The most unusual repair at York Castle was the order in 1327 for repla stering a room over the entrance to the castle as a residence for the q ueen mother, Isabella of France. This must refer to the former chapel, w hich would have provided secure accommodation preventing its occupant f rom escape. (Although Isabella was acting as regent for her son, Edward I II, at this time, he did not trust her and wanted to control her moveme nts.) [Clifford's Tower, p. 7, 17]
In 1329 Robert de Montalt died without issue (that clause of the letter s patent being evidently a formality), and two years after that his wid ow, Emma, surrendered her remaining rights in Castle Rising to Queen Is abella for an annuity of 400 pounds a year. This was in 1331, and in th e winter of 1331-32 Emma died.
In 1331 Isabella, 'the She-Wolf of France' and former paramour of Mo rtimer (and thus the principal accomplice in both the deposition and th e murder in 1327 of Edward II, her husband) entered into the possession o f Castle Rising and retained it until her death in 1358. This is the be st-known phase and the only popularly known fact in the history of the c astle, though badly bent by legend.
In no sense did the formidable Isabella languish as a prisoner at Ri sing during those 27 years, nor was she even socially in disgrace. The f acade of monarchy must remain untarnished, the cracks be papered over, t he scandal suppressed. Thus Isabella measured out her days like any oth er dowager queen, amply endowed with revenues and lands worth 3000 poun d a year (great wealth in the money of the time), moving with her retin ue and household from one residence to another like any other great lad y of the age, and, doubtless, every inch a queen. Her residences includ ed the former Montalt castles of Mold and Hawarden (both subsequently s old) and the castles of Mere, in Wiltshire, and Hertford as well as Ris ing. Nevertheless there is plentiful evidence of Isabella's frequent an d prolonged presence at Castle Rising, notably in the Lynn Chamberlain' s accounts where it takes the form of politic presents and other expens es of neighbouring majesty. There is evidence there also, and upon the C hancery rolls, of royal visits to the Queen Mother at Rising by Edward I II, her son (not the least important feature of whose brilliant and vic torious kingship was domestic peace), with Philippa his Queen and their c ourt and households as, for example, in 1342, 1343, 1344 and 1349. On o ne such occasion the long-suffering mayor of Lynn was commanded to send 8 c arpenters to prepare the castle for the King's coming. [Castle Rising, p . 16-19]
Queen Isabel, mother of King Edward III, was assigned the honour of Moh aut in England, in a series of transactions. Following the death of the l ast Lord Mohaut in England, his nephew and heir, Lord Morley, was force d to give Queen Isabel a quitclaim to the honour, in return for which h e received a couple of manors. [dcrdcr4@aol.com]
Occupied Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire from about 1317 until 1326 w hen it was given to her son John of Eltham. [Castles of Britain and Ire land, p. 126]
Following the deposition and murder of Edward II in 1327, Queen Isabell a caused Parliament to grant her Leeds Castle again, retaining it until h er death in 1358. Queen Isabella, accompanied by he daughter Joan of Sc otland, wife of David II of Scotland (1327-71), arrived at Leeds Castle o n 13 June 1358, following a pilgrimage to Canterbury, and remained unti l 2 July. When the royal party left the castle Queen Isabella's course w as almost run. She died at Hertford on 22 August. [Leeds Castle, p. 10]
Lovely, full of energy, mingling with her voluptuous impulses seom sove reign dignity and capability. She it was who forwarded the treaty made w ith France in 1325.
Perhaps from her influence a slight advance in the refinements of th e table and the toilet took its origin. Most of her clothing was import ed from France. Her pearls came from Genoa. [The Seven Edwards of Engla nd, p. 72-3]
More About ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet):
Date born 2: Bet. 1292 - 1295, Paris, Seine, France.272, 273
Burial: November 27, 1358, Grey Friars Church, Newgate, London, Middlesex, England.274, 275
Died 2: August 22, 1358, Hertford Castle, Hertfordshire, England.276, 277, 278
Owned 1: Hertfordshire, England.279, 280, 281
Owned 2: Maidstone, Kent, England.282, 283, 284
Record Change: January 28, 2006284
Title (Facts Pg: of France.285, 286
More About ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet) and Roger de Mortimer:
Assc: not married.287, 288
More About ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet) and EDWARD II PLANTAGENET:
Marriage 1: January 25, 1307/08289, 290
Marriage 2: January 25, 1307/08, Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France.291, 292
Marriage Notes for ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet) and EDWARD II PLANTAGENET:
[15feb06abernethy.ged]
# ID: I577685887
# Name: Edward II PLANTAGENET
# Given Name: Edward II
# Surname: PLANTAGENET
# Sex: M
# Birth: 25 Apr 1284 in Caernarvon Castle, Caernarvon, Caernarvonshire, W ales
# Death: 21 Sep 1327 in Berkeley Castle, England
# Change Date: 10 May 2004
# Note: King of England. Married: 22-Jan-1307/08 in Boulogne, Pas-de-Ca lais, France.Murdered. Brother to Joan of Arc.
Father: Edward I PLANTAGENET b: 7 Oct 1239 in Westminster, London, Engl and
Mother: Elenora DE CASTILLA b: Abt. 1240 in Burgos, Burgos, Spain
Marriage 1 Isabelle CAPET b: Abt. 1292 in Paris, Seine, France
* Note: _UIDE36A2E7A9E78F446B679BD83D61D70586F8D
Children
1. Edward III PLANTAGENET b: 13 Nov 1312 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, B erkshire, England
source page:
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2951323&id= I577685887
added:
03/24/05
Children of ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet) and EDWARD II PLANTAGENET are:
- +Edward IIIPlantagenet, of England, b. November 13, 1312, Windsor Castle, England293, 294, d. June 21, 1377, Richmond, Surry, England295, 296.
- +EleanorPlantagenet, of Lancaster, b. Abt. 1318, Grismond Castle, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, England297, 298, d. January 11, 1371/72, Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, England299, 300.

Description | How to Order | Samples | Free Demo | Quotes and Reviews | Books
Home | User Groups | Mail List | Add-Ons
| Support
© Copyright 1996-2007, The Generations Network.