#constance of arles

[wonder-worker]

Constance of Arles: A Study of Duty and Frustration

"In the spring of 1027, Bishop Fulbert of Chartres wrote a fellow bishop that he would not attend the imminent consecration of King Robert II’s son because he was “frightened away by the savagery of his mother, who is quite trustworthy when she promises evil, as is proved by her many memorable deeds.” The mother in question was Constance of Arles, wife of Robert the Pious, best remembered today for her rage against those—her confessor, bishops, the king—who opposed her wishes, and for driving her sons into rebellion more than once. But if Constance struggled during her marriage to conserve declining royal resources, to provide an appropriately dignified setting for royal authority, and to advise her husband and sons, she saw her efforts undercut by the complexities of her office. ['As a foreigner, she faced hostility; as an Angevin, she inherited the enmity of the house of Blois; as queen, she never enjoyed the king’s unconditional support.') Given the eleventh-century French monarchy’s declining wealth and power, Constance’s efforts to marshal royal resources and prevent fragmentation of the king’s authority reflected genuine concern for the royal family’s needs. But the critical male clerics who commented upon her actions unfavorably contrasted her concern for royal treasures with Robert’s charity; when she opposed him and their sons, her “wise counsel” became feminine willfulness. Thus clerics shaped Constance’s contested reputation as a “renowned queen” and a “haughty spouse.” Her life exemplifies the circumstances in which an eleventh-century queen could wield power, but it highlights too the limitations with which she might have to contend."

-Penelope Ann Adair, "Constance of Arles: A Study of Duty and Frustration", Capetian Women (Edited by Kathleen Nolan)

[palecleverdoll]

Ages of French Queens at First Marriage

I have only included women whose birth dates and dates of marriage are known within at least 1-2 years, therefore, this is not a comprehensive list.

This list is composed of Queens of France until the end of the House of Bourbon; it does not include Bourbon claimants or descendants after 1792.

The average age at first marriage among these women was 20.

Ermentrude of Orléans, first wife of Charles the Bald: age 19 when she married Charles in 842 CE

Richilde of Provence, second wife of Charles the Bald: age 25 when she married Charles in 870 CE

Richardis of Swabia, wife of Charles the Fat: age 22 when she married Charles in 862 CE

Théodrate of Troyes, wife of Odo: age 14 or 15 when she married Odo in 882 or 883 CE

Frederuna, wife of Charles III: age 20 when she married Charles in 907 CE

Beatrice of Vermandois, second wife of Robert I: age 10 when she married Robert in 990 CE

Emma of France, wife of Rudolph: age 27 when she married Rudolph in 921 CE

Gerberga of Saxony, wife of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, and later of Louis IV: age 16 when she married Gilbert in 929 CE

Emma of Italy, wife of Lothair: age 17 when she married Lothair in 965 CE

Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou, wife of Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan, Raymond III, Count of Toulouse, and later Louis V: age 15 when she married Stephen in 955 CE

Bertha of Burgundy, wife of Odo I, Count of Blois, and later Robert II: age 19 when she married Odo in 984 CE

Constance of Arles, third wife of Robert II: age 17 when she married Robert in 1003 CE

Anne of Kiev, wife of Henry I: age 21 when she married Henry in 1051 CE

Bertha of Holland, first wife of Philip I: age 17 when she married Philip in 1072 CE

Bertrade of Montfort, wife of Fulk IV, Count of Anjou, and second wife of Philip I: age 19 when she married Fulk in 1089 CE

Adelaide of Maurienne, second wife of Louis VI: age 23 when she married Louis in 1115 CE

Eleanor of Aquitaine, first wife of Louis VII and later Henry II of England: age 15 when she married Louis in 1137 CE

Adela of Champagne, third wife of Louis VII: age 20 when she married Louis in `1160 CE

Isabella of Hainault, first wife of Philip II: age 10 when she married Philip in 1180 CE

Ingeborg of Denmark, second wife of Philip II: age 19 when she married Philip in 1193 CE

Agnes of Merania, third wife of Philip II: age 21 when she married Philip in 1195 CE

Blanche of Castile, wife of Louis VIII: age 12 when she married Louis in 1200 CE

Margaret of Provence, wife of Louis IX: age 13 when she married Louis in 1234 CE

Isabella of Aragon, first wife of Philip III: age 14 when she married Philip in 1262 CE

Marie of Brabant, second wife of Philip III: age 20 when she married Philip in 1274 CE

Joan I of Navarre, wife of Philip IV: age 11 when she married Philip in 1284 CE

Margaret of Burgundy, wife of Louis X; age 15 when she married Louis in 1305 CE

Clementia of Hungary, second wife of Louis X: age 22 when she married Louis in 1315 CE

Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, wife of Philip V: age 15 when she married Philip in 1307 CE

Blanche of Burgundy, first wife of Charles IV: age 12 when she married Charles in 1308 CE

Marie of Luxembourg, second wife of Charles IV: age 18 when she married Charles in 1322 CE

Joan of Évreux, third wife of Charles IV: age 14 when she married Charles in 1324 CE

Bonne of Luxembourg, first wife of John II: age 17 when she married John in 1332 CE

Joan I, Countess of Auvergne, wife of Philip of Burgundy, and later John II: age 12 when she married Philip in 1338 CE

Joanna of Bourbon, wife of Charles V: age 12 when she married Charles in 1350 CE

Isabeau of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI: age 15 when she married Charles in 1385 CE

Marie of Anjou, wife of Charles VII: age 18 when she married Charles in 1422 CE

Charlotte of Savoy, second wife of Louis XI: age 9 when she married Louis in 1451 CE

Anne of Brittany, wife of Maximilian I, HRE, Charles VIII and later Louis XII: age 13 when she married Maximilian in 1490 CE

