Florine of Burgundy

Florine of Burgundy

Florine of Burgundy (1083–1097) was a French crusader. She was the daughter of Eudes I, Duke of Burgundy and Sybilla of Burgundy. Her maternal grandfather was William I, Count of Burgundy. Florine was married to Sweyn the Crusader, a son of Sweyn II of Denmark.

Biography

Together Florine and Sweyn led fifteen hundred horsemen to the First Crusade, and were surprised by the Turks whilst advancing rapidly across the plains of Cappadocia. Outnumbered, Sweyn defended himself during a whole day, without being able to repulse the Turks with all the efforts of his courage or the battle-axes of his warriors; Florine valiantly fought by his side. Pierced by seven arrows, but still fighting, she sought with Sweyn to open a passage towards the mountains, when they were overwhelmed by their enemies. They fell together on the field of battle, after having seen all their knights and most faithful servants perish around them.

Fiction

Florine's life was dramatized by William Bernard McCabe in the novel Florine, Princess of Burgundy: A Tale of the First Crusaders, published in 1855.

References

Edgington, Susan; Sarah Lambert (2002). Gendering the Crusades. Columbia University Press. pp. 53–54. ISBN 978-0-231-12598-7.

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