Biography of Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England 1188-1246

Before 1188 [her father] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême (age 27) and [her mother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême were married. He the son of [her grandfather] William "Taillefer" Angoulême VI Count Angoulême. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Around 1188 Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England was born to [her father] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême (age 28) and [her mother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême.

On 29th August 1189 [her future husband] King John 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. See Gesta Regis Henrici and Gesta Regis Henrici by Benedict of Peterborough. 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 [her future mother-in-law] 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.

Around April 1200 [her future husband] King John of England (age 33) and Isabella Fitzrobert 3rd Countess Gloucester and Essex (age 27) marriage 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 12) who he married on 24th August 1200.

On 24th August 1200 King John of England (age 33) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 12) were married. She had been engaged to Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche (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). They were fourth cousin once removed.

Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden. In this year also, a divorce was effected between John, king of England, and Hawisa (age 27), his wife, daughter of William, earl of Gloucester, by Elias, bishop of Bordeaux, William, bishop of Poitou, and Henry, bishop of Saintes, because they were related in the third degree of affinity. After this divorce had taken place between John, king of England, and his wife, the king of England, by the advice of his lord, Philip, king of France, married Isabel (age 12), the daughter of Ailmar, count of Angoulême, whom the said count, by the sanction and advice of Richard, king of England, had previously given to Hugh Le Brun, count de la Marche; and the said count had acknowledged her as his wife, by promise made as pledge for the future, and she had taken him for her husband by promise made for the future; for because she had not yet attained marriageble years, the said Hugh declined to be united to her in presence of the church. However, the father of the damsel, on seeing that John, king of England, had a fancy for her, took her out of the custody of Hugh Le Brun, and gave her in marriage to John, king of England; and she was immediately married to John [24th August 1200], king of England, at Angoulême, by Elias, archbishop of Bordeaux.

On 8th October 1200 Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 12) was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Images of Histories by Ralph Diceto. Lord John, king of England, having in mind to take to wife the daughter of the king of Portugal, whose reputation had inflamed his heart, sent from Rouen to fetch her men illustrious and magnificent, namely the bishop of Lisbon, William de Stagno, Ralph de Arden, Hubert de Burgh, and many others, both from England and from Normandy. But he, caring for their safety perhaps less than royal magnificence required, while they were still on the journey, and without warning them, betrothed Isabel (age 12), the only daughter and heiress of the [her father] count of Angoulême (age 40), who, as was said, had already been promised to a certain nobleman of Poitou, namely Hugh le Brun. From this arose afterwards a most bitter quarrel between them. And at once he caused her to be crowned queen at Westminster by Lord Hubert (age 40), archbishop of Canterbury, on the 8th of the Ides of October [8th October 1200]. And the king himself was crowned on the same day.

Dominus Johannes rex Angliæ, habens in proposito ducere in uxorem filiam regis Portugalensium, cujus fama animum ejus pellexerat, ad eam perquirendam transmisit a Rothomago illustres et magnificos viros, scilicet episcopum Lisoiensem, Willelmum de Stagno, Radulfum de Ardene, Hubertum de Burch, et alios plures, tam de Anglia quam de Normannia. Sed ipse, eorum saluti minus forte quam regiam deceret magnificentiam consulens, dum essent in itinere, ipsis nec præmunitis, desponsavit Ysabel filiam unicam et hæredem comitis Engolismensis, quæ prius, ut dicebatur, concessa erat cuidam nobili viro de Pictavia, scilicet Hugoni le Brun, unde maxima postmodum inter eos simultas exorta est, et statim fecit illam coronari in reginam apud Westmonasterium a domino Huberto Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, viii idus Octobris, et ipse rex eadem die pariter coronatus est.

Chronicle of Roger de Hoveden. In the month of October, in the same year, after settling his affairs in Normandy and his other territories beyond sea, John, king of England, crossed over from Normandy to England, bringing with him his wife Isabel (age 12); and on the eighth day before the ides [8th October 1200] of the said month, being the Lord's day, he and his wife Isabel were crowned at London, at Westminster, by Hubert (age 40), archbishop of Canterbury.

On 16th June 1202 [her father] Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême (age 42) died.

In 1205 Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw (age 33) and [her illegitimate step-daughter] Joan Plantagenet (age 14) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of [her husband] King John of England (age 38) and Adela Plantagenet.

On 1st October 1207 [her son] King Henry III of England was born to [her husband] King John of England (age 40) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 19) at Winchester Castle [Map]. He married 14th January 1236 his fourth cousin Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England, daughter of Raymond IV Count Provence and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence, and had issue.

