Isabella of France Worksheets
Do you want to save dozens of hours in time? Get your evenings and weekends back? Be able to teach about Isabella of France to your students?
Our worksheet bundle includes a fact file and printable worksheets and student activities. Perfect for both the classroom and homeschooling!
Resource Examples
Click any of the example images below to view a larger version.
Fact File
Student Activities
Table of Contents
Add a header to begin generating the table of contents
Summary
- Early Life
- Marriage to Edward II of England
- Queenship
- Invasion of England (1326)
- Regent for Edward III
- Later Life and Death
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about Isabella of France!
Isabella of France was the daughter of King Philip IV of France and became Queen of England by marrying King Edward II. She is most famous for helping to remove her husband from power and ruling as regent for her son, Edward III. Isabella faced many challenges, including a difficult marriage and power struggles at court. After her son took control in 1330, she lost her political power but still remained rich and influential until her death in 1358.
Isabella of France
Early Life of Isabella of France
- Isabella of France was born in Paris sometime between April 1295 and January 1296. She was the daughter of King Philip IV of France and Queen Joan I of Navarre. She had three older brothers named Louis, Philip and Charles, who all became kings of France. Her family ruled over one of the most powerful kingdoms in Europe.
- Her father, King Philip, was called Philip the Fair because of his good looks, but many people saw him as cold and serious. Isabella’s mother, Queen Joan, died when Isabella was still a young girl. Some people at the time even suspected King Philip of being involved in her death, although there’s no strong evidence to support that.
- After her mother’s death, Isabella was raised in the royal court of France. From an early age, she was prepared to become a queen and to take part in the politics of Europe.
Marriage to Edward II of England
- Isabella married Edward of Caernarfon, who would later become King Edward II of England, on 25 January 1308 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. She was about twelve years old at the time.
- Like many royal marriages in the Middle Ages, it was arranged to help keep peace between two powerful countries. England and France had been arguing for years over land in places like Gascony, Normandy, Anjou and Aquitaine. By marrying Isabella to the future king of England, her father, King Philip IV of France, hoped to settle these disputes.
- Plans for the marriage began as early as 1298, when Pope Boniface VIII supported the idea. But the marriage was delayed for several years because of disagreements about the terms. King Edward I of England, Edward II’s father, wasn’t fully committed to the match. He even considered marrying his son to a princess from Castile instead and tried more than once to break off the engagement. In the end, after Edward I died in 1307, his son became king and the marriage with Isabella finally went ahead.
- Isabella grew up in luxury at the French royal court. She lived in grand palaces like the Louvre and the Palais de la Cité in Paris. She was looked after by her nurse, Théophania de Saint-Pierre, and was given a good education. She learnt to read and developed a love for books, which was quite rare for girls at the time.
- When Isabella came to England, she brought with her a great amount of wealth. Her wardrobe included fine clothes made of velvet, taffeta and other rich materials. She had furs, over 70 headpieces, 2 gold crowns, gold and silver dishes, and more than 400 yards of linen.
- Isabella was considered very beautiful. A writer from the time, Geoffrey of Paris, called her ‘the beauty of beauties… in the kingdom if not in all Europe’. Her father and brothers were also seen as very handsome, and her husband later gave her the nickname ‘Isabella the Fair’. It was said that she looked more like her father than her mother, who was described as plump and plain. Isabella may have had pale skin and a slim build, which were considered attractive at the time.
- Isabella had four children with Edward, including a son who would later become King Edward III. However, her marriage was not a happy one as her husband gave little attention to her.
Queenship of Isabella of France
- Isabella’s husband, Edward II, was very close to his favourite, Piers Gaveston, and paid more attention to him than to Isabella. This upset her, especially when Edward gave Gaveston her jewelry. Isabella told her father about it, and after that, Edward started treating her better by giving her land and setting up a proper home for her.
- Even though she was unhappy, Isabella tried to make the best of her situation. She built her own support network at court, mainly with the Beaumont family, who had French connections. For a while, she tolerated Gaveston. But the English barons, led by Thomas of Lancaster, hated Gaveston, and in 1312, he was executed. After his death, Isabella stayed loyal to Edward, but the political situation became even more chaotic.
Isabella depicted as queen
- In the 1310s, Edward grew closer to the Despenser family, especially Hugh Despenser the Younger. Unlike with Gaveston, Isabella didn’t get along with Hugh. She felt pushed aside because of Edward’s close bond with the Despensers. She couldn’t ally with the barons, who had their own problems with the king, leaving her with few political allies.
- Isabella became more involved in politics, especially with her French relatives. In 1321, she tried to step in when tensions between Edward and the barons grew, even asking Edward to exile the Despensers. This only worked for a little while because Edward brought the Despensers back. After that, he treated their enemies more harshly, which made Isabella feel even more distant from him.
- By 1322, things got even worse for Isabella. During a failed trip to Scotland, Edward left her without protection at Tynemouth Priory, and she nearly got caught by the Scottish army. Feeling abandoned and angry, Isabella began to distance herself from Edward.
- She went on a long pilgrimage and was later stripped of her lands and household. The Despensers even arrested her French staff, and Isabella’s children were taken away. It was clear that her relationship with Edward was over, and Isabella started seriously thinking about taking action.
Invasion of England (1326)
- Edward was the Duke of Aquitaine and had to show respect to the King of France to keep his land there. But when Charles IV became King of France, things got tense. Edward refused to do this, which caused trouble between them.
- One key issue was the area of Agenais in Gascony. In 1323, a French noble built a bastide (a fortified town) in this area, and the Gascon forces destroyed it. Charles IV retaliated by attacking English-controlled Montpezat. By 1324, Charles had taken full control of Aquitaine except for some coastal areas.
