Isabella, Countess of Savoy

## Isabella of France

Countess Consort of Savoy

Constance of Savoy

Selena of Savoy

Charles I, Count of Savoy

Antoinetta of Savoy

Francis of Savoy

**Isabella of France** (C. 1178 - March 10, 1232) was Countess Consort of Savoy by her marriage to Bonifice I of Savoy. She was born in 1178 as the second child of Louis VIII of France and his second wife Ingeborg of Denmark, at 15 she was betrothed an then married to Bonifice of Savoy, to add French blood into the County of Savoy, she was well liked in Savoy, and her often visited her in Savoy. Isabella's tenure was mostly known for her and her husband's refusal to help Grimaldo Canella to invade Monaco, and laughed at him when he asked for an army. Isabella died 2 year's after her husband in 1232.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Isabella of France was born in French owned Brabant in 1178 to Louis VIII of France and his second wife Ingeborg of Denmark. Isabella was born with an older sister Phillipa, and 4 half-siblings, Isabella looked more Danish then french, which was not shocking as her mother was a Dane, Isabella was raised in Paris and spoke fluent French and Danish.

### Education

Isabella learned about math, reading, writing, history, and war which was seen as outrageous for a woman at the time, Isabella at a young age was betrothed to the Emperor of Bulgaria, so she was taught Bulgarian, but the betrothal broke off and Isabella learned Bulgarian for nothing, her parents still continued to teach Isabella new laguages. But sadly her father died in 1185, and Isabella's older-half-brother forced Isabella out of the country, into Antioch.

### Betrothal and Marriage

Isabella when she was 15 was betrothed to Bonifice I, Count of Savoy, Isabella herself was not a fan of the marriage, she disliked the Savoyards and did not want to bother learning Italian. It took 74 day's for Isabella to learn Italian and Savoyard, her mother then sent a ship to Savoy, they where married in and the couple settled in Annecy Palace, the couple first where hostile to each other, and only had 1 child (Louis of Savoy) in the first 3 year's of marriage, but they eventually grew close and had more children.

## Grimaldo Canella

While Isabella was with the King of Germany as a guest, a knight declared a Geonese-Italian man wanted help, Isabella's husband allowed him in, and the man introduced himself as "Grimaldo Canella" who was a Geonoese politician. He wanted to claim unclaimed territory near France called Monaco, and he needed some one to help him, Isabella and her husband thought it was a joke at first and started to laugh, until they saw the disaproving face of Grimaldo Canella. Bonifice told Grimaldo Canella "Canella, you have better thing's to do with your life, other then claim a useless land plot that France most certainly shall not bestow." Grimaldo Canella was dismissed, but he would go on to claim Monaco with the help of the Count of Vedome. Isabella though was very unhappy that her husband was proven wrong, and sent troops to invade Monaco, Grimaldo Canella so furious captured Isabella and imprisoned her.

### Imprisonment

Isabella was held captive in Monaco for 17 years, this led to a war between Savoy and Monaco, the Pope who sided with Savoy sent a guard to free the Countess, but he was captured and beheaded, this led to Grimaldo Canella's execomunication. But he was untamed by it and continued to challenge the Pope, 8 year's into Isabella's imprisonment she attempted to escape which caused her to be sent to a more secure prison, after many year's she was brought back to Savoy when she was 48, she ordered Grimaldo Canella be captured, he was, Grimaldo Canella, his 27 year old son Oberto, his 10 year old daughter Marie of Monaco and his assassian 23 year old Antonio, where all burned at the stake. But Grimaldo Canella's 26 year old son Oberto Theoberto was proclaimed Lord of Monaco, and declared a second war on Savoy, which Isabella did not take part in.

## Death

Isabella died on March 10, 1232, she died 2 year's after her husband, her body was brought back to France 9 day's later were it remains in St. Denis Basilica. Her later life also remains unknown.