Isabella of Hainaut

Queen Consort of France

September 28, 1223 - July 1, 1262

(Second)

September 28, 1223

(Second)

Louis IX of France

(m. 1223 d. 1262)

Isabella of France

Phillip III of France

Margaret of France

Peter I, Duke of Orléans

Charles IV, Count of Flanders

Joan of France

Agnes of France

**Isabella of Hainaut** (April 5, 1199 - March 15, 1264) was the eldest daughter of Henry I, Count of Hainaut and Agnes of Beaujeu, from birth, Isabella was a high valuble prize for marriage, and her father along with the Hainautian Ambassador to France married her to Phillip II of France, and they had 1 child: Marie of France, but her husband died the year after the child's birth, but Isabella during her marriage to Phillip, had an affair with Phillip's son Louis of France who was now King Louis IX of France, Louis was so in love with his own step-mother, he married Isabella which made her the first woman to become Queen of France 2 times, Isabella allowed her new husband to adopt her daughter whom Louis adored, Isabella gave birth to 8 other children, she was well liked and enjoyed great popularity in France. When her husband died she oversaw the coronation of her son also named Phillip, during his reign, she served as regent 2 times while he was on crusade, she died on March 15, 1264 of a stroke.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Isabella of Hainaut was born April 5th, 1199 to Henry I, Count of Hainaut and Agnes of Beaujeu, when Isabella was born, she had just recently taken control of the county of Hainaut after her uncle William II of Hainaut and aunt Isabella of England drowned in a ship while making there way to England. Isabella was the first born child of her parent's and she was indeed very close to them, she was followed by a younger brother Fredrick and a sister Sophie and another sister Anna, Isabella was very close to her sibling's and was distraught when she was sent away from her sibling's to go to a school in Guelders.

### Education

While at school in Guelders, her father wanted to make sure Isabella had a fine education which was very rare for woman at the time, Isabella's tutor was Johann Janssen who was known to be a loyal man, though not very attractive, when Isabella first met Johann Janssen, she wrote that she tried her hardest not to comment on her teacher's ugliness. Isabella learned History, Math, Science, Poetry, Music, song, dance, reading, writing, hunting, German, French, Dutch, English, Greek and Latin.

## Queen of France (1219 - 1223)

When Isabella was 19, her father was concerned Isabella had no husband, she was pulled from Guelders, back to Hainaut, the Hainautian Ambassador to France reccomeded Isabella marry the widowed King of France named Phillip II of France so Isabella could add Hainautian blood to the French crown through a child, Isabella met the old king in Hainaut, Isabella married him by proxy and then officially married him in Paris, she was crowned Queen of France the day after, she had 7 step-children which 6 of them disliked her, except for one who liked her a little to much, it was her step-son and husband's heir, Louis of France who found Isabella to be very beautiful, from her black hair, fair skin, freckles, and Blue eyes. Isabella and Louis soon started to have feelings for each-other, and they had an affair behind Phillip's back which at the time was considered adultery and was punishible by death. 3 years into there union Isabella gave birth to a daughter, Marie of France, but 1 year after her daughter's birth, her husband died of fever, and Louis succeeded him, the widowed Queen was expected to become a nun, but she insisted on staying in court with her daughter.

## Queen of France (1223 - 1262)

After Phillip's death, Louis became Louis XI of France, and he desprately wanted to marry Isabella, he started by breaking the betrothal with Brunhilda of Denmark, and begged the Pope to allow him to marry his step-mother, the Pope at first refused, but after a bribe, the Pope granted Louis the permission to marry Isabella of Hainaut, Isabella was in her bed-chamber's with her daughter when Louis proposed to her, she happily agreed to marry him, and once again she became Queen of France, and called her ladies-in-waiting back to serve, they were publically married in Paris, at first the French were unsure about a man marrying his step-mother, but that changed only after 1 day when she proved her dedication to the French people, the popular Queen was coronaited in a bigger then her first tenure as Queen in Paris, she allowed Louis to adopt her daughter and the new couple loved each other dearly.

### Birth of a Son

1 year into her second tenure, she gave birth to a son who would also became Louis's heir, the child's name was John, who was often called Tristan by the family. Isabella was present at her son's chrisining which was very rare for a Queen and her 2 year old daughter held the chrisindom at the chrisining, John Tristan was named heir to the throne of France, Isabella was well praised for giving birth to an heir.

### First Regency

Isabella's husband soon called a Crusade with the Pope's permisson called the "King Louis's Crusade." Her husband appointed Isabella regent of France while he was on Crusade. Isabella was also pregnant with her third child while her husband was away, she gave birth to a daughter Isabella of France, during her tenure she enjoyed popularity and reformed the country a lot more. Her husband returned after 9 month's after he freed himself from Ottoman imprisonment, but he managed to discover Pakistan and Louis stole a lot of Pakistani gold.

### Fourth Child

After the King Louis's Crusade, Isabella gave birth to another son named "Phillip" who was indeed named after Phillip II of France, Prince Phillip was not named heir to the throne as John Tristian was heir, Phillip was given the title "Duke of Orléans" as he was the younger brother to the future king. Isabella did not attend this chrisining as she was still recovering after the painful birth.

