It is said that the great power of the chessboard queen can be directly attributed to the extraordinary life of Isabella, wife to King Edward II. A beautiful woman, the daughter of Philip IV of France, Isabella was married to the bisexual Edward at the age of 12. The marriage was intended to create a lasting peace between England and France. Isabella was for a time a loyal consort, while Edward lurched from one crisis to another at home and abroad, and transferred his affections from Piers Gaveston to the more sinister favourite, Hugh de Spencer the Younger, who lost no opportunity to insult the queen. After 13 years she fled abroad, where she fell in love with the exiled Roger Mortimer. Between them they raised an army of mercenaries and successfully deposed Edward, inflicting a gruesome death on Hugh de Spencer. During her years as regent to her son, the future Edward III, Isabella is believed to have organized the notorious fate of her husband at Berkeley Castle, which eventually resulted in the hanging of Mortimer at Tyburn.
- ISBN10 1841193011
- ISBN13 9781841193014
- Publish Date 27 February 2003
- Publish Status Transferred
- Out of Print 26 August 2006
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
- Imprint Constable
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 224
- Language English