- Edward feared that leaving England to deal with the French situation would lead to rebellion in his own country, as gangs were running wild. In 1324, there was even an assassination plot against Edward and Hugh Despenser. Charles tried to offer a deal where he would return the lands if Edward paid homage, and Isabella could act as a mediator.
- Isabella agreed to stay in France, where she initially went to negotiate peace, but as tensions worsened, she chose not to return to England. She sent messages expressing concerns about her safety, especially with Hugh Despenser and his allies back in England.
- Roger Mortimer was a powerful nobleman who had been imprisoned by Edward II but escaped in 1323. Isabella and Mortimer may have started a romantic relationship in December 1325, though there’s no solid proof of this at the time. Both Isabella and Mortimer wanted to overthrow Edward and the Despensers, and Mortimer had much to gain. Mortimer had previously been a key enemy of Edward and had much support among the nobles.
- Isabella and Mortimer left France in September 1326, taking Prince Edward with them. They raised an army and, with financial help from Isabella’s brother, Charles IV, and other allies, set sail for England.
- After landing in England on 24 September, Isabella and Mortimer marched inland quickly, gathering more support from local nobles. By 27 September, they had reached Bury St Edmunds and soon gained control of Cambridge. Edward II saw he was in danger, so he left London and went to Wales. Isabella and Mortimer went into Oxford and took control of the university, and the Bishop of Hereford spoke out against the Despensers.
- Edward tried to escape and got to Gloucester by 9 October. But Isabella’s army followed him, caught his supporters, and took back important places like Bristol. By 16 November, Edward II and Hugh Despenser the Younger were captured. Isabella and Mortimer were now in control, and their enemies were brought to trial and executed.
- The official story is that Edward died in 1327, while in captivity at Berkeley Castle. However, rumours persisted for years that he may have escaped or survived. Some historians think Edward might have been secretly set free and lived in hiding, while others believe Isabella and Mortimer had him killed so he couldn’t take back the throne. But no one knows for sure what really happened, and there’s no clear proof for any of these ideas.
Regent for Edward III
- After Edward II was removed from the throne in 1327, Isabella became regent for her 14-year-old son, Edward III. She ruled the country with Mortimer. During this time, Isabella became very powerful, and she and Mortimer made important decisions together.
- Her rule was known for gaining a lot of money and land. She quickly increased her income, first taking £12,000 from the royal treasury, and then receiving even more after Edward III’s coronation. Isabella’s land holdings grew rapidly, making her one of the wealthiest landowners in England. She also refused to hand over her dower lands to Edward III’s queen, Philippa, which was unusual and raised some tensions.
- Isabella had problems with foreign affairs. One big issue was Scotland, where Edward II had left an expensive and unfinished war. Isabella wanted peace, and in 1328, she made a treaty with the Scots. Part of the deal was to marry her daughter Joan to the Scottish prince, David Bruce. This helped calm things with Scotland, but many people in England didn’t like the treaty.
- She also tried to fix problems with Gascony, a part of France. She made a peace deal with the French, but some parts of it made people in England unhappy.
- Even with these efforts, more and more people began to go against Isabella’s rule. Henry, Earl of Lancaster, was one of the first nobles to oppose her and Mortimer, especially over the peace with Scotland. Isabella tried to calm the unrest by making changes in how the kingdom was run and by trying to get along better with powerful nobles. She also pushed for her son’s right to the French throne, but this made people even more upset.
- By 1328, Lancaster raised an army against her, but her forces, led by Mortimer, defeated him and took over his strongholds. Even with this win, Isabella’s power kept getting weaker. In 1330, her son Edward III became unhappy with how much control Mortimer had. So Edward planned a surprise takeover and removed Mortimer from power.
Later Life and Death of Isabella of France
- After Mortimer was taken down in 1330, Isabella lost her power. She was put under house arrest, first at Berkhamsted Castle, then at Windsor Castle. In 1332, she was allowed to live in her own home at Castle Rising in Norfolk.
- Even though she wasn’t in control anymore, Isabella still lived a wealthy and comfortable life. She had an annual income and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. Though she was no longer involved in government, she remained a respected figure at court and maintained a strong relationship with her son. She was particularly close to her daughter Joan, especially after Joan left her unfaithful husband, King David II of Scotland.
- As she grew older, Isabella became more focused on religion, visiting religious shrines and taking an interest in spiritual matters. She also became more involved in Arthurian legends and jewellery, continuing to live an active social life, with many visitors from the court.
- On 22 August 1358, Isabella passed away at Hertford Castle. She was buried wearing the mantle she had worn at her wedding. Isabella’s wealth and property were passed on to her favourite grandson, the Black Prince, while some of her personal belongings were given to her daughter, Joan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isabella of France
- Who was Isabella of France?
Isabella of France (c.1295–1358) was the Queen of England and the wife of King Edward II. She was also the daughter of Philip IV of France and played a significant role in English and French politics during the early 14th century.
- Why is Isabella of France known as the “She-Wolf of France”?
Later, writers nicknamed her the "She-Wolf of France," especially due to her involvement in overthrowing her husband, Edward II, and her role in governing England during her son Edward III’s minority. The term reflects how some viewed her as ruthless or power-hungry, especially in a male-dominated society.
- What role did Isabella play in Edward II’s downfall?
Isabella allied with Roger Mortimer, an exiled English nobleman, and led an invasion of England in 1326. They forced Edward II to abdicate in favour of their son, Edward III. Edward II was later imprisoned and likely murdered.