Joan of France, first wife of Louis XII: age 12 when she married Louis in 1476 CE

Mary Tudor, third wife of Louis XII: age 18 when she married Louis in 1514 CE

Claude of France, first wife of Francis I: age 15 when she married Francis in 1514 CE

Eleanor of Austria, wife of Manuel I of Portugal and later second wife of Francis I: age 20 when she married Manuel in 1518 CE

Catherine de' Medici, wife of Henry II: age 14 when she married Henry in 1533 CE

Mary, Queen of Scots, wife of Francis II: age 16 when she married Francis in 1558 CE

Elisabeth of Austria, wife of Charles IX: age 16 when she married Charles in 1570 CE

Louise of Lorraine, wife of Henry III: age 22 when she married Henry in 1575 CE

Margaret of Valois, first wife of Henry IV: age 19 when she married Henry in 1572 CE

Marie de' Medici, second wife of Henry IV: age 25 when she married Henry in 1600 CE

Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII: age 14 when she married Louis in 1615 CE

Maria Theresa of Spain, wife of Louis XIV: age 22 when she married Louis in 1660 CE

Marie Leszczyńska, wife of Louis XV: age 22 when she married Louis in 1725 CE

Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI: age 15 when she married Louis in 1770 CE

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.27

Holidays

Anti-Rent Insurrection Anniversary Day (Delaware)

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day

Film and Movies Day (Russia)

First Kiss Day

Good Sex Day

Harvest’s End (Elder Scrolls)

Hydrogen Balloon Flight Anniversary Day

International Boobs Day (Italy)

International Boxing Day

International Gamecock Day

International Lottery Day

Just Because Day

Karam Puja (Assam, India)

Kiss Me Day

Krakatoa Day

Ladder Day (French Republic)

Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas)

Motorist Consideration Day

National Radio Day (Argentina)

Nativity of Isis (Egyptian Goddess of Fertility)

Oil & Gas Industry Appreciation Day

Petroleum Day

Pharmacy Day (Iran)

Russian Cinema Day

Senior Race Day (Isle of Man)

Tarzan Day

Three-Thousandth Thnork of the Year (Fairy)

World Rock Paper Scissors Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Soup Day

National Banana Lovers Day

National Peach Day

National Pots de Creme Day

Salo Day (Ukraine)

Independence & Related Days

Declaration of the Rights of Man (Adopted by French Assembly; 1789)

Moldova (a.k.a. Ziua Republicii); from USSR, 1991)

Yungtaria (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Tuesday in August

Lammas Fair Day (Ballycastle, Ireland) [Last Tuesday]

Prophetic Prayer Day [4th Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tell the Truth Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Teriyaki Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Thai Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Touch-A-Heart Tuesday [Tuesday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Transformation Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Festivals Beginning August 27, 2024

Farm Progress Show (Boone, Iowa) [thru 8.29]

Free Earth Festival (Asprovalta, Greece) [thru 9.2]

Van Wert County Fair (Van Wert, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Feast Days

Alexandra Nechita (Artology)

Baculus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Caesarius of Arles (Christian; Saint)

Calasanetius (Christian; Saint)

Day Sacred to Consus (God of Graineries; Ancient Rome)

Decuman (Christian; Saint)

Devaki Day (Indian Mother-Goddess; Everyday Wicca)

Euthalia (Christian; Saint)

Feast Day of Pan (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Incandescent Rebellion

Funella Furchester (Muppetism)

Gebhard of Constance (Christian; Saint)

Harris Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugh if Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Inspiration Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jeanette Winterson (Writerism)

John of Pavia (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Calasanctius (Christian; Saint)

Juan Fernando Cobo (Artology)

Klebold Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Little St.Hugh of Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Lycerius (a.k.a. Glycerius, Lizier; Christian; Saint)

Máel Ruba (a.k.a. Rufus, Malrubius) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Man Ray (Artology)

Marcellus and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Margaret the Barefooted (Christian; Saint)

Monica of Hippo (mother of Augustine of Hippo; Christian; Saint) [Alcoholics]

Murray Matisse (Muppetism)

Narnus (Christian; Saint)

Phallogia (Pagan)

Phanourios of Rhodes (Christian; Saint)

Poëmen (a.k.a. Pastor; Christian; Saint)

Rufus and Carpophorus (Christian; Saints)

Stevin (Positivist; Saint)

Syagrius of Autun (Christian; Saint)

Theodore Dreiser (Writerism)

Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle (Episcopal Church)

The Threethousandth Thnork of the Year (Shamanism)

Tithi of Sri Sri Madhabdeva (Assam, India)

Udon Day (Pastafarian)

Usuki Stone Buddhas Fire Festival (Japan)

Volturnalia (Festival to the God of Waters & Fountains; Ancient Rome)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 239 [52 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The African Queen, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1935)

A-Lad-In Bagdad (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Bill & Ted Face the Music (Film; 2020)

Camouflage (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1943)

A Cat, a Man, and Two Women, by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Novella; 1937)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Film; 1958)

The Centaur, by John Updike (Novel; 1963)

Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (Novel; 1948)

Cherish, by The Association (Song; 1966)

Circus (Ub Iwerks MGM Cartoon; 1932)

The Dippy Diplomat (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1945)

Dizzy Newsreel (Phantasies Cartoon; 1943)

Dudley Do-Right (Film; 1999)

Egyptian Melodies (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1931)

El Salón México, by Aaron Copland (Symphonic Composition; 1937)

Fright to the Finish (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1954)

Games People Play, by Eric Berne (Psychology Book; 1963)

A Ham in a Role (WB LT Cartoon; 1949)

Hamlet 2 (Film; 2008)

