Eleanor of Provence’s – who was Henry III’s wife – mother, Beatrice, came from Savoy. When Eleanor married Henry in 1236 her retinue contained a large number of her maternal relations (approximately 170) including her uncle, Peter of Savoy, and Boniface who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1244. About 70 of them settled in Britain. They were not popular with the barony because of the royal favour they garnered for themselves.
Henry’s marriage to Eleanor had been to establish political alliances to safeguard his control over the south of France (the remnants of Aquitaine and Gascony) but it also meant that Henry was able to appoint Eleanor’s relations to various posts in England so that they would be loyal to him. It also meant that his queen was able to secure a political faction that worked in her interests…if they knew what was good for them.
The Savoyards would later, in 1258 form an alliance with the barony, in opposition to Henry’s four Lusignan half-siblings from the Poitou region. It is perhaps not surprising that the king’s own relations were quick to find royal favour. Henry married his youngest half brother, William de Valence, to Joan de Munchensy who was an heiress of the Marshal family. He would gain the earldom of Pembroke through the match. However, unlike their Savoyard counterparts they made no attempt to assimilate into English society or culture.
The arrival of Eleanor of Castile and her retinue in 1255 suggested to the barons and the people of London that there would be yet more foreign interlopers at court looking for preferment. And it was true that Edward’s wife protected the Castilians who came to court. However, to counterbalance that, Eleanor’s influence bought with it Spanish cultural tastes, new administrative practices and more intellectual pursuits, not to mention – horrifying at the time- the use of carpet rather than rushes on the floor, brightly coloured candles and coloured glass. Her liking for the fruits from her home country was regarded as extravagant but I’d have to say that if I’d left Seville for the cold of English shores I might also want a more varied diet and a bright warm bedroom with carpet on the floor.
Cockerill, Sara. Eleanor of Castile.