Isabella

Isabella 1296-1358, queen consort of Edward II of England, daughter of Philip IV of France. She married Edward in 1308. Neglected and mistreated by her husband, Isabella nourished hatred for the royal favorites, the Despensers (see Despenser, Hugh le ), who were responsible (1324) for the confiscation of her estates. In 1325 she was sent to France to negotiate with her brother Charles IV over Gascony. Once there, she ignored royal orders to return to England with her son, the future Edward III . Becoming the mistress of Roger de Mortimer , later 1st earl of March, she plotted with him to invade England. Their invasion in 1326 was successful. After Edward II was forced to abdicate and Edward III was enthroned early in 1327, Isabella and Mortimer caused the murder of Edward II and began a corrupt rule of England. Finally rebelling against the couple's flagrant misgovernment, Edward III seized power in 1330, had Mortimer executed, and forced Isabella to retire.

Bibliography: See biography by A. Weir (2005).

Isabella of France (1292–1358), queen of Edward II. The daughter of Philip IV of France, Isabella married Edward II at Boulogne in January 1308, soon after his accession. Infatuated by Piers Gaveston, Edward neglected her. Nevertheless, they produced four children. The future Edward III was born in 1312. The influence of the Despensers estranged her from her husband and in 1325 she took refuge in France. In 1326 she joined her lover, Roger Mortimer, in an invasion which easily swept away Edward's power. London rose in her favour, the Despensers were executed, Edward deposed in January 1327 and murdered at Berkeley castle in September 1327. For three years she and Mortimer ruled the country on behalf of the young Edward III. But in 1330 they were overthrown by a coup at Nottingham. Mortimer was at once executed, Isabella lived in comfortable retirement before entering a convent for her last years.

Isabella of France (1289–1358), queen of Edward II. The daughter of Philip IV of France, Isabella married Edward II at Boulogne in January 1308, soon after his accession. Infatuated by Piers Gaveston, Edward neglected her. Nevertheless, they produced four children. The future Edward III was born in 1312 and their last child, a daughter, in June 1321. The influence of the Despensers estranged her from her husband and in 1325 she took refuge in France, supported by her brother Charles IV. In 1326 she joined her lover, Roger Mortimer, in an invasion which easily swept away Edward's power. London rose in her favour, the Despensers were executed, Edward deposed in January 1327 and murdered at Berkeley castle in September 1327. For three years she and Mortimer ruled the country on behalf of the young Edward III. But in 1330 they were overthrown by a coup at Nottingham which had the king's support. Mortimer was at once executed, Isabella lived in comfortable retirement before entering a convent for her last years. She died at Hertford. As an adulterous queen, Isabella achieved a notoriety she scarcely deserved and remained for centuries material for saucy lampoons or parallels directed at later royal couples.

Sue Minna Cannon