Hollywood Graduation (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

Hyde and Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

I’m Gonna Send Your Vote to College (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

In the Heat if the Night, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1979)

Martin (TV Series; 1992)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

Niagara Fools (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1956)

No Code, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1996)

Old Blackout Joe (Phantasies Cartoon; 1942)

Pigmalion, by Jean-Philippe Rameau (Opera/Ballet; 1748)

Presidential Minute, a.k.a. The Campaign Trail (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

Prométhée, by Gabriel Fauré (Tragédie Lyrique (Grand Cantata); 1900)

Rabbit Redux, by John Updike (Novel: 1971) [Rabbit #2]

Roman Holiday (Film; 1953)

The Shepherds Crown, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2015) [Discworld #41]

The Simulacra, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

South Pole Pals (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Spinach vs. Hamburgers (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1948)

Swing Time (Film; 1936)

Tarzan of the Apes (Novel; 1912)

Ten, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1991)

Toomorrow (Film; 1970)

Vacation Friends (Film; 2021)

Wet Blanket Policy (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1948)

Wholly Smoke (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Margareta, Monika, Vivian (Austria)

Anđelka, Bogoljub, Monika (Croatia)

Otakar (Czech Republic)

Gebhardus (Denmark)

Maime, Maimi, Maimo, Maimu (Estonia)

Rauli (Finland)

Monique (France)

Gebhard, Monika, Vivian (Germany)

Arcadia, Arcadios, Fanourios, Liberios, Osios (Greece)

Gáspár (Hungary)

Cesario, Monica, Rocco (Italy)

Jorens, Ragnars, Valdmiers, Žanis (Latvia)

Aušrinė, Cezarijus, Cezaris, Tolvydas (Lithuania)

Roald, Rolf (Norway)

Angel, Angelus, Cezary, Gebhard, Józef, Kalasanty, Małgorzata, Przybymir, Rufus, Teodor (Poland)

Silvia (Slovakia)

Mónica (Spain)

Raoul, Rolf (Sweden)

Caesar, Cesar, King, Kingsley, Lyndon, Sheri, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 240 of 2024; 126 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 24 (Guy-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Av 5784

Islamic: 21 Safar 1446

J Cal: 30 Purple; Lastday [30 of 30]

Julian: 14 August 2024

Moon: 37%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 14 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Vaucanson]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 69 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 6 of 32)

[tinyshe]

More Saints of the Day August 27

St. Anthusa the Younger

St. Caesarius of Arles

St. Decuman

St. Ebbo

St. Etherius

St. Euthalia

St. Gebhard of Constance

St. Honoratus

St. John of Pavia

St. Licerius

St. Malrubius

St. Margaret the Barefooted

St. Narnus

St. Phanurius

St. Poemon

St. Rufus and Carpophorus

[histoireettralala]

"To all intents and purposes she may be counted among the kings of France"

The hour that struck the death of Louis VIII was arguably the most critical in the history of the Capetian family. The new king, one day to be St Louis, was still a child. The trend of events in the previous two reigns had brought the higher nobility to realise that its independence would soon be seriously threatened. But a unique opportunity was raised to the regency of the queen-mother, Blanche of Castile, on the pretext that she was a woman and a foreigner. Yet this was not the first occasion on which the king's widow had acted as regent, nor the first on which a queen had played a part in politics. Philip Augustus had been the first Capetian not to involve his wife in the government of his realm. Before his time the queens of France had often intervened in affairs of state. Constance of Arles, not content with making married life difficult for Robert the Pious, had wanted to change the order of succession to the throne. She had led the opposition to Henri I, provoking and upholding his brothers against him, and she was perhaps responsible for the separation of Burgundy from the royal domain, to which Robert the Pious had joined it. Anna of Kiev, after the death of her husband Henri I, had been one of the regents, and it was only her second marriage, to Raoul de Crépy, that took her out of politics. Bertrada de Montfort's influence over Philip I had been notorious, and so had her hostility to the heir to the throne, whom she had even been accused of trying to poison. Adelaide of Maurienne, despite a physical personality before which Count Baldwin III of Hainault is said to have recoiled, had held considerable sway over Louis VI, procuring the disgrace of the chancellor, Etienne de Garlande, and egging on Louis to the Flemish adventure from which her brother-in-law, William Clito, was to profit so much. Eleanor of Aquitaine- as St Bernard had complained- had more power than anyone else over Louis VII as long as their marriage lasted. Louis VII's third wife, Adela of Champagne, had appealed to the king of England for help against her son Philip Augustus when he had sought to free himself of the tutelage of her brothers of Champagne. Later, reconciled with Philip, Adela had been regent during his absence from France on crusade. From the beginnings of Capet rule, the queens of France had enjoyed substantial influence over their husbands and over royal policy.

But Blanche of Castile was to play a greater role than any of her predecessors. To all intents and purposes she may be counted among the kings of France. For from 1226 until her death in 1252 she governed the kingdom. Twice she was regent: from 1226 to 1234, while Louis IX was a minor, and from 1248 to 1252 during his first absence on crusade. Between 1234 and 1248 Blanche bore no official title, but her power was no less effective. Severe in personality, heroic in stature, this Spanish princess took control of the fortunes of the dynasty and the kingdom in outstandingly difficult circumstances. For in 1226 there arose the most redoubtable coalition of great barons which the House of Capet ever had to face. Loyalty to the crown, so constant a feature of the past, seemed to be in eclipse. This was at any rate true of the barons who revolted, for they appear to have tried to seize the person of the young king himself- an attempt without parallel in Capetian history.

