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Plantagenet Saga #5
The Battle of the Queens
The first half of the thirteenth century is dominated by two women, as proud and ambitious as they were beautiful, yet different in all other qualities.
Isabella, flamboyant and passionate, a medieval Helen of Troy - wife to King John and mother to Henry III...
Blanche of Castile, serene and virtuous Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII and mother of Louis IX...
The two women hated each other on sight. Isabella would stop at nothing, not even murder, in her passion to destroy the French Queen...
Isabella, flamboyant and passionate, a medieval Helen of Troy - wife to King John and mother to Henry III...
Blanche of Castile, serene and virtuous Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII and mother of Louis IX...
The two women hated each other on sight. Isabella would stop at nothing, not even murder, in her passion to destroy the French Queen...
480 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1978
33 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
Jean Plaidy
187 books1,591 followersEleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 22, 2009
'The first half of the thirteenth century is dominated by two women, as proud and ambitious as they are beautiful, yet different in all other ways. Isabella, flamboyant and passionate, a medieval Helen of Troy - wife to King John and mother to Henry III. Blanche of Castile, serene and virtuous Queen of France, wife of Louis VIII and mother of Loius IX. The two women hated each other on sight. Isabelle would stop at nothing, not even murder, in her passion to destroy the French Queen.
In this series about the Plantagenets, this has been my favourite. This book tells the separate tales of these two woman, whilst also describing their rivalry.
Isabella reminded me very much of Eleanor of Aquitaine, even though Blanche was the one related to her, with her ruthlessness to get what she wanted, even if that included destroying her own daughter. Her ability to use her femininity to get her way and to twist men around her little finger amazed me. Woman like Isabella where not victims in a man's world.
Blanche of Castile, wife of Louis VIII of France was born in Palencia, Spain, the third daughter of Alfonso VIII, King of Castile, and of Eleanor of England. Eleanor was a daughter of Henry II of England and his Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Blanche loved her husband and had a refreshing honesty about his weaknesses as King.
In this series about the Plantagenets, this has been my favourite. This book tells the separate tales of these two woman, whilst also describing their rivalry.
Isabella reminded me very much of Eleanor of Aquitaine, even though Blanche was the one related to her, with her ruthlessness to get what she wanted, even if that included destroying her own daughter. Her ability to use her femininity to get her way and to twist men around her little finger amazed me. Woman like Isabella where not victims in a man's world.
Blanche of Castile, wife of Louis VIII of France was born in Palencia, Spain, the third daughter of Alfonso VIII, King of Castile, and of Eleanor of England. Eleanor was a daughter of Henry II of England and his Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Blanche loved her husband and had a refreshing honesty about his weaknesses as King.
January 16, 2021
HER BOOKS NEVER AGE
Despite not reading any of Plaidy’s books for years I chose several to devour over the lockdown and I have enjoyed them all. They are easy to read, entertaining and tell historical stories as if they took place yesterday.
Despite not reading any of Plaidy’s books for years I chose several to devour over the lockdown and I have enjoyed them all. They are easy to read, entertaining and tell historical stories as if they took place yesterday.
December 23, 2023
I really enjoyed the parts concerning Henry III and all his siblings. Their marriages and issues, especially how Henry could have made the same mistakes as his father despite seeing how badly it turned out for John, really held my interest. However, the feud between Isabella of Angouleme and Blanche of Castle bored me to tears. Who cares if they hated each other? Who cares what they did to hurt each other? It was all so childish and had very little to do with Britain at all. I wish so much that we stopped hearing anything about Isabella once she married Hugh and instead spent those pages with her children. Richard and Eleanor especially led fascinating lives. Their parts were too small to satisfy me. I love the Barons Wars, they are so interesting. Looking forward to more of that and less chick fights.
April 12, 2015
In The Battle of the Queens Plaidy offers yet another great insight into the turning of the wheels of that era, the eternal struggle between England and France, with the Church as an ever-present puppet master.
The two protagonists in the title, whom the book centres on, are Isabella, mother of Henry III of England, and Blanche, mother of Luis IX of France. The two women who despised each other, couldn't be more different: Isabella hot-tempered, promiscuous, self-centred and Blanche pious, level-headed, thoughtful of others.
Alongside the lives of the great historical personages, Plaidy includes those of seemingly lesser importance, who had nonetheless a great impact on history, or even those who had none, but give her story colour and beat, from the siblings of Henry III to nursemaids. And at that she doesn't forget Eleanor of Aquitaine in the last years of her life, who remained a powerful historical player till her very end.
