Isabella of England

For Isabella of England, the daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, see Isabella de Coucy.

The wedding of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and Isabella.

English Royalty
House of Plantagenet
Armorial of Plantagenet
John
Henry III
Richard, Earl of Cornwall
Joan, Queen of Scots
Isabella, Holy Roman Empress
Eleanor, Countess of Leicester

Princess Isabella of England, also called Elizabeth (1214 – December 1, 1241) was a daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme.

It was at a friendly meeting at Rieti where Pope Gregory IX suggested to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor that he marry Princess Isabella, a sister of Henry III of England. At first Frederick II was concerned to lose his French allies; but when he realised that an English marriage would end English support for his opponents, he agreed.

The beautiful Isabella was about twenty-one years old when she set out to marry the twice-widowed Emperor Frederick II, who was forty. On her way through Cologne, she delighted the local women when she removed the traditionally worn veil so that they could see her face. She also brought a considerable dowry with her. She was married to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1235.

However, as soon as she was married she was introduced to the secluded harem life attended by black eunuchs. Their marriage had been a political match, and she was allowed to keep only two of her English women-attendants; the others were sent home. In all she gave birth to four children, but only Margaret of Sicily (1237-1270) survived her (according to other sources [1] Margaret was her last child and born in 1241; Isabella died during her childbirth).

Isabella lived in retirement at Noventa where her husband regularly visited her. When her brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, returned from the crusades, he was allowed to visit her, although Isabella was not allowed to be present at the official reception. while the imperial court resided at Foggia, Isabella gave birth to her last child and died. She was only twenty-seven years old and according to Thomas Costain, Frederick buried her beside one of his Saracen mistresses in the Cathedral of Andria.

Issue

Much controversy surrounds Isabella's childbearing; including the amount of children she had, their names, and their birth order. What is known for sure is that Isabella had at least four children; a stillborn son in 1236 or 1241, a daughter who died within a short time after birth in 1237, Margaret, and Heinrich/Henry. Margaret is believed by some to have been the first child, and by others to be the child Isabella died giving birth to. The most commonly held belief is that Margaret was the last child. The stillborn son of Isabella has been given the name of Frederick, Jordanus/Jordan, and Carl Otto by various sources [2]. Some historians believe Isabella actually had five children, two stillborn sons instead of one, and that they were named Frederick and Carl Otto, the two being born in Spring 1236 and Summer 1240.

• Frederick/Jordanus/Carl Ottto of Germany (Stillborn Spring 1236)
• Agnes of Germany (born & died 1237)
• Heinrich of Germany (18 January 1238 - May 1254)
• Margaret of Sicily, margravine of Meissen (21 December 1241 - 8 August 1270)

References

• Tuchman, Barbara W. (1978), A Distant Mirror: the Calamitous 14th Century., Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1984. ISBN 0-394-40026-7.
• Weir, Alison (2002). Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy. The Bodley Head London, U.K.. ISBN 0-7126-4286-2.  pages 70 & 71

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