Blanche of Castile threw herself energetically into the struggle over her son and his throne. Taking her father-in-law, Philip Augustus, as her model, she won over half her enemies by craft, vigorously gave battle to the rest, and enlisted the alliance of the Church, including the Pope himself, and of the burgess class, which in marked fashion took the side of the royal family. Blanche was able to fend off Henry III of England, who tried to take the opportunity of recovering his ancestral lands, lost by John to Philip Augustus. She broke up the baronial coalition and reduced to submission the most dangerous of the rebels, Peter Mauclerc, Count of Brittany, and Raymond VII, Count of Toulouse. She adroitly took advantage of her victory to re-establish- this time definitively- the royal power in the south of France: her son Alphonse was married to the daughter and heiress of Raymond of Toulouse. The way was now open for the union of all Raymond's rich patrimony with the royal domain.

The Capetian monarchy emerged all the stronger from a crisis which had threatened to overwhelm it. Blanche felt it her duty not to rest on her laurels. After her son came of age she continued to make herself responsible for good and stable government. By the force of her example she drove home the lessons which Philip Augustus seems to have wanted to press upon his grandson when they had talked together. To Blanche's initiative must be credited the measures taken to suppress the dangerous revolt of Trencavel in Languedoc, as also those taken to defeat the coalition broken up after the battle of Saintes. On these occasions Louis IX did no more than carry out his mother's policy. When he went off on crusade, Blanche one more officially shouldered the government of the kingdom. She maintained law and order, prevented the further outbreak of war with England, and successfully pressed on with the policy which was to lead to the annexation of Languedoc. Likewise it was she who refurnished her son's crusade with men and money, and she took all the steps necessary for the safety of the kingdom when Louis was captured in Egypt.

Robert Fawtier- The Capetian Kings of France- Monarchy and Nation (987-1328)

[brookston]

Holidays 8.27

Holidays

Anti-Rent Insurrection Anniversary Day (Delaware)

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day

Film and Movies Day (Russia)

First Kiss Day

Good Sex Day

Harvest’s End (Elder Scrolls)

Hydrogen Balloon Flight Anniversary Day

International Boobs Day (Italy)

International Boxing Day

International Gamecock Day

International Lottery Day

Just Because Day

Karam Puja (Assam, India)

Kiss Me Day

Krakatoa Day

Ladder Day (French Republic)

Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas)

Motorist Consideration Day

National Radio Day (Argentina)

Nativity of Isis (Egyptian Goddess of Fertility)

Oil & Gas Industry Appreciation Day

Petroleum Day

Pharmacy Day (Iran)

Russian Cinema Day

Senior Race Day (Isle of Man)

Tarzan Day

Three-Thousandth Thnork of the Year (Fairy)

World Rock Paper Scissors Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Soup Day

National Banana Lovers Day

National Peach Day

National Pots de Creme Day

Salo Day (Ukraine)

Independence & Related Days

Declaration of the Rights of Man (Adopted by French Assembly; 1789)

Moldova (a.k.a. Ziua Republicii); from USSR, 1991)

Yungtaria (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Tuesday in August

Lammas Fair Day (Ballycastle, Ireland) [Last Tuesday]

Prophetic Prayer Day [4th Tuesday]

Taco Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Target Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tater Tot Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Tell the Truth Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Teriyaki Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Thai Tuesday [4th Tuesday of Each Month]

Touch-A-Heart Tuesday [Tuesday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Transformation Tuesday [Last Tuesday of Each Month]

Trivia Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Two For Tuesday [Every Tuesday]

Festivals Beginning August 27, 2024

Farm Progress Show (Boone, Iowa) [thru 8.29]

Free Earth Festival (Asprovalta, Greece) [thru 9.2]

Van Wert County Fair (Van Wert, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Feast Days

Alexandra Nechita (Artology)

Baculus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Caesarius of Arles (Christian; Saint)

Calasanetius (Christian; Saint)

Day Sacred to Consus (God of Graineries; Ancient Rome)

Decuman (Christian; Saint)

Devaki Day (Indian Mother-Goddess; Everyday Wicca)

Euthalia (Christian; Saint)

Feast Day of Pan (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Incandescent Rebellion

Funella Furchester (Muppetism)

Gebhard of Constance (Christian; Saint)

Harris Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugh if Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Inspiration Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jeanette Winterson (Writerism)

John of Pavia (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Calasanctius (Christian; Saint)

Juan Fernando Cobo (Artology)

Klebold Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Little St.Hugh of Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

Lycerius (a.k.a. Glycerius, Lizier; Christian; Saint)

Máel Ruba (a.k.a. Rufus, Malrubius) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Man Ray (Artology)

Marcellus and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Margaret the Barefooted (Christian; Saint)

Monica of Hippo (mother of Augustine of Hippo; Christian; Saint) [Alcoholics]

Murray Matisse (Muppetism)

Narnus (Christian; Saint)

Phallogia (Pagan)

Phanourios of Rhodes (Christian; Saint)

Poëmen (a.k.a. Pastor; Christian; Saint)

Rufus and Carpophorus (Christian; Saints)

Stevin (Positivist; Saint)

Syagrius of Autun (Christian; Saint)

Theodore Dreiser (Writerism)

Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle (Episcopal Church)

The Threethousandth Thnork of the Year (Shamanism)

Tithi of Sri Sri Madhabdeva (Assam, India)

Udon Day (Pastafarian)

Usuki Stone Buddhas Fire Festival (Japan)

Volturnalia (Festival to the God of Waters & Fountains; Ancient Rome)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 239 [52 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The African Queen, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1935)

A-Lad-In Bagdad (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Bill & Ted Face the Music (Film; 2020)

Camouflage (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1943)

A Cat, a Man, and Two Women, by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Novella; 1937)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Film; 1958)

The Centaur, by John Updike (Novel; 1963)

Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (Novel; 1948)

