Isabelle of Hainaut

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Isabelle of Hainaut (5 April 1170, Valenciennes[1] - 15 March 1190, Paris) was queen consort of France.

Isabelle was born in Valenciennes,on 5 April 1170 the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut and Countess Margaret I of Flanders. She married King Philip II of France on 28 April 1180 at Bapaume and brought as her dowry the county of Artois. The marriage was arranged by her maternal uncle Count Philip of Alsace who was advisor to the King.[2]

Isabelle was crowned consort of France at Saint Denis on 28 May 1180. As Baldwin V rightly claimed to be a descendant of Charlemagne, the chroniclers of the time saw in this marriage a union of the Carolingian and Capetian dynasties. Though she received extravagant praise from certain annalists, she failed to win the affections of Philip due to her inability to provide him with an heir.[3]. Meanwhile, King Philip in 1184, was waging war against Flanders, and angered at seeing Baldwin support his enemies, he called a council at Sens for the purpose of repudiating her. Robert, the king's uncle, successfully interposed. Finally, on 5 September 1187, she gave birth to the needed heir, the future King Louis VIII of France.

Her second pregnancy, was extremely difficult; on 14 March 1190, Isabelle gave birth to twin sons. Due to complications in childbirth, Isabelle died the next day, and was buried in the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The twins only lived four days (14 March-18 March 1190) [1]. Her dowry of Artois eventually returned to the French Crown after the death of Philip.

[edit] References

The Rain Maiden by Jill M. Phillips # www.Worldroots.com. #Medieval Lands by Charles Cawley.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ www.Worldroots.com
  2. ^ Medieval Lands.
  3. ^ Medieval Lands
Preceded by
Adele of Champagne		 Queen of France
1180 – 1190		 Succeeded by
Ingeborg of Denmark