ISABELLA OF FRANCE

(1292-1358). Queen of England. The daughter of Philip IV and Jeanne of Navarre, Isabella of France was born at Paris and subsequently became queen of Edward II of England (r. 1307-27) and mother of Edward III (r. 1327-77). Her marriage, which had been under discussion as early as 1298, took place at Boulogne on January 25, 1308. After the execution of Edward’s favorite, Piers Gaveston, Isabella played a leading role in mediating between her husband and his nobles (1312 and 1316). A chronicler of dubious reliability, Jean d’Outremeuse, alleged that Isabella was the one who told her father about the adultery of her sisters-in-law.

In 1321, a refusal to admit her to Leeds castle led to a new round of warfare between Edward II and his uncle Thomas of Lancaster, leading to Thomas’s execution in March 1322. In September 1324, war broke out with her brother Charles IV of France, and Isabella was sent to negotiate (March 1325), followed by her son, the future Edward III, who did homage to Charles for Aquitaine and Ponthieu (September 14).

Isabella then formed a liaison with the exiled English rebel Roger Mortimer, refused to return to England, and traveled to Hainaut, where the young Edward was betrothed to the count’s daughter, Philippa, whose dowry was used to hire mercenaries. Isabella and Mortimer invaded England on September 24, 1326, and the barons rose in favor of her son. Edward II was captured on November 16 and abdicated on January 20, 1327. In September, he was murdered in prison.

Isabella and Mortimer, made earl of March in September 1328, ruled England, making disadvantageous treaties with France (March 1327) and Scotland (May 1328), but on the night of October 18-19, 1330, the young Edward III seized power in a coup. He had Mortimer executed on November 29. Isabella no longer played a major role, although she regained Ponthieu and Montreuil in 1332 and was suggested as a mediator with France in 1348. She died at Hertford on August 23, 1358.

R. Thomas McDonald

[See also: EDWARD II; PHILIP IV THE FAIR: SAINT-SARDOS]

Blackley, F. D., and G. Hermanson. The Household Book of Queen Isabella of England. Edmonton:

University of Alberta Press, 1971.

Hutchinson, H. F. EdwardII. New York: Stein and Day, 1972.