Editing Isabella of France (section)

=== 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/>