On 5th January 1209 [her son] Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall was born to [her husband] King John of England (age 42) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 21). He married (1) 30th March 1231 his fifth cousin Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford, daughter of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke, and had issue (2) 23rd November 1243 his fourth cousin Sanchia Provence Queen Consort Germany, daughter of Raymond IV Count Provence and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence, and had issue (3) 16th June 1269 Beatrice Falkenburg Countess Cornwall.

On 22nd July 1210 [her daughter] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland was born to [her husband] King John of England (age 43) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 22). She married 21st June 1221 her half third cousin King Alexander II of Scotland, son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland.

On 12th December 1212 [her illegitimate brother-in-law] Archbishop Geoffrey Plantagenet (age 60) died at Normandy [Map]. He was buried at Notre Dame du Parc, Rouen.

In 1214 [her daughter] Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress was born to [her husband] King John of England (age 47) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 26). She married 20th July 1235 her fourth cousin once removed Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor and had issue.

Before 11th May 1214 [her illegitimate step-son] Richard Fitzroy (age 24) and Rohese de Dover (age 28) were married. He the illegitmate son of [her husband] King John of England (age 47) and Adela Plantagenet.

On 31st October 1214 [her sister-in-law] Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile (age 53) died at Burgos [Map]. She was buried at Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas [Map].

In 1215 [her daughter] Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester was born to [her husband] King John of England (age 48) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 27) at Gloucester [Map]. She married (1) 23rd April 1224 her fifth cousin William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke, son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke (2) 1238 her half third cousin Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester, son of Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester and Alix Montmorency, and had issue.

On 13th September 1215 Henry de Loundres Archbishop of Dublin was appointed Dean of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map] by [her husband] King John of England (age 48). From that time until the recently the Archbishop of Dublin has always been Dean of St Michael's Church, Penkridge [Map].

In 1216 [her illegitimate step-son] Richard Fitzroy (age 26) was appointed Constable of Wallingford Castle.

On 12th February 1218 [her mother] Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême died.

On 5th November 1219 Hugh IX of Lusignan IV Count of La Marche (age 56) died. His son [her future husband] Hugh (age 36) succeeded X Seigneur of Lusignan.

Letters. 1220. To her dearest son Henry (age 12), by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, earl of Anjou, Isabella (age 32), by the same grace queen of England, lady of Ireland, duchess of Normandy and Aquitaine, countess of Anjou and Angoulême, sends health and her maternal benediction.

We hereby signify to you that when the Earls of March and Eu departed this life, the lord Hugh de Lusignan (age 37) remained alone and without heirs in Poitou, and his friends would not permit that our daughter should be united to him in marriage, because her age is so tender, but counselled him to take a wife from whom he might speedily hope for an heir; and it was proposed that he should take a wife in France, which if he had done, all your land in Poitou and Gascony would be lost. We, therefore, seeing the great peril that might accrue if that marriage should take place, when our counsellors could give us no advice, ourselves married the said Hugh earl of March; and God knows that we did this rather for your benefit than our own. Wherefore we entreat you, as our dear son, that this thing may be pleasing to you, seeing it conduces greatly to the profit of you and yours; and we earnestly pray you that you will restore to him his lawful right, that is Niort, the castles of Exeter [Map] and Rockingham [Map], and 3500 marks, which your father, our former husband, bequeathed to us; and so, if it please you, deal with him, who is so powerful, that he may not remain against you, since he can serve you well - for he is wdl-disposed to serve you faithfully with all his power; and we are certain and undertake that he shall serve you well if you will restore to him his rights, and, therefore, we advise that you take opportune counsel on these matters; and, when it shall please you, you may send for our daughter, your sister, by a trusty messenger and your letters patent, and we will send her to you.

On 10th May 1220 Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 37) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 32) were married. She by marriage Seigneur of Lusignan, Countess La Marche. She the daughter of Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême and Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême.

In 1221 [her son] Hugh XI of Lusignan VI Count of La Marche II Count Angoulême was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 38) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 33). He married before 1235 his third cousin Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême, daughter of Peter of Dreux aka Mauclerc Duke Brittany and Alix Thouars Duchess of Brittany, and had issue.

On 21st June 1221 [her son-in-law] King Alexander II of Scotland (age 22) and Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland (age 10) were married at York Minster [Map]. She by marriage Queen Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 33). He the son of King William I of Scotland and Ermengarde Beaumont Sarthe Queen Consort Scotland (age 51). They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Around 1222 [her son] Bishop Aymer de Valence was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 39) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 34).

Around 1223 [her daughter] Agatha Lusignan was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 40) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 35).

In 1224 [her daughter] Alice Lusignan Countess of Surrey was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 41) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 36). She married 1247 her fifth cousin John Warenne 6th Earl of Surrey, son of William Warenne 5th Earl of Surrey and Maud Marshal Countess Norfolk and Surrey, and had issue.

