Isabella, Countess of Bedford
| Isabella of England | |
|---|---|
| Born |
16 June 1332 , Oxfordshire |
| Died | April 1379 (aged 46) or 17 June/5 October 1382 (aged 50) |
| Burial | Greyfriars Church Newgate |
| Spouse | Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy |
| Issue |
Marie, Countess of Soissons Philippa de Vere, Duchess of Ireland |
| House | Plantagenet |
| Father | Edward III of England |
| Mother | Philippa of Hainault |
Isabella of England (16 June 1332 – April 1379 or 17 June/5 October 1382), was the eldest daughter of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault and the wife of Enguerrand de Coucy, Earl of Bedford, by whom she had two daughters. She was made a Lady of the Garter in 1376.
Isabella was the royal couple's second child, and eldest daughter. Named after her paternal grandmother, Isabella of France, Isabella is believed to have been her father's favourite daughter.
Born at , in Oxfordshire, on 16 June 1332, she was a baby who was much pampered by her doting parents. She slept in a gilded cradle lined with taffeta and covered with a fur blanket. Her gowns were of imported Italian silk, embroidered with jewels and fur-lined. Isabella had, along with her siblings, a household of servants which included a personal chaplain, musicians, a noble governor and governess, and three ladies-in-waiting as well as a staff of grooms, esquires, clerks, butlers, cooks, and other attendants. As a child, Isabella was sent to the household of William and Elizabeth St Omer, which also included Isabella's older brother Edward and younger sister Joan.
When she was just 3 years old, her father attempted to arrange a marriage between Isabella and Pedro of Castile, the Castilian King's heir; however, her younger sister Joan later became Pedro's betrothed, dying before they could actually marry.
Described as being over-indulged, wilful, and wildly extravagant, Isabella – unusually for the times – remained unmarried until the age of 33. She had previously been the subject of various betrothal proposals; however, these had all failed to come to fruition. On 15 November 1351, when she was 19 years old, five ships were instructed to take her to Gascony where she was to marry Bernard d'Albret as had been previously arranged. He was the second eldest son of Bernard Ezi IV, Lord of Albret. At the last moment before departure, however, Isabella changed her mind, and the marriage was called off. Her father does not appear to have been angry at Isabella for her capricious behaviour as he granted her custody of Burtsall Priory in Yorkshire in 1355. He also settled the sum of 1,000 marks per annum on her.
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