts that had not yet been paid off when Theobald III. died. The succession of Theobald IV was challenged by Heinrich's daughter Philippa and her husband Érard von Brienne , Lord of Ramerupt and one of the most powerful barons in Champagne. The conflict with Brienne broke out openly in 1215 and was not resolved by the end of her reign.

Blanka's brother Sancho VII was the last male member of the ruling family of Navarre. When he retired, Blanka took over the administration of the kingdom. She died before her brother in 1229.