In celebration of Women’s History Month I am reading a fascinating book about four sisters who married powerful men during the 1200s and were active participants in the power struggles of the time. Their marriages and children seem to entwine all of Europe. They made quite an impact. The book is called Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe by Nancy Goldstone.

The Queens:

Marguerite – Queen of France (1234-1270); Married King Louis IX

Eleanor – Queen of England (1236-1272), Married Henry III

Sanchia – Queen of Germany, Married Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall (elected King of Germany 1256)

Beatrice – Queen of Sicily, Married Charles I of Naples (crowned in January 1266)