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| Depiction in Froissart's Chronicles (c. 1450) |
- King Richard II of England (m. 1396 - 1400)
- Charles, Duke of Orléans (m. 1406 - 1409)
- With Charles, Duke of Orléans
- Joan, Duchess of Alençon (1409 - 1432)
Appearance:
She was described as slender, and likely had pale skin and blonde hair.
Character:
Not too much is known about her personality due to the fact that she died while still so young, and being a child during her time as the Queen of England.
She was described as being very playful, enjoying learning and playing with dolls. Her husband, Richard II, became a father or uncle figure in her life and she greatly respected him. Many people viewed her as the daughter that both Richard and his first wife, Anne, were never able to have.
She was also loyal, refusing to marry the son of the man who had defeated Richard and deposed him.
Biography:
Isabella was born in 1389 in Paris, Kingdom of France. She was the third of twelve children born to King Charles VI of France, and his wife, Lady Isabeau of Bavaria. She also had an illegitimate half-sister whom her father sired with his mistress. However, her older siblings would die while she was still very young, making Isabella their oldest surviving child.
As soon as 1396, negotiations began taking place to marry Isabella to King Richard II of England in order to create peace between England and France, which were still in the midst of the Hundred Years War. Her education was catered towards training her for the role of Queen Consort of England, and she was noted to have been very pleased with this prospect.
Even though Isabella was just 6 years old, the wedding between her and the 29 year old Richard II would quickly take place. This was unusual and disconcerting, even by the standards of the time, as girls were believed to not be mature enough for marriage until the age of 12. However, it was agreed that upon their marriage, it would not be consummated until Isabella reached this agreed age. During the wedding, her toy dolls would act as her bridesmaids. Upon her marriage to Richard, she became the Queen Consort of England, and returned with him to England where her own court was established, and her education would continue.
Despite her age, Isabella got along really well with Richard, and the two of them shared a relationship that was more father and daughter in nature. Many people viewed Isabella as the daughter that both Richard and his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, were never able to have. He visited her often, spoiling her with presents and toys, and would often play with her. He ensured that she was well taken care of, and Isabella was always excited to see him.
In 1399, Richard II went on campaign to Ireland, and he visited her one final time before his departure, in which he promised he would show her around Ireland as soon as he was able. While he was away, Isabella was to remain protected at Portchester Castle.
However, back in France, her father had been overthrown by her uncle, Louis I, Duke of Orleans, after he suffered a mental breakdown. Louis did not favour peace with the English as her father had done, and purposefully allowed Richard II's exiled enemy, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, to return to England.
Originally, Henry declared that he would only seize his lands in Lancaster which Richard II had barred him from inheriting. Due to Richard and most of his supporters being in Ireland, Henry was able to easily ransack the north of England, before taking over the whole kingdom and declaring himself King Henry IV of England.
Upon his return, Richard II was forced to surrender and abdicate, meaning that Isabella was no longer Queen of England. Richard was imprisoned, while Isabella was confined to the palace of the Bishop of Salisbury. However, she was then moved to Havering Palace after rebels attempted to meet with her.
Isabella would then be widowed in 1400 after Richard died, likely having been starved to death while imprisoned. Henry IV refused to let her return to France and attempted to betroth her to his son, also named Henry, but she refused. Isabella greatly mourned the death of Richard, and was finally allowed to return to France a year later, with Henry IV stealing her dowry. He once again attempted to marry Isabella to his son in 1406 after another marriage negotiation failed, but the French court kept refusing.
Instead, Isabella would go on to marry her cousin, Charles, son of the Duke of Orleans, in 1406; Isabella was 16 while her new husband was 11. Just a year later, she became the Duchess of Orleans upon the assassination of her father-in-law.
In 1409, Isabella became pregnant with her and Charles' first and only child together. Tragically, she would die giving birth to her daughter later that year, aged just 19 years old.
Rule:
As a child, Isabella did not play an active role as a royal consort.
- Her younger sister, Princess Catherine of Valois, would go on to marry King Henry V of England, whom Henry IV had previously attempted to betroth her to, meaning both sisters became Queen Consorts of England during their lifetimes. Catherine would then go on to marry Owen Tudor, and her descendents would go on to form the Tudor Dynasty within England.
- She was the youngest royal consort in English history.
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