Cherish, by The Association (Song; 1966)

Circus (Ub Iwerks MGM Cartoon; 1932)

The Dippy Diplomat (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1945)

Dizzy Newsreel (Phantasies Cartoon; 1943)

Dudley Do-Right (Film; 1999)

Egyptian Melodies (Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1931)

El Salón México, by Aaron Copland (Symphonic Composition; 1937)

Fright to the Finish (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1954)

Games People Play, by Eric Berne (Psychology Book; 1963)

A Ham in a Role (WB LT Cartoon; 1949)

Hamlet 2 (Film; 2008)

Hollywood Graduation (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1938)

Hyde and Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

I’m Gonna Send Your Vote to College (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

In the Heat if the Night, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1979)

Martin (TV Series; 1992)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

Niagara Fools (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1956)

No Code, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1996)

Old Blackout Joe (Phantasies Cartoon; 1942)

Pigmalion, by Jean-Philippe Rameau (Opera/Ballet; 1748)

Presidential Minute, a.k.a. The Campaign Trail (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 2002)

Prométhée, by Gabriel Fauré (Tragédie Lyrique (Grand Cantata); 1900)

Rabbit Redux, by John Updike (Novel: 1971) [Rabbit #2]

Roman Holiday (Film; 1953)

The Shepherds Crown, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2015) [Discworld #41]

The Simulacra, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1964)

South Pole Pals (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1966)

Spinach vs. Hamburgers (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1948)

Swing Time (Film; 1936)

Tarzan of the Apes (Novel; 1912)

Ten, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1991)

Toomorrow (Film; 1970)

Vacation Friends (Film; 2021)

Wet Blanket Policy (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1948)

Wholly Smoke (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Margareta, Monika, Vivian (Austria)

Anđelka, Bogoljub, Monika (Croatia)

Otakar (Czech Republic)

Gebhardus (Denmark)

Maime, Maimi, Maimo, Maimu (Estonia)

Rauli (Finland)

Monique (France)

Gebhard, Monika, Vivian (Germany)

Arcadia, Arcadios, Fanourios, Liberios, Osios (Greece)

Gáspár (Hungary)

Cesario, Monica, Rocco (Italy)

Jorens, Ragnars, Valdmiers, Žanis (Latvia)

Aušrinė, Cezarijus, Cezaris, Tolvydas (Lithuania)

Roald, Rolf (Norway)

Angel, Angelus, Cezary, Gebhard, Józef, Kalasanty, Małgorzata, Przybymir, Rufus, Teodor (Poland)

Silvia (Slovakia)

Mónica (Spain)

Raoul, Rolf (Sweden)

Caesar, Cesar, King, Kingsley, Lyndon, Sheri, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 240 of 2024; 126 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 25 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 24 (Guy-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Av 5784

Islamic: 21 Safar 1446

J Cal: 30 Purple; Lastday [30 of 30]

Julian: 14 August 2024

Moon: 37%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 14 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Vaucanson]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 69 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 6 of 32)

[feuerfellmfrp]

WANTED SERIES & MUSES

✤ Kekkai Sensen

✤ Touken Ranbu ↬ Sanjou School (Kogitsunemaru, Ishikirimaru, Iwatooshi, Imanotsurugi), Yamanbagiri Kunihiro

✤ Persona 3 ↬ Junpei Iori

✤ Trigun Maximum ↬ Million Knives, Legato Bluesummers, Elendira the Crimsonnail

✤ Deltarune ↬ Susie ↬ Berdly/Burghley

✤ Metal Gear

✤ Katana Zero

✤ Mob Psycho 100

✤ Pandora Hearts ↬ Gilbert Nightray

✤ Wuthering Waves

✤ Final Fantasy XIV ↬ Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Haurchefant Greystone, Fandaniel, Ancients

✤ Jujutsu Kaisen ↬ Okkotsu Yuta

✤ Shin Megami Tensei V

✤ Fire Emblem: Three Houses ↬ Ashen Wolves (Hapi, Constance von Nuvelle, Balthus von Albrecht)

✤ Guilty Gear

✤ Tales of Vesperia ↬ Brave Vesperia, Flynn Scifo

✤ Tales of Beseria

✤ Tales of Zestiria

✤ Genshin Impact ↬ Siegwinne, Cyno, Tighnari

✤ Honkai: Star Rail ↬ Argenti

✤ Magic Kaito & Detective Conan ↬ Saguru Hakuba, Ran Mouri

✤ Puyo Puyo/Madou Monogatari ↬ Arle, Schezo, Rulue

✤ Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

✤ Kamen Rider ↬ Kamen Rider Saber ↬ Kamen Rider W

✤ Tokyo Ghoul

✤ Royal Scandal

✤ Magnus Archives

FEUERFELL is an 18+ Panfandom Discord Roleplay Server, with its setting and lore inspired by steampunk aesthetics. PREMISE | RULES | SETTING | FAQ | SERVER INVITE

[coulisses-tv]

"Meurtres à Arles" avec Constance Gay et François-David Cardonnel sur France 3 samedi 8 juin 2024

http://dlvr.it/T7vh3Y

[watchingalotofmovies]

La Lectrice

La Lectrice

Constance reads a novel aloud in bed to her lover. Inspired by the story of Marie, a woman who advertises her services as a reader of literature, she decides to do the same.

An ode to reading. But since I sadly don't speak the language, listening to the reading of classic novels and poetry in French is of limited enjoyment.

What still remains is admiring the art direction of the sets and the pleasant view of Miou-Miou walking through Arles in colourful outfits.