In 1224 [her daughter] Isabella Lusignan was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 41) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 36).

On 23rd April 1224 [her son-in-law] William "The Younger" Marshal 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 34) and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester (age 9) were married. She by marriage Countess Pembroke. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 36). He the son of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1226 [her daughter] Margaret Lusignan Countess Toulouse was born to [her husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 43) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 38). She married 1243 her second cousin once removed Raymond Rouerge VII Count Toulouse, son of Raymond Count of Toulouse and Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily.

On 30th March 1231 Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall (age 22) and Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford (age 30) were married at Fawley, Lambourn. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke and Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke. He the son of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 43). They were fifth cousins.

Before 1235 Hugh XI of Lusignan VI Count of La Marche II Count Angoulême (age 13) and Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême (age 15) were married. She the daughter of Peter of Dreux aka Mauclerc Duke Brittany (age 47) and Alix Thouars Duchess of Brittany. He the son of Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 51) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 46). They were third cousins. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 20th July 1235 [her son-in-law] Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor (age 40) and Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress (age 21) were married at Worms Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 47). He the son of Henry Hohenstaufen VI Holy Roman Emperor. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1238 [her son-in-law] Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester (age 30) and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Pembroke and Leicester (age 23) were married at Westminster Palace [Map]. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. She the daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 50). He the son of Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester and Alix Montmorency. They were half third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

On 4th March 1238 [her daughter] Joan Plantagenet Queen of Scotland (age 27) died at Havering atte Bower, Essex [Map]. She was buried at Tarrant Abbey, Dorset [Map].

On 1st December 1241 Margaret Hohenstaufen was born to Frederick I King Jerusalem II Holy Roman Emperor (age 46) and Isabella Plantagenet Holy Roman Empress (age 27). Her mother died in childbirth at Foggia [Map]. She was buried at Andria Cathedral. She a granddaughter of King John of England. She married 1255 Albert II Margrave of Meissen.

In 1243 [her son-in-law] Raymond Rouerge VII Count Toulouse (age 45) and Margaret Lusignan Countess Toulouse (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Toulouse. The difference in their ages was 28 years. She the daughter of Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 60) and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 55). He the son of Raymond Count of Toulouse and Joan Plantagenet Queen Consort Sicily. They were second cousin once removed. He a grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 23rd November 1243 Richard of Cornwall 1st Earl Cornwall (age 34) and Sanchia Provence Queen Consort Germany (age 15) were married at Westminster Abbey [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cornwall. She the daughter of Raymond IV Count Provence (age 45) and Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence (age 45). He the son of King John of England and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 55). They were fourth cousins.

On 4th June 1246 Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England (age 58) died at Fontevraud Abbey [Map]. Her son Hugh (age 25) succeeded II Count Angoulême. Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême (age 27) by marriage Countess Angoulême.

On 5th June 1249 [her former husband] Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 66) died. His son Hugh (age 28) succeeded XI Seigneur of Lusignan, VI Count La Marche. Yolande Capet Countess Lusignan, La Marche and Angoulême (age 30) by marriage Seigneur of Lusignan, Countess La Marche.

Effigy of Isabel d'Angouleme, Queen of King John. ISABEL D'ANGOULESME was the third and last wife of King John. She was daughter and inheritrix of [her father] Aymer Earl of Angoulesme. Her mother was Alice, daughter of Peter Lord of Courtenay, fifth son of Louis le Gros. She was married to King John in the first year of his reign, and crowned his queen on the 8th of October. She had issue by him, Henry (afterwards Henry III.); Richard Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans; Joan, married to Alexander the Second, King of the Scots; Eleanor, married to William Mareschal the younger, Earl of Pembroke; then to Simon de Montfort, the celebrated Earl of Leicester, who was slain at the battle of Evesham; and lastly, Isabel, who became the sixth and last wife of Frederick the Second, Emperor of Germany.

Surviving King John, she married Hugh Brun, Earl of Marche, and Lord of Lusignan and Valence, in Poitou. By him she had several children, some of whom were much advanced by Henry the Third, their half-brother, as William de Valence, created Earl of Pembroke; and Athelmar, raised to the Bishopric of Winchester. On the death of the Earl of Marche she took the veil at the monastery of Fontevraud [Map], and was at first unceremoniously interred in the churchyard of that place; her body was however taken up by order of her son, Henry the Third, and the effigy which is delineated placed over her remains.

Details. Plate 1. The camise, fermail, patterns on the border of the tunic and girdle. Plate II. Pattern of the border of the mantle.

[her son] Guy Lusignan was born to Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.

[her son] Geoffrey Lusignan was born to Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England.

[her son] William de Valence 1st Earl Pembroke was born to Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche and Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England. He married 1247 Joan Munchensi Countess Pembroke and had issue.