Violante de Bar

Violante de Bar (also known as Yolande), (born circa 1365 Northern France, - died 3 July 1431, Barcelona) was queen of the medaeval Iberian kingdom of Aragon.

Life

She was a French countess, daughter of Robert I, Duke of Bar and Marie Valois. She was married in 1380 at the age of 15 to the heir to the throne of Aragon. Her husband became King John I of Aragon in 1387. [http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/violante.php Brooklyn Museum] ] He was often ill, and Violante wielded considerable administrative power on his behalf. She transformed the Aragonese court into a center of French culture. She especially cultivated the talents of Provençal troubadours (poet-musicians).

After John's death in 1395, she dedicated herself to the education of her only surviving child, a daughter also named Violante. Known as Yolande of Aragon her daughter married Louis II of Anjou, King of Naples.

Notes

References

* [http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/violante.php Violante] Brief biography at the Dinner Party database of notable women at the Brooklyn Museum. Accessed May 2008.
* [http://www.public.iastate.edu/~deprince/homepage.html Dawn Bratsch-Prince] Professor of Spanish, Iowa State University. Engaged in current research focused on the life and letters of queen Violant de Bar (1365-1431).
* [http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0071265&SFR=1Violant de Bar] Entry at l'Enciclopedia. In Catalan. Accessed May 2008.