[writingsfromtheeyeofthebeholder]

French Consorts

Adelaide of Aquitaine

Rozala of Italy

Bertha of Burgundy

Constance of Arles

[frenchladiesdaily]

Who’s who → Capetian Consorts [4/52] ↳ Constance of Provence (c.986-1032), queen consort from 1001 to 1031

Daughter of Guillaume I, Count of Provence, and his second wife Adélaïde of Anjou, she was married to King Robert II in 1001, but the marriage was notably unhappy and the relationship between the spouses difficult. Despite giving birth to six children (Alix or Hedwige, Countess of Auxerres and Nevers by marriage, Hugh, crowned co-King alongside his father until his death in 1025, Henri later Henri I, Adela, Countess of Contenance, Duchess of Normandy and Countess of Flanders by marriages, Robert, Duke of Burgundy, and Odo/Eudes), she was reputed to be cruel and short-tempered, agressive and manipulative, although her bad reputation came in no small part from her southern kinfolk and customs. She met with the strong opposition of the family of the former queen, Bertha of Burgundy, and by 1010, Robert made no mystery about his will to repudiate her to marry Bertha again, but the annulment never took place and Constance remained queen consort. She outlived her husband for a year, and notably favoured her third son Odo, causing him to rebel against his brothers. She died a year after her husband, between 22 and 25 July 1032, at the Château de Melun, and was buried beside her husband at the Saint-Denis Basilica. She’s equally referred as Constance of Arles.

[wonder-worker]

most interesting queens of France to you?

Clotilde, Fredegund, Balthild, Gerberga of Saxony, Constance of Arles, Bertrade de Montfort, Isabeau of Bavaria.

I’m also interested in Bilichild and Liutgard of Saxony, who seem very compelling but who we know very little about.

[historygoodies]

Team Constance of Arles badge

Team Constance of Arles, Queen of France 6 Cm Round Badge

by CreativeHistory

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.27

Holidays

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day

Film and Movies Day (Russia)

First Kiss Day

Good Sex Day

Harvest’s End (Elder Scrolls)

International Boobs Day (Italy)

International Gamecock Day

International Lottery Day

Just Because Day

Karam Puja (Assam, India)

Kiss Me Day

Ladder Day (French Republic)

Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas)

Motorist Consideration Day

National Radio Day (Argentina)

Nativity of Isis (Egyptian Goddess of Fertility)

Oil & Gas Industry Appreciation Day

Petroleum Day

Senior Race Day (Isle of Man

Tarzan Day

Three-Thousandth Thnork of the Year (Fairy)

World Rock Paper Scissors Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Soup Day

National Banana Lovers Day

National Pots de Creme Day

Ugly Potato Day (BC, Canada)

4th & Last Sunday in August

Burning Man begins (Nevada) [8.27 thru 9.4]

Family Day (Tennessee) [Last Sunday]

Go Topless Day [ website ] [Sunday nearest 26th]

International Bereaved Father’s Day [Last Sunday]

National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day [Last Sunday]

National Fantasy Football Draft Day [Last Sunday]

Notting Hill Carnival begins (UK) [Sunday before Last Monday]

Plague Sunday (Gloucestershire, UK) [Last Sunday]

Pony Express Day [Last Sunday]

Sacrifice Our Wants For Other’s Needs Sunday [Sunday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Social Justice Sunday [Last Sunday]

World Kitchen Garden Day [4th Sunday]

Independence Days

Moldova (a.k.a. Ziua Republicii); from USSR, 1991)

Yungtaria (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Baculus of Sorrento (Christian; Saint)

Caesarius of Arles (Christian; Saint)

Calasanetius (Christian; Saint)

Day Sacred to Consus (God of Graineries; Ancient Rome)

Decuman (Christian; Saint)

Euthalia (Christian; Saint)

Feast Day of Pan (Ancient Greece)

Feast of Incandescent Rebellion

Funella Furchester (Muppetism)

Gebhard of Constance (Christian; Saint)

Harris Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Hugh if Lincoln (Christian; Saint)

John of Pavia (Christian; Saint)

Joseph Calasanctius (Christian; Saint)

Klebold Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lycerius (a.k.a. Glycerius, Lizier; Christian; Saint)

Máel Ruba (a.k.a. Rufus, Malrubius) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Man Ray (Artology)

Margaret the Barefooted (Christian; Saint)

Monica of Hippo (mother of Augustine of Hippo; Christian; Saint) [Alcoholics]

Murray Matisse (Muppetism)

Narnus (Christian; Saint)

Phallogia (Pagan)

Phanourios of Rhodes (Christian; Saint)

Poëmen (a.k.a. Pastor; Christian; Saint)

Rufus and Carpophorus (Christian; Saints)

Stevin (Positivist; Saint)

Syagrius of Autun (Christian; Saint)

Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle (Episcopal Church)

Tithi of Sri Sri Madhabdeva (Assam, India)

Udon Day (Pastafarian)

Usuki Stone Buddhas Fire Festival (Japan)

Volturnalia (Festival to the God of Waters & Fountains; Ancient Rome)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 239 [52 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

The African Queen, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1935)

A-Lad-In Bagdad (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Bill & Ted Face the Music (Film; 2020)

A Cat, a Man, and Two Women, by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Novella; 1937)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Film; 1958)

Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (Novel; 1948)

Cherish, by The Association (Song; 1966)

Dudley Do-Right (Film; 1999)

A Ham in a Role (WB LT Cartoon; 1949)

Hamlet 2 (Film; 2008)

Hyde and Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

In the Heat if the Night, by Pat Benatar (Album; 1979)

Martin (TV Series; 1992)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

No Code, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1996)

Roman Holiday (Film; 1953)

The Shepherds Crown, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 2015) [Discworld #41]

Swing Time (Film; 1936)

Tarzan of the Apes (Novel; 1912)

Ten, by Pearl Jam (Album; 1991)

