Spring Break
'Four Queens' is the perfect fairy tale read for any who believe in prince charming
Romero Montalban
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Features
Long, long ago, centuries back in time, there lived four beautiful daughters of the Count of Provence. These Provençal sisters were ambitious, clever and lived in the right place at the right time - all four of them married Kings. The newest book by Nancy Goldstone, "Four Queens: The Provençal Sisters Who Ruled Europe," is the amazing story of their fairy-tale lives. This enchanting historical tome transports the reader back in time to the high middle ages, when knights in shining armor rescued damsels in distress, handsome princes came to request a daughter's hand in marriage, and folks believed in unicorns.
The first daughter, Marguerite, married King Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis. A pious and sincere man, Louis was passionate about gothic architecture, and escorted Marguerite on a discovery tour of Paris that included the newly built Cathedral of Notre Dame. Marguerite accompanied Louis on the Seventh Crusade, and negotiated for his ransom after he was caught and held hostage by the Egyptians. She was for a brief time the only woman ever to lead a crusade.
The second daughter, Eleanor, married King Henry III of England. She had never seen him prior to the wedding at Canterbury Cathedral, but hit the lottery in terms of having a loving husband. Henry doted on her, gave her an endless chain of expensive presents, lands, castles, love and affection. He hired most all of her relatives to hold high positions in the English court, and bestowed lavish gifts on her kin. One such gift to her uncle Peter, Earl of Savoy, was the property on The Strand in London, where Peter built a magnificent palace. Today, that property is the site of the famous Savoy Hotel.
The third daughter, Sanchia (Cynthia) married Richard, First Earl of Cornwall, who became the King of Germany. Richard was the younger brother of King Henry III, but vastly richer. He possibly was the wealthiest man in the entire world at the time. Sanchia was crowned Queen of the Romans and Queen of Germany with her husband in 1257 at Aachen Cathedral in Germany. For 600 years, from 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens.
The first daughter, Marguerite, married King Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis. A pious and sincere man, Louis was passionate about gothic architecture, and escorted Marguerite on a discovery tour of Paris that included the newly built Cathedral of Notre Dame. Marguerite accompanied Louis on the Seventh Crusade, and negotiated for his ransom after he was caught and held hostage by the Egyptians. She was for a brief time the only woman ever to lead a crusade.
The second daughter, Eleanor, married King Henry III of England. She had never seen him prior to the wedding at Canterbury Cathedral, but hit the lottery in terms of having a loving husband. Henry doted on her, gave her an endless chain of expensive presents, lands, castles, love and affection. He hired most all of her relatives to hold high positions in the English court, and bestowed lavish gifts on her kin. One such gift to her uncle Peter, Earl of Savoy, was the property on The Strand in London, where Peter built a magnificent palace. Today, that property is the site of the famous Savoy Hotel.
The third daughter, Sanchia (Cynthia) married Richard, First Earl of Cornwall, who became the King of Germany. Richard was the younger brother of King Henry III, but vastly richer. He possibly was the wealthiest man in the entire world at the time. Sanchia was crowned Queen of the Romans and Queen of Germany with her husband in 1257 at Aachen Cathedral in Germany. For 600 years, from 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens.
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