Beatrice of Provence was the youngest and one of four daughters born to the Count of Provence in the 13th century. She was so beautiful that she “set men’s hearts thumping†and deprived them of reason when under her enchanting spell. Her eldest sister Margaret married the King of France (Louis IX), the next sister, Eleanor, married the King of England (Henry III), and the third sister, Sanchia, married the Earl of Cornwall (King Henry III of England’s brother). That left Beatrice, the final sister, and what do you suppose she got? Everything. That’s right. Her father left Beatrice Provence and the county of Forcalquier when he died making her the Countess of Provence in her own right (much to the chagrin of her sisters). Beatrice was now the most eligible heiress in all of Europe, and suitors she had in spades. So many that her mother was forced to hide the twelve year old girl and seek the protection of the Pope (Innocent IV). The Pope orchestrated a secret meeting and, after desired concessions were made, Beatrice was promised to Charles of Anjou (brother of the French king). James I of Aragon had hoped to marry the girl and unite Toulouse with Provence, but he was no match for Charles’ army of knights and was forced to retreat with dignity. Once he secured his position as “Mr. Beatriceâ€, Charles wasted no time in taking power throughout Provence, alienating the nobility and causing quite a stir with Beatrice’s mother (although Beatrice sided with her new husband). They finally placated the mother-in-law by giving her a percentage of the county’s revenues. Shortly thereafter Beatrice bravely accompanied her husband on the Seventh Crusade during which time she gave birth to two of her children (one in Cyprus and the other in Egypt). In the end, Charles was awarded the Kingdom of Sicily by the Pope but first he needed an army to defeat other contenders. The Kingdom of Sicily at the time constituted a massive portion of Italy covering not only the island of Sicily but the entire southern half of the boot. The equally ambitious Beatrice helped him raise the needed defense by promising gifts of money and jewels to her knights and other young men of France. After securing the Kingdom of Sicily, Beatrice became a Queen.