Thus, the one thing that always frustrates me in historical fiction, women being looked upon as nothing more than political bargaining chips, is upturned on its head in Plaidy's books. For, despite being reduced to objects for political games of men, women were most often the ones who actively decided the fate of nations and affected the world history at large.
Isabella and Blanche were definitely one of those proverbial women behind successful men, the women who made their names, or – in Isabella's case – sometimes ruined them.
Cross-posted from BookLikes.
The two protagonists in the title, whom the book centres on, are Isabella, mother of Henry III of England, and Blanche, mother of Luis IX of France. The two women who despised each other, couldn't be more different: Isabella hot-tempered, promiscuous, self-centred and Blanche pious, level-headed, thoughtful of others.
Alongside the lives of the great historical personages, Plaidy includes those of seemingly lesser importance, who had nonetheless a great impact on history, or even those who had none, but give her story colour and beat, from the siblings of Henry III to nursemaids. And at that she doesn't forget Eleanor of Aquitaine in the last years of her life, who remained a powerful historical player till her very end.
Thus, the one thing that always frustrates me in historical fiction, women being looked upon as nothing more than political bargaining chips, is upturned on its head in Plaidy's books. For, despite being reduced to objects for political games of men, women were most often the ones who actively decided the fate of nations and affected the world history at large.
Isabella and Blanche were definitely one of those proverbial women behind successful men, the women who made their names, or – in Isabella's case – sometimes ruined them.
Cross-posted from BookLikes.
April 15, 2015
Prava ocena ove knjige bi bila 2.5, ali ja volim da dam vecu ocenu, s obzirom da sam ocekivala, s obzirom na naslov, da ce vise paznje biti posveceno Blansi i Izabeli.
January 1, 2017
#TeamBlanche
January 17, 2025
Jean Plaidy makes history very interesting. In this novel, she tells the story of the rivalry between two queens, Isabella of Angouleme (born 1186 or 1188, died 1246) and Blanche of Castile (born 1188, died 1252). By and large, Plaidy sticks close to the facts in her story and, why not, because the truth was very dramatic by itself.
Isabella's first husband was King John of England. For reference, King John is said to be the bad king on whom the Robin Hood stories were based. After King John's death, Isabella was left with 5 children. She went on to marry her daughter's finance, Hugh X of Lusignan (Lusignan is now part of France). No, I said that right. It was Isabella's daughter's fiancé that Isabella married. Apparently, when Isabella was escorting her daughter to her future husband, Hugh took one look at Isabella and married her instead of the daughter (without asking permission as was needed to marry someone so aristocratic). But wait. There's more. Hugh X of Lusignan was the son of the man Isabella was originally engaged to before it was abruptly broken off by her marriage to King John. I told you this was dramatic.
Blanche married Louis XIII of France. Theirs was a happy marriage and, by all accounts, Louis did not step outside his marriage which was pretty unusual for a king.
One might think it inevitable that two women so unlike in character might not get along and that was quite true. Read the book to find out what happens.
Side note: Jean Plaidy does stick pretty close to the facts except the part about Isabella's 2nd marriage. To my annoyance, Plaidy wrote the story as if Isabella's 2nd husband was the man she was originally engaged to when she married King John instead. That's not true and it was actually his son. Stick to the facts, ma'am.
Family corner: no profanity or much of anything else.
Isabella's first husband was King John of England. For reference, King John is said to be the bad king on whom the Robin Hood stories were based. After King John's death, Isabella was left with 5 children. She went on to marry her daughter's finance, Hugh X of Lusignan (Lusignan is now part of France). No, I said that right. It was Isabella's daughter's fiancé that Isabella married. Apparently, when Isabella was escorting her daughter to her future husband, Hugh took one look at Isabella and married her instead of the daughter (without asking permission as was needed to marry someone so aristocratic). But wait. There's more. Hugh X of Lusignan was the son of the man Isabella was originally engaged to before it was abruptly broken off by her marriage to King John. I told you this was dramatic.
Blanche married Louis XIII of France. Theirs was a happy marriage and, by all accounts, Louis did not step outside his marriage which was pretty unusual for a king.
One might think it inevitable that two women so unlike in character might not get along and that was quite true. Read the book to find out what happens.
Side note: Jean Plaidy does stick pretty close to the facts except the part about Isabella's 2nd marriage. To my annoyance, Plaidy wrote the story as if Isabella's 2nd husband was the man she was originally engaged to when she married King John instead. That's not true and it was actually his son. Stick to the facts, ma'am.
