Blanche of Navarre seized the regency through a hard-fought struggle

Blanche of Navarre became regent of the County of Champagne after rallying King Philippe Auguste to establish her authority. To obtain this royal protection, she had to accept heavy conditions including the handing over of her children to the court, the cession of castles and the payment of an annual fee of 500 livres. She was thus able to return to Troyes and give birth on May 30, 1201 to her son Thibaut, known as the Posthumous.