* Political alliances: Royal marriages were often used to secure alliances, create peace treaties, and solidify power. The kingdoms of England and France were geographically close and often entangled in political conflicts, making marriages between them a strategic tool.
* French influence in England: In the medieval period, France exerted a strong cultural influence on England. The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought French-speaking nobility and a French-based court system to England, creating a close bond between the two nations.
* Inheritance: Many English kings were descendants of French monarchs through various lines of inheritance. This led to a natural connection with French royalty and made marriages between them seem appropriate.
* Other powerful European families: While French women were common choices, English kings also married women from other powerful families like the Spanish Habsburgs, the Danish royal family, and the House of Savoy.
Notable examples:
* Henry II: Married Eleanor of Aquitaine, a powerful French duchess, solidifying English control over Aquitaine.
* Henry V: Married Catherine of Valois, daughter of the French king, following his victory at Agincourt.
* Henry VII: Married Elizabeth of York, a descendant of the House of Plantagenet, ending the Wars of the Roses and uniting England.
Remember: The reasons for royal marriages were complex and varied. While French brides were common, they were not the only option, and many other factors influenced who English kings married.