Marie of Brittany, Countess of Saint-Pol

Marie of Brittany, born in 1268, was the offspring of John II, Duke of Brittany, and Beatrice of England, and was commonly known as Marie de Dreux. Her maternal lineage connected her to English royalty, being the granddaughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence, and the great-granddaughter of King John of England and his consort Eleanor of Aquitaine. Marie’s sister, Blanche of Brittany, was married to Philip of Artois, and through her, Marie was the aunt of Margaret of Artois, Robert III of Artois, and Joan of Artois, Countess of Foix, with Margaret being the mother of Jeanne d’Évreux, Queen of France.

In 1292, Marie married Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol, and they had several children, including John of Châtillon, Mahaut of Châtillon, and Marie of Châtillon. Her daughter Mahaut’s marriage brought forth a lineage that included notable figures such as Marie of Valois, Isabella of Valois, Duchess of Bourbon, and Joanna of Bourbon, Queen of France. Another of Mahaut’s daughters, Blanche of Valois, married Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and was the mother of Katharine of Bohemia.