Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/714

 691 BLANCHE OF CASTILE BLAND to Pedro, king of Castile, afterward called the Cruel The king consented to the espousal from political considerations, but all his affec- tion was bestowed upon Maria de Padilla. His natural brother Don Federico having been sent to meet the princess at Narbonne, it was pre- tended that the two were engaged in an in- trigue ; and though the king married Blanche the next day, he did not conceal his repug- nance, and speedily left her for the society of his mistress. She then accepted the protection of the king's brothers, who were causing some political disturbance in Castile. The king de- clared the marriage void and ordered her to be kept prisoner at the Alcazar of Toledo. She escaped from the guards in the city of Toledo, and taking refuge in the cathedral, aroused the sympathy of the people by her cries, her per- sonal beauty, and her helpless condition. They attempted to protect her, but the city was taken by assault, and the queen was sent to the castle of Medina Sidonia, where she died of poison administered to her by order of Pedro. To avenge her wrongs was one of the principal incentives of the men who a few years later engaged in the war against Pedro, and her story formed the subject of many of the Spanish ballads of that and later ages. BLANCHE OF CASTILE, queen of France, born about 1187, died Dec. 1, 1252. She was the daughter of Alfonso IX., king of Castile, by Eleonora of England, daughter of Henry II. By the treaty of peace concluded in 1200, be- tween King John and Philip Augustus, it was agreed that Blanche should marry Louis, heir apparent to the crown of France, and the mar- riage took place in the beginning of the fol- lowing year. In political affairs she gave evi- dence of ability. In 1216, when her husband was invited to accept the crown of England by the lords confederated against John, she insisted upon his acceding to their offer, and sent him money and reinforcements. The death of John, however, put an end to these attempts, and the lords returned to their al- legiance under his son. On the death of Philip Augustus and the accession of her husband to the throne as Louis VIII., she was more than ever his inspiring genius. She accompanied him in his second crusade against the Albi- genses, and on his death assumed the regency during the minority of their son Louis IX. A formidable league had been formed in the north of France, claiming the regency for young Philip Hurepel, a son of Philip Augustus by Agnes de Meranie. The queen opposed it most vigorously, and succeeded, after a strug- gle of nearly four years, in defeating the con- federates. Meanwhile she had secured to the crown the rich inheritance of the counts of Toulouse, by a treaty signed at Paris in 1229 ; she then forced to submission the duke of Brittany, and helped her friend the count of Champagne in taking possession of the king- dom of Navarre. She superintended the oper- ations of the army aad government in person, and exhibited the highest degree of ability and promptness. In 1234 she married her son, then 19 years old, to Marguerite of Provence, who was but 12. When, in 1236, she resigned her power into the hands of Louis IX., the kingdom was in a flourishing condition, and had received many important territorial acces- sions. The young king retained her near him as his best adviser, but engaged in his crusade to the Holy Land in opposition to her wishes. After his departure she resumed the duties of regent, and displayed her wonted ability among the new difficulties which she had to en- counter. She was forced continually to send money and forces to her son to aid in his ill- omened enterprise; and when he and his brothers were defeated and made prisoners in Egypt, she was obliged to raise a large ransom for their release. This necessitated heavy taxes, and the country was drained of its resources. In the midst of these difficulties Blanche had to meet the revolt of the pastoureaux, which she suppressed with a firm hand. Notwith- standing her embarrassments and her devoted piety, she withstood the encroachments of the ecclesiastical power with great spirit, and suc- cessfully defended the prerogatives of the crown. She was universally mourned at her death, and has always been regarded as one of the most remarkable rulers of France. BLANCO, a S. central county of Texas, wa- tered by the Pedernales and San Marcos riv- ers; area, 727 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 1,187, of whom 44 were colored. The surface is chiefly prairie. The chief productions in 1870 were 1,391 bushels of wheat, 42,830 of Indian corn, 2,215 of sweet potatoes, 233 bales of cotton, and 6,178 Ibs. of wool. There were 2,074 horses, 1,367 milch cows, 9,455 other cattle, 3,295 sheep, and 4,194 swine. Capital, Blanco. BLAND, a S. W. county of Virginia, border- ing on West Virginia ; area, 330 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 4,000, of whom 217 were colored. The surface is mountainous. The chief pro- ductions in 1870 were 16,518 bushels of wheat, 42,057 of Indian corn, 28,392 of oats, and 1,883 tons of hay. There were 952 horses, 1,105 milch cows, 1,851 other cattle, 3,853 sheep, and 2,987 swine. Capital, Mechanicsburg. BLAND, Theodorif, an American patriot and soldier, born in Prince George county, Va., in 1742, died in New York, June 1, 1790. Through his grandmother, Jane Rolfe, he was fourth in descent from Pocahontas. He was educated for a physician at Edinburgh, and practised his profession in Virginia till the breaking out of the revolutionary war, when he enlisted in the contest and bore an active part throughout. He was one of a score of gentlemen who removed from Lord Dunmore's palace the arms and ammunition which that nobleman had abstracted from the public ar- senal ; and soon afterward he published a series of bitterly indignant letters against the gov- ernor, under the signature of " Cassius." He was made captain of the first troop of Virginia