Toomorrow (Film; 1970)

Vacation Friends (Film; 2021)

Wholly Smoke (WB LT Cartoon; 1938)

Today’s Name Days

Gebhard, Margareta, Monika, Vivian (Austria)

Anđelka, Bogoljub, Monika (Croatia)

Otakar (Czech Republic)

Gebhardus (Denmark)

Maime, Maimi, Maimo, Maimu (Estonia)

Rauli (Finland)

Monique (France)

Gebhard, Monika, Vivian (Germany)

Arcadia, Arcadios, Fanourios, Liberios, Osios (Greece)

Gáspár (Hungary)

Cesario, Monica, Rocco (Italy)

Jorens, Ragnars, Valdmiers, Žanis (Latvia)

Aušrinė, Cezarijus, Cezaris, Tolvydas (Lithuania)

Roald, Rolf (Norway)

Angel, Angelus, Cezary, Gebhard, Józef, Kalasanty, Małgorzata, Przybymir, Rufus, Teodor (Poland)

Silvia (Slovakia)

Mónica (Spain)

Raoul, Rolf (Sweden)

Caesar, Cesar, King, Kingsley, Lyndon, Sheri, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 239 of 2024; 126 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 34 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 20 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Geng-Shen), Day 12 (Ding-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 10 Elul 5783

Islamic: 10 Safar 1445

J Cal: 29 Hasa; Eightday [29 of 30]

Julian: 14 August 2023

Moon: 88%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 15 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Stevin]

Runic Half Month: As (Gods) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 67 of 94)

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 6 of 32)

[catherinesboleyn]

Every Queen of France Ever

Other posts in this series: Every Queen of England ever, Every English Princess ever

Richilde of Provence - Queen consort of West Francia from 870 to 877 (wife of Charles the Bald)

Adelaide of Paris - Queen consort of West Francia from October 6th 877 to April 10th 879 (wife of Louis the Stammerer)

Richardis of Swabia - Queen consort of West Francis from 884 to 887 (wife of Charles the Fat)

Richardis of Swabia - Queen consort of West Francis from 884 to 887 (wife of Charles the Fat)

Théodrate of Troyes - Queen consort of West Francia from 888 to 898 (wife of Odo of France)

Frederuna - Queen consort of West Francia from 907 to 917 (wife of Charles the Simple)

Eadgifu of Wessex - Queen consort of West Francia from 919 to 922 (wife of Charles the Simple)

Beatrice of Vermandois - Queen consort of West Francia from 922 to 923 (wife of Robert I)

Emma of France - Queen consort of West Francia from 923 to 935 (wife of Rudolph of France)

Gerberga of Saxony - Queen consort of West Francia from 939 to 954 (wife of Louis IV)

Emma of Italy - Queen consort of West Francia from 965 to 986 (wife of Lothair of France)

Adelaide of Aquitaine - Queen consort of the Franks from 987 to 996 (wife of Hugh Capet)

Rozala of Italy - Queen consort of the Franks from 996 to 996 (wife of Robert II)

Bertha of Burgundy - Queen consort of the Franks from 996 to 1000 (wife of Robert II)

Constance of Arles - Queen consort of the Franks from 1001 to 1031 (wife of Robert II)

Matilda of Frisia - Queen consort of the Franks from 1034 to 1044 (wife of Henry I)

Anne of Kiev - Queen consort of the Franks from May 19th 1051 to August 4th 1060 (wife of Henry I)

Bertha of Holland - Queen consort of the Franks from 1072 to 1092 (wife of Philip I)

Bertrade de Montfort - Queen consort of the Franks from May 15th 1092 to July 29th 1108 (wife of Philip I)

Adelaide of Maurienne - Queen consort of the Franks from 1115 to August 1st 1137 (wife of Louis VI)

Eleanor of Aquitaine - Queen consort of the Franks from August 1st 1137 to March 21st 1152 (wife of Louis VII)

Constance of Castile - Queen consort of the Franks from 1154 to October 4th 1160 (wife of Louis VII)

Adela of Champagne - Queen consort of the Franks from November 13th 1160 to September 18th 1180 (wife of Louis VII)

Isabella of Hainault - Queen consort of France from April 28th 1180 to March 15th 1190 (wife of Philip II)

Ingeborg of Denmark - Queen consort of France from August 15th 1193 to November 5th 1193 (wife of Philip II

Agnes of Merania - Queen consort of France from 1196 to 1200 (wife of Philip II)

Ingeborg of Denmark - Queen consort of France from 1200 to July 14th 1223 (wife of Philip II)

Blanche of Castile - Queen consort of France from July 14th 1223 to November 1226 (wife of Louis VIII)

Margaret of Provence - Queen consort of France from May 27th 1234 to August 25th 1270 (wife of Louis IX)

Isabella of Aragon - Queen consort of France from August 25th 1270 to January 28th 1271 (wife of Philip III)

Marie of Brabant - Queen consort of France from August 21st 1274 to October 5th 1285 (wife of Philip III)

Joan I of Navarre - Queen consort of France from October 5th 1285 to April 2nd 1305 (wife of Philip IV)

Margaret of Burgundy - Queen consort of France from 1314 to 1315 (wife of Louis X)

Clementia of Hungary - Queen consort of France from August 19th 1315 to June 5th 1316 (wife of Louis X)

Joan II of Burgundy - Queen consort of France from 1316 to 1322 (wife of Philip V)

Blanche of Burgundy - Queen consort of France from January 3rd 1322 to May 19th 1322 (wife of Charles IV)

Marie of Luxembourg - Queen consort of France from September 21st 1322 to March 26th 1324 (wife of Charles IV)

Joan of Évreux - Queen consort of France from July 5th 1324 to February 1st 1328 (wife of Charles IV)

