Isabella of France

Princess Isabella of France was born at some point in the 1290’s. The exact date is uncertain. The best guess is some time between 1292-1295, but we can’t be sure. Contemporary counts contradict each other about her age.

Isabella’s parents were Philip IV of France, and Joan I of Navarre. The French royal family was the most powerful one in Europe at this time, and given that Isabella’s mother also ruled in her own right, Isabella was very sought after as a royal bride. She was their only daughter, and her three brothers would all be Kings of France. Isabella’s mother died in 1305, and her father chose King Edward II of England to be her husband. Edward was about ten years older than Isabella, and had taken the throne at a fairly young age.

Edward and Isabella were married in 1308, when Isabella was quite young. How young we can’t be totally sure, but suffice to say she was young enough that had she lived in modern times men who were interested in her might find themselves face to face with Chris Hansen. But the marriage was probably not consummated right away. Though young, Isabella was considered exceptionally beautiful, as were her father and brothers. She was regarded not only as attractive, but intelligent and charming as well. Edward, for his part, was also considered very good looking and had long and curly blond hair.

Isabella brought with her a large dowry as well as many personal items and wedding presents. Among what she brought was a large chest of jewels from her father. Isabella naturally expected that these were going to belong to her. Edward disagreed, and gave them to his "close personal friend" Piers Gaveston. Isabella had first noticed Piers at the wedding when he and Edward seemed joined at the hip. Isabella couldn’t quite understand what was going on. Isabella was thrown to the side from the beginning of her marriage. Edward lavished gifts and affection on Piers, but couldn’t even hold up his end of the marriage agreement with Isabella. She expected to have her own household and authority over it, her own property, and access to all of the jewels and plates she brought from France.

Isabella soon discovered that she wasn’t the only person mad at Edward. Many of the noblemen in England were also frustrated with the favoritism Piers was receiving. It didn’t help that Piers loved to flaunt his position and the gifts he received from the King. In medieval times it was not unknown for Kings to have favorites, even if the favorites were other men. The problem was that Piers had more influence over the King than anyone else and while normally noblemen could expect to gain royal favor by serving at court, all of the favor seemed to be reserved for Piers. Isabella’s father, upon hearing about Edward’s behavior, sent funding to the noblemen to fund an uprising to get rid of Piers. It worked, and Piers was temporarily sent away. Edward was even briefly exiled and returned promising loyalty to his wife and fairer treatment for everyone. That lasted for about a month.

Piers was brought back and Edward continued acting just as he had before. Then another uprising occurred, this one even stronger. Isabella refused to support it because she feared they were going to kick out Edward all together which would put her in an uncertain position. Edward and Isabella were force to flee to Scotland. Except there was a war going on there, too. Also, William Wallace was dead by this point so whatever you saw in Braveheart about Isabella was very inaccurate.

Piers was captured on his way to meet up with Edward and executed. Then the nobles backed down and Edward was too upset to retaliate anymore. He even pardoned the people involved with the uprising on Isabella’s request. Things were still very unstable and even Edward knew how unpopular he was. Isabella’s life greatly improved, though. She got her own residence, and had her first child, a healthy boy, in 1312. He was named Edward like his father.

Isabella was also friendly with her aunt, Queen Marguerite, who was Edward’s step-mother. It was a bit awkward, as both Edward and Isabella were close to her and she was aware of the drama between them. Isabella had three more children, John, Eleanor, and Joan. But the marriage was not happy. Edward had found himself a new close personal friend. This one was Hugh Despenser. Hugh, and his father Hugh Sr., were powerful landowners and the medieval version of the mafia. Hugh had married Edward’s niece Eleanor, and had nine children with her. But he was still perfectly happy to be the King’s close personal friend. Hugh and Edward proceeded to paint the town red, and everyone became aware that there was a new favorite in town. Meanwhile, Hugh and his father proceeded to steal from rich and poor alike and murder anyone who got in their way. Hugh knew Edward would protect him and give him whatever he wanted.

Isabella was pissed. Hugh blatantly disrespected her and may have even physically or sexually assaulted her, knowing Edward would let him get away with anything. Isabella left London in 1323 and went on a solo tour of England, making herself more popular than Edward ever was. When she returned, Edward wanted her to swear an oath of loyalty to the Despenser family. She refused. Edward then confiscated her lands and took away her household. Another uprising occurred during this period, and while Edward was fighting the noblemen outside, Isabella hid out in the Tower of London. While there, she met Roger Mortimer, a charming young man who was kept locked up because he disrespected Hugh Despenser. Isabella and Roger hit it off immediately, even though they were both married.

After Edward won that conflict (barely) Isabella got permission to take her children and visit her family in France. Edward looked forward to getting rid of her so she’d never come between him and his beloved Hugh again. But Isabella had a plan. Shortly before she left, Roger had gotten out of the Tower and slipped across the channel. With her powerful relatives and boyfriend in France, Isabella began to scheme. She was not putting up with Edward and Hugh anymore. Most of England agreed with her. Isabella plotted with her brothers and her cousin Joan to raise an army. She knew she’d have support once she got to England, and she made an agreement to marry her cousin Joan’s daughter Philippa to her son Edward in exchange for help with her invasion.

In 1326, Isabella returned in a blaze of glory. Her and Roger took position of royal property, and imprisoned Edward and Hugh. Hugh was brutally executed alongside his father and his few allies. Edward was imprisoned and most likely "done away with" at some point in the next few years. Isabella’s son was only fourteen, so Isabella and Roger ruled in his place. They took absolute power and Isabella decided to do what every medieval monarch did upon seizing the throne; execute everyone she didn’t like. That put quite the dent in her popularity. So did her rumored killing of her husband, and her extra-marital goings on with Roger. In 1330, Isabella’s son Edward III came of age.

He did not like Roger, and was angry about Isabella’s treatment of his father. So he seized power and had Roger executed. Though not charged with any crime, Isabella lost her wealth and power. She was put under house arrest for a time, and had a miscarriage because of the stress of what she saw as a betrayal by her own son. Though having a child by a married man wouldn’t have been very convenient for her at that time. Though myth had it Isabella was kept locked away and went insane, that’s not really true. She mostly kept quiet, not wanting to further antagonize her son. She remained close to her other children, particularly her youngest daughter Joan. She often went to court to see her grandchildren and was particularly close to Edward III’s oldest son Edward, the Black Prince.

She died in 1358, an old woman by medieval standards, and was buried with the heart of her beloved Roger Mortimer.