List of French Consorts - Regents

Regents

Many French consorts acted as regents for their husbands or children, during their minorities. These were:

• Anne of Kiev, 1060–66, during the minority of her son, Philip I
• Adèle of Champagne, 1190–92, while her son was participating in the Third Crusade
• Blanche of Castile:
  • 1226–1234: During the minority of her son Louis IX
  • 1248–1252: During the absence of her son Louis IX on crusade.
• Joan the Lame, who often governed for her husband Philip VI whilst he was fighting.
• Isabeau of Bavaria (inconsistently between 1393–1420), during the insanity of her husband Charles VI, during which she vied for power with her husband's uncles and brothers.
• Catherine de' Medici:
  • 1552: While her husband Henry II left the kingdom for the campaign of Metz
  • 1560–1563: During the minority of her second son, Charles IX
  • 1574: During the absence of her third son, Henry III, in Poland
• Marie de' Medici, 1610–1614, during the minority of her son, Louis XIII
• Anne of Austria, 1643–1651, during the minority of her son Louis XIV
• Empress Eugenie, three times for her husband, Napoleon III, during his absence.