Isabella, Queen of Germany

## Isabella of France

Queen Consort of Germany

Maria

**Isabella of France** (December 25, 1225 - September 3, 1284) was Queen Consort of Germany as the wife of Henry II of Germany, born the daughter of Louis IX of France and Isabella of Hainaut, Isabella of France was never suppose to marry Henry II of Germany, Louis wanted Isabella to marry the Byzantine Emperor and Isabella's half sister Marie of France to marry Henry, but her mother convinced Louis to make Isabella the bride for Henry as she did not see Marie as a potential future Queen Consort of Germany. Isabella was her mothers favorite daughter for her dedication to her studies, which caused a long time rivalry with her younger sister Margaret of France, Isabella married her betrothed in 1240 when she was 15 while accompanied by her mother who stayed in Germany before 1 month before returning to France. Isabella and her husband shared a happy marriage which produced 3 children. When her husband died while on Crusade in Tunisia, she oversaw the coronation of her son Konrad I of Germany, Isabella acted as regent many times while her son waged war against Hungary and Bohemia. Isabella died of sweating sickness when she was 59, her son buried her in Pisa Cathedral where Isabella remains.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Isabella of France was born in Paris as the second child of Louis IX of France and Queen Isabella of Hainaut, Isabella was described as a beautiful princess with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, which she inherited from her father Louis. Isabella by the time of her birth had 1 older brother named John Tristan of France, and one half-aunt Marie of France, who could count as Isabella's half-sister as before her mother was married to Isabella's father, she was married to Isabella's grand-father Phillip II of France which they had Marie. Isabella was seen as her mothers favorite for her charm and dedication to her studies, which caused her sister Margaret of France to shun Isabella.

### Marriage prospects

When Isabella was 13, she traveled to Brabant to have Isabella betrothed. Isabella wen't with Marie of France which the 2 seemed to be inseperible. When they arrived, Isabella was betrothed to the Byzantine Emperor, while Marie was betrothed to the King of Germany. But Isabella of France's mother did not see Marie as a Queen of Germany, or Isabella as a Byzantine Empress. So her mother convinced Isabella's father to allow Isabella to marry the German king, and allow Marie to marry the Duke of Burgundy, which Louis agreed, and when Isabella was 14, she was betrothed to Henry II of Germany in Swabia.

### Education

Isabella was educated by her mother in womanly duties such as hunting, knitting, dancing and conversation. Isabella only learned German after her betrothal. Isabella was also educated by her mother in history, math, writing, and reading. Isabella sometimes came to Naples to be educated by her aunt the Queen of Naples, which allowed Isabella to learn Italian languages. While in Naples, her mother briefly considered breaking off Isabella's betrothal for her cousin the future King of Naples, but King Henry quickly fell back in favor with Isabella's parents.

## Marriage

When Isabella was 15, she rode from Paris to Swabia with her mother and married Henry which the 2 shared a happy a marriage. Isabella though was often pressured by her controlling mother-in-law Sofia of Minsk who desprately wanted Isabella as her own daughter after Sofia's other daughter Sophie of Swabia died in a hunting accident. Sofia of Minsk controlled Isabella's every move and Isabella was scared of Sofia. After Isabella and Sofia got into a fight, Sofia ordered Isabella be sent to her room, and Henry reluctantly complied by ordering 6 guards to drag Isabella to her room in Göttingen Castle. When Isabella was 16, she gave birth to a son named Konrad of Germany who was given the title "Prince of Swabia" as a title of the heir apparent. Isabella 2 years later gave birth to a daughter named Constance, who was named for Constantina of Rome, the eldest daughter of Justinian the Great who Christinized Europe from pagan religions to early Christianity. After her husband finished a Crusade in Athens, he returned and Isabella gave birth a last time to a daughter named Maria who became the future princess-abbess of Quedlinburg. Isabella also enjoyed great popularity during the reign of her husband.

## Queen of Germany

### Early Years

Isabella was caught up under a lot of political pressure during her early years, her mother urged Isabella to dismiss her controlling mother-in-law from court, but Isabella was way to afraid to stand up to Sofia of Minsk. When Isabella was 23, her husband started pressing claims to the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia, which greatly alarmed the kingdoms in the balkans, Isabella determained to support her husband, sent letters insulting and threatening Catherine of Verona, who was the wife of Andrew III of Hungary. Queen Catherine was very insulted, and sent letters back insulting Queen Isabella. Isabella's husband soon found himself at war with King Andrew III of Hungary, and left Isabella as regent of Germany. Isabella as regent sent an army to attack Hungary, but Queen Catherine sent one back to attack Stuttgart, the area Queen Isabella was staying. Isabella retreated at the last moment, but she had to figure out a way to get the Hungarians out of Germany as Queen Catherine had to figure out a way to get the Germans out of Hungary. Isabella chased the Hungarians into Swabia, while Queen Catherine chased them into Budapest and had each German solider burned at the stake, Queen Isabella was furious and had the Hungarian solider's hanged, drawn and quartered, she also ordered the slaughter of any Hungarian living in Berg, which was an area where most Hungarian-Germans lived.