Family corner: no profanity or much of anything else.
May 28, 2018
Amazing - so good I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one day. Story was on the premise of Queen Mother Isabella (Henry III's mother) widow of King John and Queen Blanche (Louis IX's mother) widow queen of Louis VIII. Both very strong women and a power struggle as both their sons assume the throne while they are young. It is an excellent read - even if you don't read any of the others in the series - read this!
December 26, 2025
Nothing like Jean Plaidy to provide a well researched historical fiction novel. She brings a time period and people to life without taking a 1000 pages. There are others who provide richer characters but take a lot more pages to do it.
This novel covers the time period of 1216-1246 in British and French royal history.
This novel covers the time period of 1216-1246 in British and French royal history.
June 22, 2019
Loved the book and written in a style that it is not just a history lesson. The power that these two women had and their hate of each other is amazing.Absolutely great. Loved her style of writing and I didn't want to put it down. I will definitely be reading some more of her books
December 2, 2025
Perfeito como passatempo. Não é muito trabalhado no detalhe. Playde conta a história de forma pincelada, o que não é de todo ruim porque é dinâmica. Mas as vezes faz falta algumas informações técnicas.
Eu sigo na coleção. Adoro.
Eu sigo na coleção. Adoro.
December 11, 2018
Drama but not much fact.
September 4, 2025
Pleasant novel about the lives of two C13 dowager queens and imagining their relationship.
November 18, 2025
There’s selfish, and then there’s Isabella of Angouleme
October 28, 2018
This is a well-written and interesting work of historical fiction, revolving around two women who wielded a great deal of influence in early thirteenth century England and France. Jean Plaidy doesn’t disappoint, she perfectly captured a time that was anything but simple, yet fascinating all the same.
January 30, 2018
2018 Reading Challenge: next book in a series I’ve started
October 21, 2016
After the fantastic “Prince of Darkness” this sequel turned out to be a let-down.
First off, the author not only repeats information too many times from this story, but she also recalls way too much from the previous novels in the Plantagenet saga. I found this tedious as well as unnecessary. Some references to the former kings and queens are relevant, but we don’t need to re-read huge chunks that have been covered in the previous books.
I also feel this would’ve worked better if it had been more linear. For instance, we find out early on that Philip of France has died, yet in a subsequent chapter we go back in time when the French king is alive again. This leads to more annoying repetition.
A third big problem I have is the number of people covered. The author would’ve been better off dividing this into three novels and focusing on fewer characters at a time. It’s even harder to keep up with the narrative when you’ve more than one Isabella, Eleanor, etc., to contend with.
This isn’t a bad book in my mind, hence the three-star rating, but had Ms Plaidy given it more thought, spent time cutting all the repetition and limited the amount of characters’ lives she was reliving, then this could’ve been a brilliant effort.
First off, the author not only repeats information too many times from this story, but she also recalls way too much from the previous novels in the Plantagenet saga. I found this tedious as well as unnecessary. Some references to the former kings and queens are relevant, but we don’t need to re-read huge chunks that have been covered in the previous books.
I also feel this would’ve worked better if it had been more linear. For instance, we find out early on that Philip of France has died, yet in a subsequent chapter we go back in time when the French king is alive again. This leads to more annoying repetition.
A third big problem I have is the number of people covered. The author would’ve been better off dividing this into three novels and focusing on fewer characters at a time. It’s even harder to keep up with the narrative when you’ve more than one Isabella, Eleanor, etc., to contend with.
This isn’t a bad book in my mind, hence the three-star rating, but had Ms Plaidy given it more thought, spent time cutting all the repetition and limited the amount of characters’ lives she was reliving, then this could’ve been a brilliant effort.
October 24, 2010
Queen Isabella of England, wife of King John nd mother of King Henry III, and Queen Blanche of France, wife of King Louis and mother of King Louis, were as different as two women could be. Isabella cared only for herself and craved power, which always just alluded her, while Blanche cared deeply for her husband and children and treated the power she was given with respect.
When both countries lose their Kings and find themselves with young rulers, we see the Queen Mothers in very powerful positions. As they struggle to usurp each other's place, there is constant strife betewen the two families, the two countries, and the two Queens.
Aside from the overuse of So, But, However, and repetitive information surfacing from time to time, Plaidy has an enjoyable writing style and has plenty of strong charaters to work with.
