Isabella, Holy Roman Empress

## Isabella of England

Holy Roman Empress

Joanna of Germany

Sibylla of Germany

**Isabella of England** (C. 1133 - 1172) was the fourth child and second daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her second husband Henry II of England. Isabella was known to be a famous crusader Queen with her sister Constance of England. Isabella was born in Normandy and brought to Somerset in England when she was 2. Isabella was a worthy bride and she was very popular, the best match was Fredrick II, Holy Roman Emperor, when Isabella was 15, she married her 36 year old husband, they had a close relationship even though the marriage was only for a political match. Isabella was a crusader in the 6th Crusade, she crusaded in Hungary, and nearly died after arrows were being shot. Isabella had 4 children, which her second child was elected emperor shortly after Isabella's husband's death. Isabella served as an advisor for her son, until 1172 when she died age 40.

## Early Life

### Early Childhood

Isabella was born in Normandy in 1133, she was the fourth child of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England, Isabella was raised with her sister Constance, and her brothers Richard and Henry the Young, who was Isabella's father's Co-King. She at a young age was brought to England in Somerset and raised there by her mother's ladies-in-watings. During her birth her parents went crusading in Jerusalem, Isabella was expected to become a crusader like her parents, Isabella studied war, and math, a lot of woman at the time were not educated on war, as they were expected to become house-wives, but during the crusades, many males were dying, and females like Isabella's mother were counted on to participate in war.

### Marriage prospects

Isabella's marriage was taken seriously, Isabella liked the Duke of Lancaster, but marriages in the middle ages were not allowed to be for love if they were royal, during the crusades, one of the most famous crusader states in Europe, was the Holy Roman Empire, or known as the Kingdom of Germany. The heir to the Holy Roman Empire was Fredrick of Germany, Fredrick and Isabella were married by proxy when Isabella was only 6, but she was kept in England until she was 12.

## 6th Crusade

After the 5th Crusade Isabella turned 12, this was the age a crusader would start, Isabella married her husband before she started crusading in 1145, she started preparing for the next crusade, her parents showed her the basics. After 4 months she was ready, but the crusades did not start yet, after 5 weeks, the crusade was official, Isabella was sent with her older sister Constance of England and Henry the young King. The young crusaders wen't to Jaffa, which was the bloodiest crusader state yet at the time. Isabella was scared, which led her to be teased by her older brother Prince Richard. But Isabella soon faced her fears and shot arrows, swung swords, and launched live donkeys, thanks to her mother who had done that in Turkey. The crusade was very bloody, Isabella managed to not get hurt like her older siblings Constance, Richard, and Henry the Young. The pair was swtiched, in the second year of the 6th crusade, her younger sister Eleanor of England, turned 12, the 13 year old Isabella instead took Eleanor of England to Greece to fight the ottomans. After the bloody lust of the 6th crusade, Isabella and Eleanor celebrated there victory in Germany. Eleanor was sent to marry Alfonso VIII of Castile the day after.

## First child

Isabella was pregnant in 1146, it it was a daughter, it would be a pawn in the dynastic ambition of power, it it was a son, it would be a key figure in the marriage market. So a son or a daughter would be good. Isabella gave birth in Germany in 1146 to Isabella of Germany, the future Duchess of Luxembourg. Isabella of England wen't to her parents and showed them the new child. When the child was 8 days old she was married to the Duke of Luxembourg, the marriage was expected to become real when Isabella of Germany turned 12. Isabella of Germany was raised the the Duke's mother.

## 7th Crusade

In 1148, a priest knocked on the door of the Palace of Arles. Isabella had just given birth to Henry of Germany the future Holy Roman Emperor 2 months back, the priest announced the 7th crusade was happening. Isabella was ready then ever. Isabella was suppose to go with Eleanor of England, but Eleanor was to busy in Romania, so Isabella instead wen't with Constance again.

Famous Crusader matches of the 7th Crusade
 Eleanor of Aquitaine
 Eleanor of England
 Judith of Hungary

Constance and Isabella sailed to Jerusalem after they crushed the ottoman uprising in Slovenia, they marched to Jerusalem and won a battle, after that Isabella and Constance celebrated in Anjou. They wen't home afterwards. That year Isabella was crowned Holy Roman Empress.

## 8th Crusade

Isabella knew this was not the last crusade, she was well aware of the 8th crusade, but she was fearless, half-sister Blanche of France came to visit her 1 day before they would go crusading. Isabella was now 18 years old, and very fierce. She wen't with Eleanor of England and started crusading in Romania, the ottomans took over eastern Romania, but with the help of Eleanor of England's army she was able to unconquer eastern Romania. Eleanor wanted to go to Greneda to help the Castilions invade Greneda, Isabella agreed after they had protected Albania. At the time Castile was going through to Reconquista to reconquer Grenada which was stolen. Eleanor of England was not only a crusader, but also a reconquerer, Isabella called her husband in Germany to help her which he agreed to do, while they were on the boarder of Grenada, the Sultan attacked, but the euro forces were stronger and invaded much of western Grenada, after that they left for Toledo, then Isabella said that Eleanor of England's 7 year old daughter Berengaria should marry the King of Léon who was unmarried, they agreed and a 7 year old Berengaria married the 10 year old Ferdinand III, King of Léon who was regented by his mother. Even though the 8th crusade was not over, they still stoped crusading to take care of there children.

## 9th Crusade

Most of Isabella's life was spent in war, so she did not fear the next crusade, when her son turned 12 in 1158, he was at the age to start crusading, Isabella's daughter Isabella of Germany had already been crusading in Turkey a year before Isabella's son Henry did. Henry was very excited and could not wait when he got his first sword. Isabella and her husband took there 12 year old son Henry to Venice to start. Venice was the least dangerous place in the crusades. When he proven himself worthy 5 days later his parents sent him with an army and his 15 year old cousin Maria of Byzantine, to the most dangerous crusader state of Jaffa. Henry came back alive and unscared giving him the nickname of "Henry the untouched." His parents were very proud of him and married him to Alicia of Burgundy.

## 10th Crusade

In 1159, Isabella was informed about the 10th crusade to regain the Holy lands, Isabella wen't with her now 12 year old daughter Joanna, to Jerusalem. The King Fulk III allowed them in and they defeated many ottomans. Isabella's 14 year old son to Alicia of Burgundy and her sister Uracca of Burgundy to Romania and crusaded, Isabella's niece Berengaria of Castile started crusading in Jerusalem as well. The 10th crusade was the bloodiest crusade in 6 years. Many fires burned thousands. Arrows were launched that caused friendly fires, and many people died. Isabella was scarred on the leg and never could crusade again, she counted on all of her children to crusade for her. Isabella of England died aged 40 as an advisor to her son when he became Emperor.