Episode Details
Episode Details
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Isabella, She-Wolf of France and death of Edward II

Claim to the French throne

aughter of Philippe IV the king of France. Isabella married Edward II of England in 1308 and their eldest son became Edward III. Isabella was unhappily married to Edward and through a rebellion in 1327 had him imprisoned and ultimately executed and so she became know as the she-wolf of France. Isabella believed that because she was the daughter of Philippe IV and all her brothers had died without producing a male heir she had a claim to the French throne. Her son Edward III was to pursue this claim a few years later starting the 'Hundred Years War'.

Episode Events

1325

Isabella of France, the wife of King Edward II, travelled to France to see King Charles IV, her brother. Her mission was to bring to an end the disputes over land between France and England. The French King agreed to the English reclaiming the lands of Gascony and Ponthieu as long as Edward came to Paris and paid homage. In Paris Isabella met Roger Mortimer who had recently escaped from the Tower of London. She fell in love with him. [1]
In England, King Edward II was persuaded not to go to France by the Despensers. The Despensers were worried that because their position of power in England was precarious, if Edward left the country they could easily lose that power. Instead, it was decided that the King's son Prince Edward, only thirteen years old should go to France and pay homage instead. Before the prince left for France, the King bestowed the title of Count of Ponthieu on his son and the French King gave consent for him to to have Aquitaine as well. On the 12th of September Prince Edward left England and sailed to France. [1]
Prince Edward met Charles IV and paid him homage. The French king gave the Prince the title of Duke of Aquitaine and informed the English King that the French were going to retain the Agenais, an area of southwest France. Prince Edward had effectively been captured and his mother, Isabella the English Queen, had begun the plans of removing her husband from the throne of England. [1]
At a Parliament called to discuss the situation in France, it was decided to send a petition to Isabella for her return to England. She refused. In France, her brother the King had become annoyed with Isabella's conduct. Isabella left France and went to the court of William II, Count of Hainault who assisted her with preparations to invade England. A promise was made to marry Prince Edward, now Duke of Aquitaine to William's daughter Philippa. [1]

1326

Preparations were made in England for the threatened invasion from Isabella. Preparations were made difficult because Hugh Despensers was so unpopular. [1]
Isabella arranged the future marriage between her son Edward and Philippa the daughter of William count of Hainault. Isabella claimed part of Philippa's dowry in advance so that she could finance her invasion of England. [2]
Isabella, the wife of Edward II and her supporters including Mortimer landed at Orwell in Suffolk. Their aim was to remove Edward II from his throne and place Prince Edward there as the new king. Isabella had no problem in raising an army from those opposed to the King and they advanced on London. Although Edward was in the Tower of London the rest of London was against him and he decided to leave the city and head west with his supporters including the Despensers and the Earl of Winchester. The Tower of London fell to the mob of Isabella's supporters.
Isabella of France the wife of King Edward II entered Bristol and was welcomed by the citizens there. The Earl of Winchester who had taken to the castle decided the best action was surrender. He was executed on the 27th of October as a traitor.
The King was captured in Wales at the Abbey of Neath. He had hoped to get some support in Wales but that was not to be the case. The Despensers were also captured. Hugh Despenser was given a short trial and executed as a traitor. Edward was taken to Kenilworth Castle and imprisoned. [1]

1327

King Edward III succeeded his father to the English throne on the 25th of January and was crowned at Westminster Abbey a few days later by Archbishop Walter Reynolds. [3]
Edward II was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle.
Edward was buried at the abbey church at Gloucester.

1328

King Edward III married Philippa of Hainault at York Minster. The marriage was arranged as many were at the time. The arrangement was organised as early as 1323, when she was not yet nine years old. The Bishop of Exeter visited Hainault to see the girl. [4]
Charles IV died at the castle at Vincennes. The next rightful claimant to the French throne was not clear-cut as Charles had no male heir. Isabella, the sister of Charles, had married Edward II and their son Edward III had just taken on the rule of England. Isabella put in a claim for her son although in French law it was not possible to inherit the throne through the female line. [4]

1330

Mortimer arrested Edmund, Earl of Kent for openly opposing Queen Isabella and Mortimer himself. This act was the catalyst for Edward II to arrest Mortimer for treason.
King Edward III ordered the arrest of Roger Mortimer. The King and some loyal supporters entered Nottingham Castle via a secret passage in the rocks and Roger Mortimer was arrested.
Mortimer was tried before Parliament and executed.

1358

Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II and the mother of King Edward III died on the 22nd or 23rd of August.
See Also

Event Participants and Locations

Selection of references used:

  • 1: Caroline Bingham, The Life and Times of Edward II
  • 2: Hubert Cole, The Black Prince, 1976, ISBN:0-246-10778-2, Granada Publishing Limited (1976), Own copy
  • 3: Alan LLoyd, The Hundred Years War
  • 4: John Harvey, The Black Prince and his age, ISBN:0-7134-3148-2, Erdington Library

    Related Information

    Edward II

    Reign From
    July 8, 1307
    Reign To
    January 25, 1327
    Succeeded
    Edward I
    Preceded
    Edward III
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