Isabella II: The She-Wolf of France
by From: More Prisoners of Eternity.
Married to Edward, the son of Longshanks, the homosexual future King of England when still a child, she was lonely, afraid, and shorn of affection. Yet she was to grow up to be the cynical, devious, utterly ruthless She-Wolf of France whose mantra in dark times would be "Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum este (Do not be afraid to kill Edward, it is good). This she would do, and in a way she felt most fitting.
Born in Paris, sometime in 1295, she was the daughter of Philip IV of France and his Queen, Jeanne of Navarre. Betrothed to the future Edward II, then Prince of Wales, when still an infant, it was early rumoured that their marriage would neither be a happy nor fruitful one. Her age would seem to preclude the notion that Edward I himself took her virginity in order to ensure male issue, as has been suggested. Isabella and Edward did not in fact marry until after the old Kings death in 1308.
It was first and foremost a political marriage designed to stabilise relations between England and France. Edward had no interest in his marriage and rarely, if ever, showed his wife any affection. His sexual proclivities lay elsewhere. She was humbled and humiliated time and time again as her husband took a string of, often low-born, male lovers. He doted on his favourites showering them with gifts, particularly the handsome French nobleman Piers Gaveston, and the young Hugh Dispenser. Isabella was shamed and embarrassed by her husband’s flaunting of his homosexuality, this sin against God. Despite this she did her duty and bore him four children including the future Edward III. But she seethed with anger and the desire for revenge.
Possibly not as openly effeminate as he is often portrayed, Edward never troubled to hide or disguise his love of handsome young men. Tall, fair haired, and as physically impressive as his father had been, he was by all accounts brave in battle. He was, however, easily led, easily distracted, and had a low threshold of boredom. He was little interested in the minutiae of administration preferring to party. He liked to hug and kiss in public displays of affection. Isabella was disgusted by his activities.
Unlike his fearsome father, who could strike terror into the hearts of all those he met, Edward II never acquired the respect of those he ruled. His reign was riven with dispute, disorder, rebellion and war. His frivolous nature, love of luxury, and open homosexuality were despised. Defeat in the Baron’s War of 1311, led to his lover Gaveston being dragged from the Castle where he had taken shelter and being beheaded on Blacklow Hill. However, with Gaveston dead and the Baron’s thirst for vengeance sated they lost the impetus to go on and depose Edward, who was then able to restore his authority. Only for it to be shattered once again by defeat at the hands of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Throughout this period of instability Isabella conspired with her husband’s enemies. And it would be Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer who would bring about her husband’s downfall, not the Barons.
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