### Second Regency

After the birth of her 4th child, her husband joined the "King Edward's Crusade" led by Edward I of England, Isabella moved to château de saint-germain en laye with her 4 children and mostly did the thing's she did in her first regency, she promoted her husband's campain to Jerusalem and sent knights to encourage young boy's and teenagers to become a crusader. Isabella during her regency with her husband's permisson appointed Francis de Meleun as the French Ambassador to England. Her husband returned with stolen Gold.

### Fifth Child

After her second Regency, she gave birth to Margaret of France, Isabella and Louis named St. Margaret of Wessex who was seen as a holy woman in Celtic Europe. When Isabella was only 5 month's old, she was betrothed to the 3 year old Count of Anjou, even though she was considered a possible bride for Albert II, Duke of Saxony.

### England

Isabella did not really like England, as she believed the English holding's in France rightfully belonged to France. But her husband was a close friend to Edward I of England, Isabella also feared Edward was about to target France next as he invaded the Kingdom of Dublin and he gained territory in Scotland, Isabella prepared army's in case of it which her husband found to be slightly odd, but he never questioned his Queen. Edward did not wan't to have bad relationship's with Isabella and offered her money for a better relationship, Isabella did except the money, but she was quite sceptical of the offer and often avoided Edward during meetings in France, Isabella however detested Edward's queen Eleanor of Castile as Isabella only saw her dead mother-in-law Blanche of Castile as the most important Castilian Infanta, but Eleanor was vain and saw herself more important. Isabella though was smart enough not to kill Eleanor as that would lead to war against England and France.

### Third Regency

Louis XI of France was not done on Crusade, he led a Crusade called "The Capet Crusade" and left the governing of France to the pregnant Isabella, she again promoted her husband's campain, and gained support from the Duke of Austria who joined the Crusade. Isabella gave birth to twin's, Peter and Charles of France. Isabella wanted to name her son Peter Duke of Berry, but she could not grant a peerage without her husband's consent, so she waited to ask her husband, Isabella was also very quick to teach her eldest son the buissness of ruling, she also started looking for possible husband's for her eldest child Marie, Louis wanted Marie to marry the King of Bohemia or the Duke of Austria, but Isabella did not feel her daughter had the personallity to be a Duchess of Austria nor a Queen of Bohemia. With her husband's concent from Jerusalem, she betrothed her daughter to the Duke of Burgundy. But 5 month's into the Capet Crusade, her husband was captured in Algeria by the son of the Ottoman Sultan and put for sail, Isabella was horrified, and ordered her husband's best knight's and best army's to go to Algeria and free him, the army's took 2 month's to march from France to Algeria where the successfully freed Louis, along with capturing the son of the Sultan who was put up for ransome, he was sold to the King of Armenia who eventually sold him back to the Ottoman Emperor when he agreed to pay. After he returned he granted Peter the title "Duke of Berry."

### Claim to the County of Hainaut

Even though her younger brother Fredrick Adolphus was the current Count of Hainaut, Isabella's husband wanted to claim it for Isabella, so the rich County could be added to the French crown, Fredrick refused to bestow Isabella with the County, and Louis threatened war, Isabella supported Louis over her brother which made him furious, but he knew better then to declare war on the King of France, as England, Germany, Jerusalem, Scotland, Castile, Aragon, and most kingdom's would side and aid France, so Fredrick instead gave Louis 8,000 euro's to not invade Hainaut which worked, and the 2 soon started an alliance and a treaty promising not to invade each other. Her daughter Joan was born shortly after.

### Fourth Regency

Her husband soon declared he was joining Edward I of England's crusade after the birth of Isabella's last child Agnes of France. Isabella was appointed regent once again, Louis before that betrothed her eldest son John to Constance of Holland, Isabella did not like Constance of Holland as she was a "Nasty Hollander" and because she spoke in a way Isabella detested. During her fourth regency, she finally married her daughter Marie to the Duke of Burgundy under Louis's order's, Marie only 14 year's old, Isabella wanted Marie to stay in Paris until she was 15 to live with her new Husband, but Robert II, Duke of Burgundy took Marie anyway's by smuggling her from her bed-chamber's while Isabella was with the rest of her children in Flanders, Isabella was so furious she ordered guards to kidnap her back, but the guards were prevented from entering the Castle Marie was being held in. Isabella and her children moved back to the capital and Isabella ordered the second capture of Marie, this time it was successful and Isabella kept her in Paris, but Robert II of Burgundy recaptured Marie and forbid anyone from entering the Duchy for 6 month's with armed guards. The year after that Isabella turned 15 and Isabella finally agreed to stop her attempt's from bringing her back to Paris. Isabella though remained over protective with her younger children, her husband returned in the mid-late 1230's.

