Catherine of Navarre's authority over Béarn in 1483–1484 was itself a contested matter. Her brother François Phébus held the throne of Navarre until his sudden death in January 1483 — widely suspected as poisoning, though never proven — at which point Catherine inherited both Navarre and the viscounty of Béarn at age fourteen. This blanc was struck during the regency period under her mother Madeleine of France, before Catherine's marriage to Jean d'Albret in 1484 transferred effective power into Albret hands.
Béarn's monetary tradition jealously guarded its independence from the French crown throughout this period.
Catherine of Navarre's authority over Béarn in 1483–1484 was itself a contested matter. Her brother François Phébus held the throne of Navarre until his sudden death in January 1483 — widely suspected as poisoning, though never proven — at which point Catherine inherited both Navarre and the viscounty of Béarn at age fourteen. This blanc was struck during the regency period under her mother Madeleine of France, before Catherine's marriage to Jean d'Albret in 1484 transferred effective power into Albret hands.
Béarn's monetary tradition jealously guarded its independence from the French crown throughout this period.