Isabella of England

For Isabella of England, the daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, see Isabella de Coucy. Isabella of England, also called Elizabeth (1214 – 1 December 1241) was an English princess and, by marriage, Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, and Queen consort of Sicily. She was the fourth child but second daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme. It was at a friendly meeting at Rieti where Pope Gregory IX suggested... more

For Isabella of England, the daughter of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, see Isabella de Coucy. Isabella of England, also called Elizabeth (1214 – 1 December 1241) was an English princess and, by marriage, Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, and Queen consort of Sicily. She was the fourth child but second daughter of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme. It was at a friendly meeting at Rieti where Pope Gregory IX suggested to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, that he marry princess Isabella, a sister of Henry III of England. At first Frederick II was concerned to lose his French allies; but when he realised that an English marriage would end English support for his opponents, he agreed. The betrothal was formalized in London on February 1235. The beautiful Isabella was about twenty-one years old when she set out to marry the twice-widowed Emperor Frederick II, who was forty. On her way through Cologne, she delighted the local women when she removed the... less