Isabella of England
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Princess Isabella of England, also called Elizabeth (1214 – December 1, 1241) was a daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme.
It was at a friendly meeting at Rieti where Pope Gregory IX suggested to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor that he marry Princess Isabella, a sister of Henry III of England. At first Frederick II was concerned to lose his French allies; but when he realised that an English marriage would end English support for his opponents, he agreed.
The beautiful Isabella was about twenty-one years old when she set out to marry the twice-widowed Emperor Frederick II, who was forty. On her way through Cologne, she delighted the local women when she removed the traditionally worn veil so that they could see her face. She also brought a considerable dowry with her.She was married to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1235.
However, as soon as she was married she was introduced to the secluded harem life attended by black eunuchs. The marriage was consummated the day after the marriage ceremony. Although their marriage had been a political match, it still seemed cruel when she was allowed to keep only two of her English women-attendants; the others were sent home. Like all women in the 13th century, it was clear to Isabella that her only function in life was to produce children to secure the succession. In all she gave birth to four (according others five) children, but only Margaret of Sicily (1237-1270) survived her.
Isabella lived in retirement at Noventa where her husband regularly visited her. When her brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, returned from the crusades, he was allowed to visit her although Isabella was not allowed to be present at the official reception. while the imperial court resided at Foggia, Isabella gave birth to her last child and died. She was only twenty-seven years old and according to Thomas Costain, Frederick buried her beside one of his Saracen mistresses in the Cathedral of Andria.
[edit] Younger namesake
A later Isabella Plantagenet (1332-1379), also called Dame Isabella de Coucy was the daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. She was married to Enguerrand VII of Coucy, 1st Earl of Bedford on July 27, 1365 at Windsor Castle. She had two children by Enguerrand VII of Coucy, Marie of Coucy (1366-1404) and Philippa of Coucy (1367-1411). She died in England under mysterious circumstances after Enguerrand's renunciation of English ties, separated from her husband and eldest child.
[edit] Reference
- Tuchman, Barbara W. (1978), A Distant Mirror: the Calamitous 14th Century., Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1984. ISBN 0-394-40026-7.de:Isabella von England
