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Beatrice of Savoy (1205 – 4 January 1267)^[1], was the daughter of Thomas I of Savoy and Marguerite of Geneva. She was Countess consort of Provence by her marriage to Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence.

Family

Her paternal grandparents were Humbert III, Count of Savoy and Beatrice of Viennois. Her maternal grandparents were William I, Count of Geneva and Beatrice de Faucigny. Beatrice of Savoy's mother, Marguerite was betrothed to Philip II of France. While Marguerite was travelling to France for her wedding, she was captured by Beatrice's father, Thomas. He took her back to Savoy and married her himself. Thomas' was excuse was that Philip II was already married, which was true.

Beatrice was the tenth of fourteen children born to her parents. Her siblings included: Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy, Thomas II of Piedmont, Peter II, Count of Savoy, Philip I, Count of Savoy, Boniface of Savoy, Archbishop of Canterbury, Avita the Countess of Devon and Margherita of Savoy wife of Hartmann I of Kyburg.

Life

Marriage

Beatrice married on 5 June 1219 Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence. She was a shrewd and politically astute woman, whose beauty was likened to that of a second Niobe by Matthew Paris. Ramon and Beatrice of Savoy had four daughters, who all lived to adulthood, and married kings. Their only son, Raymond died in early infancy.^[2]

1. Marguerite, Queen of France (1221-1295), wife of Louis IX of France
2. Eleanor, Queen of England (1223-1291), wife of Henry III of England
3. Sanchia, Queen of Germany (1228-1261), wife of Richard, Earl of Cornwall
4. Beatrice, Queen of Sicily (1234-1267), wife of Charles I of Sicily
5. Raymond of Provence, died young

Widowhood

When Berenguer had died on 19 August 1245, he left his youngest daughter, Provence. Beatrice became one of the most attractive heiresses in medieval Europe. Various suitors had tried to seize her, so Beatrice of Savoy placed the younger Beatrice in a safe fortress, secured the trust of its people then went to the Pope for his protection. In Cluny during December 1245, a secret discussion, between Pope Innocent IV, Louis IX of France, his mother Blanche of Castile and his brother Charles of Anjou, took place. It was decided that in return for Louis IX supporting the Pope militarily, the Pope would allow Charles of Anjou, youngest brother to the French King,to marry Beatrice of Provence. But Provence was to never go to France outright through Charles. It was agreed that if Charles and Beatrice had children, the county would go to them, if there was no issue, then the county would go to Sanchia of Provence. If Sanchia died without an heir, Provence would go to the King of Aragon.

Beatrice of Savoy who had been granted the usufruct of the county for her lifetime, according to her husbands will agreed to the marriage between Charles of Anjou and her youngest daughter, Beatrice.

References