Introduction: Geography and Gendered Rule

The medieval Pyrenean kingdom of Navarre, now part of northeastern Spain, played a pivotal role in European history due to its strategic location on key pilgrimage routes. Positioned at the crossroads of Iberia, France, and the Basque region, Navarre controlled vital Pyrenean passes that facilitated trade and cultural exchange between Continental Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Its dominance over these routes, particularly those leading to Santiago de Compostela, underscored its significance despite being smaller than neighboring kingdoms like Castile and Aragon.

Woodacre, E. (2013). Introduction: Geography and Gendered Rule. The Queens Regnant of Navarre, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137339157_1