### Fifth Regency

Not long after Edward I of England's crusade, Edward declared another one, Louis wen't to lead the Crusade alongside him, and for the fifth time appointed Isabella regent, Isabella aided her husband in Jerusalem and they often comunicated through letter's when there daughter Isabella of France was 15, Isabella of Hainaut was worried her daughter would never marry as she had no betrothal partner, she sent a total of 78 letter's of Louis worrying about Isabella of France's marriage, Louis only was able to read the last one which he begged Edward I of England to allow him to briefly return to France which Edward refused, he had to wait another 1 year before Edward finally agreed to briefly let Louis go. Louis still wanted one of his daughter's to marry the King of Germany, and Isabella of France was the best option as she was closest in age. The King of Germany was charmed by Isabella of France's beauty and Isabella of Hainaut agreed on the match between her daughter and the King of Germany, she accopanied her daughter along with her husband to Germany, Isabella of Hainaut and Isabella of France rode through the French-German area and then they finally reached Germany where Isabella of France wed her new husband, Isabella of Hainaut and Louis came back to France where Louis wen't back to Jerusalem, he came back after 2 months.

### Household

Isabella had a large household, most of her ladies-in-waiting where her childhood friends and courtiers she made friends with in her early tenure's as Queen her maids-staff included:

1. Catherine de Graville
2. Jane de Meleun
3. Isabelle de Meleun
4. Joanna de Destivelle
5. Anne de Destivelle
6. Adela de Destivelle
7. Catherine de Destivelle
8. Anne de Bonatti
9. Eleanor de Dumonceau
10. Charlotta de Dumonceau
11. Isabelle de Dumonceau
12. Adelaide de Dumonceau
13. Selene De Van Hochepied
14. Grutelde de Van Burgh
15. Sophie de Van Burgh
16. Cresie de Sedlnitsky
17. Hannah de Riquet de Caraman
18. Melenia de Marchant et d'Ansembourg
19. Cresie de Nanciane
20. Pauline de Van Hogendorp
21. Adelaide de Hogendorp
22. Maria de Andreis
23. Constantina de Andreis
24. Sophia de Baćan

There are more but these are most notible.

### Death of John of France

When Isabella's son was 18, he suddenly fell ill after a Crusade from a wound he got on field, Isabella was devastated and begged doctor's to heal him, John declared on his death bed that his younger brother is the new heir to France, and that he did not have to marry Constance of Holland who was John's betrothed, he died an hour later, Isabella was devastated and a country funeral was held in Paris, and buried in St. Denis Basilica, Isabella's next son Phillip of France became the new heir, he had the choice to bestow his younger brother Peter with the Duchy of Orléans, Phillip agreed to make Peter the Duke of Orléans, and Peter agreed to make his younger brother Charles of France the Duke of Berry. Isabella attended the inauguration of her son as heir apparent of France, Isabella still never got over the death of her son John and posthumously celebrated his 19th and 20th birthday's.

## Queen Dowager of France

In September 5, 1262 her husband began to contact dysentery after suffering painful cramps, Isabella remained by his side and often read to him sung to him, and alerted him that there children where fine, he died on September 28, 1262 and Isabella was devastated, she was 62 at the time of her death, her son Phillip became Phillip III of France and Isabella oversaw his coronation, Isabella became her son's most trusted advisor, Isabella moved to Flanders with her son Charles, but unfortuently Charles died in late 1262 of hay fever. His County passed to Phillip III of France. Isabella became her son's "Biggest supporter" said many French nobles. Isabella oversaw the birth of many of her grand-children.

### 20 Year's war and sixth regency

When her brother Fredrick died childless and without a will in October 7, of 1263, she believed her son Phillip should get the County of Hainaut, but her nieces the Duke of Mecklenburg and the Duke of Bavaria-Landshut claimed it for themselves, Isabella declared she would do anything to help her son claim Hainaut, but the truth was Isabella herself had the best claim being the eldest, but she still supported her son's claim, her son left Isabella regent while he wen't to Hainaut, Isabella promoted young men across France to join her son's army, she dedicated her later year's to her grand-children, her son returned for a 5 day break, but he wen't back and re-appointed Isabella regent.

### Second Regency

Isabella continued to promote her son's claim and encouraged everyone in Europe to do so, she poisoned the Duke of Mecklenburg's best general and captured his wife who was also trying to kill Isabella's son, she ordered the Duke of Mecklenburg to pay 5,000,000 Bavarian mark's for her return, he was forced to pay as he missed his wife, and Isabella gave the 5,000,000 to her son to pay for more troops and knights, the Duke of Mecklenburg attempted to get revenge by raiding Flanders, but Isabella sent a larger army to crush the Duke of Mecklenburg's army, Isabella know had to do with the Duke of Bavaria-Landshut who was marching through the capital of Hainaut in Charleroi, Isabella sent a Flemish army to Hainaut and she invaded Mons, her son praised her and called her "The Queen of Victory."

## Death

During her second regency, she fell ill and could not walk, and led army's from her bed to Hainaut, once Phillip heard his mother was sick, he left 5 of his best general's in charge of the invasion and visited his mother in Paris, she died a few day's later after a stroke, her son was devastated, but Isabella told her son to promise to keep sending troop's into Hainaut, she was buried next to her husband Louis in St. Denis Basilica.