Biography of Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex 1173-1217

Paternal Family Tree: Norman

Maternal Family Tree: Amice Gael Countess Leicester 1168

On 31 Oct 1147 [her grandfather] Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 48) died. His son [her father] William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester succeeded 2nd Earl Gloucester.

In or before 1151 [her father] William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and [her mother] Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester were married. She by marriage Countess Gloucester. She the daughter of Robert Beaumont 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 46) and Amice Gael Countess Leicester. He the son of Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester and Mabel Fitzhamon Countess Gloucester. They were fourth cousins. He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Around 1173 Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex was born to William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1183 [her father] William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester died. His daughter Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 10) succeeded 3rd Countess Gloucester.

On 29 Aug 1189 King John "Lackland" of England (age 22) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 16) were married at Marlborough Castle [Map]. He by marriage Earl Gloucester. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 67). They were half second cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Before 06 Apr 1199 [her husband] King John "Lackland" of England (age 32) had his marriage to Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 26) annulled due to consanuinity but more likely because John's new status as heir to the English throne mean't he had better prospects. He may have already decided to marry Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 11) who he married on 24 Aug 1200.

Death of Richard I

                    On 06 Apr 1199 [her brother-in-law] King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 41) was besieging Châlus Chabrol Castle, Domfront. During the course of the evening King Richard "Lionheart" I of England (age 41) was shot by a crossbow. The wound quickly became gangrenous; Richard died in the arms of his mother [her mother-in-law] Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 77). His brother [her husband] King John "Lackland" of England (age 32) succeeded I King England.                

                    There was a brother between Richard and John named Geoffrey Duke of Brittany who had a son Arthur (age 12), who was around twelve, and a daughter Eleanor (age 15), who was around fifteen, whose mother was Constance Penthièvre Duchess Brittany (age 38).                

                    King Philip II of France (age 33) had planned for Eleanor (age 15) to marry his son, probably to bring Brittany into the French Royal family, possibly to pursue a claim on England.                

                    King Philip II of France (age 33) supported Arthur's (age 12) claim to the English throne. In the resulting war Arthur (age 12) was captured, imprisoned and never seen again. Eleanor (age 15) was captured, probably around the same time as Arthur, and imprisoned, more or less, for the remainder of her life, even after King John's death through the reign of King Henry III since she represented a threat to Henry's succession.

On 24 Aug 1200 [her husband] King John "Lackland" of England (age 33) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 12) were married at . She had been engaged to Hugh Lusignan IX Count Lusignan (age 37) who subsequently appealed to King Philip II of France (age 35), their feudal overlord, who used the position to justify a war against John. The difference in their ages was 21 years. She the daughter of Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême (age 40) and Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême. He the son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 78).

In 1213 Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex (age 51) died. His son [her future husband] Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex (age 22) succeeded 2nd Earl Essex. Matilda Clare Countess Essex by marriage Countess Essex.

Before 1214 [her future husband] Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex (age 23) and Matilda Clare Countess Essex were married. He the son of Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex and Beatrice Saye.

On 20 Jan 1214 Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex (age 23) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 41) were married. She by marriage Countess Essex, Countess Gloucester. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. He the son of Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex and Beatrice Saye. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 23 Feb 1216 [her husband] Geoffrey Mandeville 2nd Earl Essex (age 25) was killed in a tournament. His brother [her brother-in-law] William Mandeville 3rd Earl Essex succeeded 3rd Earl Essex.

Death of King John

                    On 19 Oct 1216 [her husband] King John "Lackland" of England (age 49) died at Newark Castle [Map]. His son King Henry III of England (age 9) succeeded III King England.                

                    John Monmouth (age 34) was present.
                
                    On his deathbed, John appointed a council of thirteen executors to help Henry reclaim the kingdom and requested that his son be placed into the guardianship of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 70).                

                    King John's will is the earliest English royal will to survive in its original form. The document is quite small, roughly the size of a postcard and the seals of those who were present at the time would have been attached to it. Translation of the will taken from an article by Professor S.D. Church in the English Historical Review, June 2010:
                
                    I, John, by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, hindered by grave infirmity and not being able at this time of my infirmity to itemize all my things so that I may make a testament, commit the arbitration and administration of my testament to the trust and to the legitimate administration of my faithful men whose names are written below, without whose counsel, even in good health, I would have by no means arranged my testament in their presence, so that what they will faithfully arrange and determine concerning my things as much as in making satisfaction to God and to holy Church for damages and injuries done to them as in sending succour to the land of Jerusalem and in providing support to my sons towards obtaining and defending their inheritance and in making reward to those who have served us faithfully and in making distribution to the poor and to religious houses for the salvation of my soul, be right and sure. I ask, furthermore, that whoever shall give them counsel and assistance in the arranging of my testament shall receive the grace and favour of God. Whoever shall infringe their arrangement and disposition, may he incur the curse and indignation of almighty God and the blessed Mary and all the saints.
                
                    In the first place, therefore, I desire that my body be buried in the church of St Mary and St Wulfstan at Worcester. I appoint, moreover, the following arbiters and administrators: the lord Guala, by the grace of God, cardinal-priest of the title of St Martin and legate of the apostolic see; the lord Peter bishop of Winchester; the lord Richard bishop of Chichester; the lord Silvester bishop of Worcester; Brother Aimery de St-Maur; William Marshal earl of Pembroke; Ranulf earl of Chester; William earl Ferrers; William Brewer; Walter de Lacy and John of Monmouth; Savaric de Mauléon; Falkes de Bréauté.
                
                    The signatories were:
                
                    Guala Bicchieri (ca 1150 - 1227) Papal Legate.
                
                    Bishop Peter de Roches, Bishop of Winchester.
                
                    Richard le Poer (? - 1237), Bishop of Chichester.
                
                    Sylvester of Worcester, Bishop of Worcester.
                
                    Aimery de St-Maur (? -?1219), Master of the English Templars.
                
                    William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 70).                

                    Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 46).
                
                    William Ferrers 4th Earl of Derby (age 48).                

                    William Brewer (? - 1226), 1st Baron Brewer.
                
                    Walter de Lacy (ca 1172-1241) Lord of Meath.
                
                    John: (1182 - 1248) Lord of Monmouth.
                
                    Savaric de Mauléon (? - 1236) Seneschal of Poitou from 1205.
                
                    Falkes de Bréauté (? - 1226) Seneschal of Cardiff Castle.

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Before 1217 [her future husband] Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 47) and Beatrice Warenne were married.

In Sep 1217 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 47) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 44) were married. She the daughter of William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester and Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester. She a great granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 14 Oct 1217 Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 44) died.

In 1227 [her former husband] Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 57) was created 1st Earl Kent. Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex by marriage Countess Kent.

In 1236 [her former husband] Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 66) and Margaret Dunkeld Countess Kent (age 43) were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. The difference in their ages was 23 years. She the daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.