When both countries lose their Kings and find themselves with young rulers, we see the Queen Mothers in very powerful positions. As they struggle to usurp each other's place, there is constant strife betewen the two families, the two countries, and the two Queens.
Aside from the overuse of So, But, However, and repetitive information surfacing from time to time, Plaidy has an enjoyable writing style and has plenty of strong charaters to work with.
February 25, 2012
Well this was a bit of a disappointment.
I have read many positive reviews about Ms. Plaidy so I was looking forward to open this first book of hers that I read. I am not gonna lie - it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The title and description sound like it would be fantastic, the Queens/Dowager Queens of England and France fighting their own personal war between each other. About 90% of the novel didn't actually include the two characters but instead focused on their husbands/children and other relevant/semi-relevant characters. The writing was a bit of a mash as well because it jumped from here to there which made everything seem 'un-tidy'. I have reserved a few of her other books from the library and I will be giving those a chance. Hopefully they will not be on par with Battle of the Queens.
I have read many positive reviews about Ms. Plaidy so I was looking forward to open this first book of hers that I read. I am not gonna lie - it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The title and description sound like it would be fantastic, the Queens/Dowager Queens of England and France fighting their own personal war between each other. About 90% of the novel didn't actually include the two characters but instead focused on their husbands/children and other relevant/semi-relevant characters. The writing was a bit of a mash as well because it jumped from here to there which made everything seem 'un-tidy'. I have reserved a few of her other books from the library and I will be giving those a chance. Hopefully they will not be on par with Battle of the Queens.
February 12, 2016
Ms Plaidy's Plantagenet saga is a "queen's eye view" of the era. Unfortunately there is a ~20 year gap from the death of King John until the marriage of his son, Henry III devoid of female interest. With Henry under the protection of the most honourable knights of the era, his mother abandons her family by John and heads off to France to marry her childhood sweetheart. Henry's sisters are too young to be at court and are married out of the schoolroom. The interesting female of the era is Blanche of France, cousin of Henry. Ms Plaidy tries to pull too many short stories into novel format, and it doesn't quite succeed.
October 11, 2014
The fifth book in the Plantagenet Saga concentrates on the titular behind-the-scenes battle between English queen Isabella of Angoulême, mother of young king Henry III, and Blanche of Castile, Queen of France. Through the stories of these two strong but very different women who hated each other from their very first meeting and the stories of those surrounding them, Jean Plaidy once again skillfully brings a piece of history alive. Another compulsively readable novel from this great author which I enjoyed very much.
January 24, 2016
The fifth in this wonderful series and this one is not quite as good but only because the subject material was lacking a little. Not the author's fault, of course, just a relatively quiet time in an otherwise thrilling time in English (and French) history. No wars or battles, just centred around two queens. Queen Isabella (widow of the loathsome dead King John) and Blanche, Queen of France. These two were more dominating than any men of the time partly due to the latter being weak in relative terms to those who had gone before.
June 22, 2020
A really great read of two strong women Isabella of Angouleme, widow of King John of England and Blanche of Castile, Queen of France, who hated each other from their first meeting. Isabella returns to France and marries the man she jilted for King John as a young girl, but cannot resist pitting herself against the young Queen of France. Ultimately there would be only one winner and this is not Isabelle!
July 13, 2010
It took me the most time to get throug this 5th in the series. It wasn't a bad book at all but with all of the same name characters I really had to pay special attention and reread a few parts to keep them all straight. Thank you Ms. Plaidy for the family trees in the beginning of the book! On to book 6!
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September 6, 2014I'm finding this book hard going at times. But, I have read so much already, that I have to continue to see what happens. It's not as gripping as some other books of similar nature, such as Alison Weir's novels.
September 3, 2018
Isabella d'Angouleme and Blanche of Castille are the focus of this novel. Rival queens of rival countries with an abiding hate for one another. Not AS good as some of her others, but an enjoyable read
April 2, 2016
Looked up on widipedia Isabella of Angoulême didn't marry her former fiance but his son. Worse.
Thought I read and watched many stories of English/British Monarch in last many years but still find stories that astound me.
Thought I read and watched many stories of English/British Monarch in last many years but still find stories that astound me.
July 23, 2007
Isabella of Angeloume (widow of John I, mother of Henry III) and Blanche of Castile (mother of Louis IX of France)
February 11, 2011
Not one of her best, but still a good read.
November 18, 2013
Not one of her better novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews