Editing Isabella of France (section)

== Queenship ==
[[File:La reine en prière, entourée des armes de France et d'Angleterre.png|thumb|Isabella depicted as queen in [[Isabella Psalter|her Psalter]], c. 1303–1308]]

As queen, the young Isabella faced numerous challenges. Edward was handsome, but also possibly formed close romantic attachments first to [[Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall|Piers Gaveston]] and then to [[Hugh Despenser the Younger]]. Edward found himself at odds with the barons, too, in particular his first cousin [[Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster]], whilst continuing the war against the Scots that he had inherited from Edward I. Using her own supporters at court and the patronage of her French family, Isabella attempted to find a political path through these challenges. She successfully formed an alliance with Gaveston, but after his death at the hands of the barons, her position grew increasingly precarious. Edward began to take revenge on his enemies, using an ever more brutal alliance with the Despenser family, in particular his new favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger. By 1326, Isabella found herself increasingly at odds with both Edward and Hugh, ultimately resulting in Isabella's own bid for power and an invasion of England.<ref>For a summary of this period, see Weir 2006, chapters 2–6; Mortimer, 2006, chapter 1; Doherty, chapters 1–3.</ref>

=== Fall of Gaveston: 1308–1312 ===
[[File:Guy de Beauchamp.jpg|thumb|upright|Isabella was able to come to an understanding with her husband's first favourite [[Piers Gaveston]], shown here lying dead at the feet of [[Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick|Guy de Beauchamp]], in a 15th-century representation.]]

Edward was an unusual character by medieval standards. Edward looked the part of a [[Plantagenet]] king: he was tall, athletic, and wildly popular at the beginning of his reign.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 39.</ref> However, he rejected most of the traditional pursuits of a king for the period — [[jousting]], hunting and warfare — and instead enjoyed music, poetry and [[rural crafts]].<ref name="Weir, p. 37">Weir 2006, p. 37.</ref> Furthermore, there is the question of Edward's sexuality in a period when homosexuality was considered a serious crime, but there is no direct evidence of his sexual orientation. Contemporary chroniclers made much of his close affinity with a succession of male [[favourite]]s. Some condemned Edward for loving them "beyond measure" and "uniquely", others explicitly referring to an "illicit and sinful union".<ref name=DohertyP37>Doherty, p. 37.</ref> Nonetheless, Isabella bore four children by Edward, leading some historians to believe that Edward's affairs with his male favourites were [[Platonic love|platonic]], despite Isabella's complaints of whose bed he visited.<ref name=DohertyP37/>

When Isabella first arrived in England following her marriage, her husband was already involved with Piers Gaveston, an "arrogant, ostentatious" soldier, with a "reckless and headstrong" personality that appealed to Edward.<ref>Doherty, p. 38.</ref> Isabella, then aged twelve, was effectively sidelined by the pair. Edward chose to sit with Gaveston rather than Isabella at their wedding celebration,<ref>Doherty, p. 46.</ref> causing grave offence to her uncles [[Louis, Count of Évreux]], and [[Charles, Count of Valois]],<ref name="Weir, p. 37"/> and then refused to grant her either her own lands or her own household.<ref name=DohertyP47>Doherty, p. 47.</ref> Edward also gave Gaveston Isabella's own jewelry, which he wore publicly.<ref>{{cite book |title=Queens Consort, England's Medieval Queens |last=Hilton |first=Lisa |author-link=Lisa Hilton (writer) |page=247 |year=2008 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nichelson |location=Great Britain |isbn=978-0-7538-2611-9}}</ref> Isabella complained to her father that Gaveston took her place next to Edward II, she received insufficient funds and Edward visited Gaveston's bed more than hers.<ref name=Parsons/> It took the intervention of Isabella's father, Philip IV before Edward began to provide for her more appropriately.<ref name=DohertyP47/>

Isabella's relationship with Gaveston was complex. For a time, her dislike of him was widely known, and she was said to be in contact with her father, the pope and cardinals in order to have him exiled.<ref name=Parsons/> Baronial opposition to Gaveston, championed by Thomas of Lancaster, increased; and Philip IV began to covertly fund this grouping, using Isabella and her household as intermediaries.<ref>Doherty, pp. 47–8.</ref> Edward was forced to exile Gaveston to Ireland for a period and began to show Isabella much greater respect, assigning her lands and patronage. In turn, Philip ceased his support for the barons. Gaveston eventually returned from [[Ireland]], and by 1309–11, the three seemed to be co-existing together relatively comfortably.<ref name=DohertyP49>Doherty, p. 49.</ref> Indeed, Gaveston's key enemy, Edward and Isabella's uncle [[Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster|Thomas of Lancaster]], considered her to be an ally of Gaveston.<ref name=DohertyP49/><ref>"Even her own uncle Lancaster came to regard her as an enemy." Isabella's mother, Joan of Navarre, was Thomas of Lancaster's older half-sister. [https://books.google.com/books?id=6VEdDAAAQBAJ&dq=Isabella+of+france+thomas+of+lancaster+uncle&pg=PT116]</ref> Isabella had begun to build up her own supporters at court, principally the Beaumont family, itself opposed to the Lancastrians. Similarly originating from France, the senior member of the Beaumont family, [[Isabella de Beaumont]], had been a close confidant of Edward's mother [[Eleanor of Castile]], supported by her brother [[Henry de Beaumont]].{{cn|date=August 2023}}

In 1311, Edward conducted a failed campaign against the Scots, during which he and Isabella barely escaped capture. In the aftermath, the barons rose up, signing the [[Ordinances of 1311]], which promised action against Gaveston and expelled Isabella and Henry de Beaumont from court.<ref name=WeirP58>Weir 2006, p. 58.</ref> England fully descended into civil war in 1312. Isabella stood with Edward, sending angry letters to her uncles Louis and Charles asking for support.<ref name=WeirP58/> Edward left Isabella against her will at [[Tynemouth Priory]] in Northumberland whilst he unsuccessfully attempted to fight the barons.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 63.</ref> The campaign was a disaster, and although Edward escaped, Gaveston found himself stranded at [[Scarborough Castle]] where his baronial enemies then surrounded and captured him. [[Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick|Guy de Beauchamp]] and Thomas of Lancaster ensured Gaveston's execution as he was being taken south to rejoin Edward.<ref>Doherty, p. 51.</ref>

=== Tensions grow: 1312–1321 ===
Tensions mounted steadily over the decade. In 1312, Isabella gave birth to the future [[Edward III of England|Edward III]], but by the end of the year Edward's court was beginning to change. Edward was still relying heavily upon his French in-laws, one of which was Isabella's uncle Louis who had been sent from Paris to assist him. However, [[Hugh Despenser the Elder]] now formed part of the inner circle, marking the beginning of the Despensers' increased prominence at Edward's court.<ref>Doherty, p. 54.</ref> The Despensers were opposed to both the Lancastrians and their other allies in the [[Welsh Marches]], making an easy alliance with Edward, who sought revenge for the death of Gaveston.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 68.</ref>

In 1313, Isabella travelled to Paris with Edward to garner further French support, which resulted in the Tour de Nesle affair. The journey was a pleasant one, with many festivities, although Isabella was injured when her tent burned down.<ref>Doherty, p. 56.</ref> During the visit, her brothers Louis and Charles put on a satirical [[Puppetry|puppet show]] for their guests and Isabella gave new embroidered [[Coin purse|purses]] both to her brothers and to their wives.<ref name=WeirP92>Weir 2006, p. 92.</ref> Isabella and Edward then returned to England with new assurances of French support against the English barons. Later in the year, however, when Isabella and Edward held a large dinner in London to celebrate their return, Isabella apparently noticed that the purses she had given to her sisters-in-law were now being carried by two [[Norman people|Norman]] knights: Gautier and Philippe d'Aunay.<ref name=WeirP92/> Isabella concluded that the pair must have been carrying on an illicit affair, and appears to have informed her father of this during her next visit to France in 1314.<ref>Weir 2006, pp. 92, 99.</ref> The consequence of this was the [[Tour de Nesle affair]] in [[Paris]], which led to legal action against all three of Isabella's sisters-in-law. [[Blanche of Burgundy|Blanche]] and [[Margaret of Burgundy, Queen of France|Margaret of Burgundy]] were imprisoned for life while [[Joan II, Countess of Burgundy|Joan of Burgundy]] was imprisoned for a year before being acquitted. Isabella's reputation in France suffered somewhat as a result of her perceived role in the affair.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

In the north, however, the situation was becoming worse. Edward attempted to quash the Scots in a fresh campaign in 1314, resulting in the disastrous defeat at the [[Battle of Bannockburn]]. Edward was blamed by the barons for the catastrophic failure of the campaign. Thomas of Lancaster reacted to the defeats in Scotland by taking increased power in England and turning against Isabella, cutting off funds and harassing her household.<ref>Doherty, p. 60.</ref> To make matters worse, the "[[Great Famine of 1315–1317|Great Famine]]" descended on England during 1315–17, causing widespread loss of life and financial problems.<ref name=DohertyP61>Doherty, p. 61.</ref>

Despite Isabella giving birth to her second son, [[John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall|John]], in 1316, Edward's position was precarious. Indeed, [[John Deydras]], a [[Pretender|royal pretender]], appeared in [[Oxford]], claiming to have been switched with Edward at birth, and to be the real king of England himself.<ref>Doherty, pp. 60–1.</ref> Given Edward's unpopularity, the rumours spread considerably before Deydras' eventual execution, and appear to have greatly upset Isabella. Isabella responded by deepening her alliance with Lancaster's enemy, [[Henry de Beaumont]], and by taking up an increased role in government herself, including attending council meetings and acquiring increased lands.<ref>Doherty, pp. 61–2.</ref> Henry's sister, [[Isabella de Beaumont|Isabella de Vesci]], continued to remain a close adviser to the Queen.<ref name=DohertyP61/> The Scottish general [[James Douglas, Lord of Douglas|Sir James Douglas]], war leader for [[Robert I of Scotland]], made a bid to capture Isabella personally in 1319. He almost succeeded in [[James Douglas, Lord of Douglas#Myton and Byland|capturing her at York]], with Isabella only just barely escaping.<ref>Doherty, p. 62.</ref> Suspicions fell on Lancaster, and one of Edward's knights, Edmund Darel, was arrested on charges of having betrayed her location, but the charges were essentially unproven.<ref name=DohertyP64>Doherty, p. 64.</ref> In 1320, Isabella accompanied Edward to France to try and convince her brother, Philip V, to provide fresh support to crush the English barons.<ref name=DohertyP64/>

Meanwhile, Hugh de Despenser the Younger became an increasing favourite of Isabella's husband, and was believed by some to have begun a sexual relationship with him around this time.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 120.</ref> Hugh was the same age as Edward. His father, Hugh the Elder, had supported Edward and Gaveston a few years previously.<ref>Doherty, p. 65.</ref> The Despensers were bitter enemies of Lancaster, and, with Edward's support, began to increase their power base in the Welsh Marches, in the process making enemies of [[Roger Mortimer de Chirk]] and his nephew, [[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March|Roger Mortimer of Wigmore]], their rival [[Marcher lord|Marcher Lords]].<ref>Doherty, p. 66.</ref> Whilst Isabella had been able to work with Gaveston, Edward's previous favourite, it became increasingly clear that Hugh the Younger and Isabella could not work out a similar compromise. Unfortunately for Isabella, she was still estranged from Lancaster's rival faction, giving her little room to manoeuvre.<ref>Doherty, p. 67.</ref> In 1321, Lancaster's alliance moved against the Despensers, sending troops into London and demanding their exile. [[Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]], a moderate baron with strong French links, asked Isabella to intervene in an attempt to prevent war;<ref>Weir 2006, p. 132.</ref> Isabella publicly went down on her knees to appeal to Edward to exile the Despensers, providing him with a face-saving excuse to do so, but Edward intended to arrange their return at the first opportunity.<ref>Doherty, p. 67; Weir 2006, p. 132.</ref> Isabella's attempts, though heavily praised by the English, had very little impact and she had no lasting effect as a mediator for foreign or domestic affairs.<ref name=Parsons/>

=== Return of the Despensers, 1321–1326 ===
Despite the momentary respite delivered by Isabella, by the autumn of 1321, the tensions between the two factions of Edward, Isabella and the Despenser, opposing the baronial opposition led by Thomas of Lancaster, were extremely high, with forces still mobilised across the country.<ref>Doherty, p. 70.</ref> At this point, Isabella undertook a pilgrimage to [[Canterbury]], during which she left the traditional route to stop at [[Leeds Castle]] in [[Kent]], a fortification held by [[Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere|Bartholomew de Badlesmere]], steward of the King's household who had by 1321 joined the ranks of Edward's opponents. Some historians believe that the pilgrimage was a deliberate act by Isabella on Edward's behalf to create a ''[[casus belli]]''.<ref>Doherty, pp. 70–1; Weir 2006, p. 133.</ref> Lord Badlesmere was away at the time, having left his wife [[Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere]] in charge of the castle. When the latter adamantly refused the Queen's admittance, fighting broke out outside the castle between Isabella's guards and the garrison, marking the beginning of the [[Despenser War]].<ref name=DohertyP71>Doherty, p. 71.</ref> Whilst Edward mobilised his own faction and placed Leeds Castle under siege, Isabella was given the [[Great Seal of the Realm|Great Seal]] and assumed control of the royal [[Court of Chancery#Origins|Chancery]] from the [[Tower of London]].<ref name=DohertyP71/> After surrendering to Edward's forces on 31 October 1321, Margaret, Baroness [[Badlesmere, Kent]] and her children were sent to the Tower, and 13 of the Leeds garrison were hanged. By January 1322, Edward's army, reinforced by the Despensers returning from exile, had forced the surrender of the Mortimers, and by March Lancaster himself had been captured after the [[Battle of Boroughbridge]]; Lancaster was promptly executed, leaving Edward and the Despensers victorious.<ref>Doherty, pp. 72–3.</ref>

[[File:TynemouthPriory2005-03-08 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Tynemouth Castle and Priory|Tynemouth Priory]], seen from the [[North Sea]], where Isabella sought shelter from the Scots army following the disastrous campaign of 1322]]

[[Hugh Despenser the Younger]] was now firmly ensconced as Edward's new favourite and together over the next four years Edward and the Despensers imposed a harsh rule over England, a "sweeping revenge"<ref>Weir 2006, p. 138.</ref> characterised by land confiscation, large-scale imprisonment, executions and the punishment of extended family members, including women and the elderly.<ref>Doherty, pp. 74–5.</ref> This was condemned by contemporary chroniclers, and is felt to have caused concern to Isabella as well;<ref>Doherty, p. 73.</ref> some of those widows being persecuted included her friends.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 143.</ref> Isabella's relationship with Despenser the Younger continued to deteriorate; the Despensers refused to pay her monies owed to her, or return her castles at [[Marlborough Castle|Marlborough]] and [[Devizes Castle|Devizes]].<ref>Weir 2006, p. 144.</ref> Indeed, various authors have suggested that there is evidence that Hugh Despenser the Younger attempted to assault Isabella herself in some fashion.<ref>Weir 2006, p. 149.</ref> Certainly, immediately after the Battle of Boroughbridge, Edward began to be markedly less generous in his gifts towards Isabella, and none of the spoils of the war were awarded to her.<ref>Doherty, p. 75.</ref> Worse still, later in the year Isabella was caught up in the failure of another of Edward's campaigns in Scotland, in a way that permanently poisoned her relationship with both Edward and the Despensers.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

Isabella and Edward had travelled north together at the start of the autumn campaign. Before the disastrous [[Battle of Old Byland]] in Yorkshire, Edward had ridden south, apparently to raise more men, sending Isabella east to [[Tynemouth Priory]].<ref>Doherty, pp. 76–7.</ref> With the Scottish army marching south, Isabella expressed considerable concern about her personal safety and requested assistance from Edward. Her husband initially proposed sending Despenser forces to secure her, but Isabella rejected this outright, instead requesting friendly troops. Rapidly retreating south with the Despensers, Edward failed to grasp the situation, resulting in Isabella finding herself and her household cut off from the south by the Scottish army, with the coastline patrolled by [[Flanders|Flemish]] naval forces allied to the Scots.<ref name=DohertyP77>Doherty, p. 77.</ref> The situation was precarious and Isabella was forced to use a group of squires from her personal retinue to hold off the advancing army whilst other of her knights commandeered a ship. The fighting continued as Isabella and her household retreated onto the vessel, resulting in the death of two of her ladies-in-waiting.<ref name=DohertyP77/> Once aboard, Isabella evaded the Flemish navy, landing further south and making her way to York.<ref name=DohertyP77/> Isabella was furious both with Edward for, from her perspective, abandoning her to the Scots, and with Despensers for convincing Edward to retreat rather than sending help.<ref name=DohertyP78>Doherty, p. 78.</ref> For his part, Edward blamed [[Lewis de Beaumont]], the [[Bishop of Durham]] and an ally of Isabella, for the fiasco.<ref name=DohertyP78/>

Isabella effectively separated from Edward from here onwards, leaving him to live with Hugh Despenser. At the end of 1322, Isabella left the court on a ten-month-long pilgrimage around England by herself.<ref name=DohertyP79>Doherty, p. 79.</ref> On her return in 1323, she visited Edward briefly, but was removed from the process of granting royal patronage.<ref name=DohertyP79/> At the end of 1324, as tensions grew with France, Edward and the Despensers confiscated all of Isabella's lands, took over the running of her household and arrested and imprisoned all of her French staff. Isabella's youngest children were removed from her and placed into the custody of the Despensers.<ref>Doherty, p. 80.</ref> At this point, Isabella appeared to have realised that any hope of working with Edward was effectively over and begun to consider radical solutions.{{cn|date=August 2023}}