Joan of Burgundy - Queen consort of France from April 1st 1328 to December 12th 1349 (wife of Philip VI)

Blanche of Navarre - Queen consort of France from January 29th 1350 to August 22nd 1350 (wife of Philip VI)

Joan I of Auvergne - Queen consort of France from 1350 to 1360 (wife of John II)

Joanna of Bourbon - Queen consort of France from April 8th 1364 to February 6th 1378 (wife of Charles V)

Isabeau of Bavaria - Queen consort of France from July 17th 1385 to October 21st 1422 (wife of Charles VI)

Marie of Anjou - Queen consort of France from December 18th 1422 to July 14th 1461 (wife of Charles VII)

Charlotte of Savoy - Queen consort of France from July 22nd 1461 to August 30th 1483 (wife of Louis XI)

Anne of Brittany - Queen consort of France from December 6th 1491 to April 7th 1498 (wife of Charles VIII)

Joan of France - Queen consort of France from April 1498 to December 15th 1498 (wife of Louis XII)

Anne of Brittany - Queen consort of France from January 8th 1499 to January 9th 1515 (wife of Louis XII)

Mary Tudor - Queen consort of France from October 9th 1514 to January 1st 1515 (wife of Louis XII)

Claude of France - Queen consort of France from January 1st 1515 to July 20th 1524 (wife of Francis I)

Eleanor of Austria - Queen consort of France from July 4th 1530 to March 31st 1547 (wife of Francis I)

Catherine de' Medici - Queen consort of France from March 31st 1547 to July 10th 1559 (wife of Henry II)

Mary Stuart - Queen consort of France from July 10th 1559 to December 5th 1560 (wife of Francis II)

Elisabeth of Austria - Queen consort of France from November 26th 1570 um May 30th 1574 (wife of Charles IX)

Louise of Lorraine - Queen consort of France from February 15th 1575 to August 2nd 1589 (wife of Henry III)

Margaret of Valois - Queen consort of France from August 2nd 1589 to 1599 (wife of Henry IV)

Marie de' Medici - Queen consort of France from December 17th 1600 to May 14th 1610 (wife of Henry IV)

Anne of Austria - Queen consort of France from November 24th 1615 to May 14th 1643 (wife of Louis XIII)

Maria Theresa of Spain - Queen consort of France from June 9th 1660 to July 30th 1683 (wife of Louis XIV)

Marie Leszczyńska - Queen consort of France from September 4th 1725 to June 24th 1768 (wife of Louis XV)

Marie Antoinette - Queen consort of France from May 10th 1774 to September 21st 1792 (wife of Louis XVI)

Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily - Queen consort of the French from August 9th 1830 to February 24th 1848 (wife of Louis Philippe I)

[histoireettralala]

Constance d'Arles: resilient and determined

Hugh Capet, unsuccessful in his search for a Byzantine princess, arranged for his son Robert "the Pious" (so named for later acts of piety, rather than marital fidelity) to marry Rozala, the daughter of Berengar II of Italy and Countess of Flanders from her first marriage. She was considerably older than Robert, who divorced her within one year of his father's death. He had been living openly with Bertha of Burgundy (d.1035), Countess of Burgundy, and also a widow. However, Bertha was Robert's cousin: Pope Gregory V refused to sanction their marriage on the grounds of consanguinity, and excommunicated Robert. Robert repudiated Bertha around 1004; she remained unmarried and a force to be reckoned with.

In 1001, Robert married Constance of Arles (d.1034). She was a formidable, ambitious woman and their marriage, unsurprisingly, was difficult. Bertha's family opposed her, and Robert's advisors despised Constance because she favored southern customs and her Provençal family. When Hugh of Beauvais, close advisor to the king, suggested that Robert repudiate her in 1007, he was murdered by knights of Constance's kinsman, perhaps at her order. Her ambitions alienated the chroniclers of her day, who blamed her for several of the king's decisions and accused her of outrageous actions. In the account of a heresy trial of her former confessor, Constance struck out his eye with her staff. In 1010, Robert went to Rome, accompanied by his former wife Bertha, to seek permission to divorce Constance and remarry Bertha. His request was denied, he returned to Constance and together they had several children, with and against whom she plotted revolt against their father. At Constance's urging, their eldest son, Hugh Magnus, was crowned co-king with his father in 1017; after Hugh's death in 1025, Robert and Constance quarreled over which of their surviving sons should inherit. Despite his mother's protests, their second son, Henri, was crowned in 1027. Fulbert of Chartres wrote in a letter that he was frightened away from the consecration of Henri "by the savagery of his mother, who is quite trustworthy when she promises evil." Constance continued to encourage her sons to rebel, Robert agreed to their demands, and made peace until his death in 1031. Soon after that, Constance was at odds with both sons, Henri and Robert; she seized her dower lands and refused to surrender them to Henri's wife, Anna. Henri fled to Normandy, where he received aid, weapons and soldiers from his brother, returning to besiege their mother. However, Constance, ever wily and resilient, escaped, surrendering only when Henri swore to slaughter all the inhabitants of a town.

Despite this litany of malicious actions, contemporary critics of Constance also comment favorably on her concern for the royal treasury and her wise counsel to her husband. Her Provençal "foreignness" isolated her, and she struggled to balance her allegiance to both her natal and marital family. Seen in this light, many of her more notorious actions can be attributed to the absence of familial support and very real fears of repudiation. Penelope Adair argues convincingly that, given the limited resources at hand, Constance's efforts to preserve the royal treasury and her objections to alienation of royal property were "the well-founded concerns of a clear-sighted and determined royal consort."

Theresa Earenfight - Queenship in Medieval Europe