Isabel Bruce was a Queen consort of Norway, married to King Eric World War II
Background
In 1293 at the age of 21, she traveled to Norway with her father and was married at Bergen to King Eric. Isabel was king Erik"s second wife, he having previously been married to the daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland, Margaret of Scotland, who died in childbirth in 1283.
Career
Political context Isabel"s parents were Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. Her brothers included Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and Edward Bruce who briefly was High King of Ireland. Her dowry for the marriage was recorded at the time by Norwegian nobleman Audun Hugleiksson who noted she brought: precious clothes, 2 golden boiler, 24 silver plate, 4 silver salt cellars and 12 two-handled soup bowls (scyphus) to the marriage.
The death of Queen Margaret left Scotland without a monarch, and at the mercy of Edward I of England.
Soon, John Balliol tried to take the Scottish crown with the aid of John Comyn, the Red Comyn. The Bruce family captured strongholds in Galloway, and fighting in the name of the Maid of Norway (Margaret), suppressed the rebellion with many important families like the Stewards supporting them.
In 1306, Robert the Bruce was chosen to be King of Scot. Later life Isabel was widowed, at age 26, at the death of King Eric in 1299.
Their marriage did not produce a male heir, though it did produce a daughter, Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway, who, having firstly been engaged to Jon II, Earl of Orkney, married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden, Duke of Finland, in 1312.
Isabel herself arranged both engagements. She did not return to Scotland, but lived in Bergen, Norway the rest of her life. As a queen consort, there is little information of her life, but her life as a queen dowager is more documented.
Isabel participated in many official events and ceremonies and did not lack influence.
She was present with the royal couple at the inauguration in 1305 of Bishop Arne Sigurdssön, the new Bishop of Bergen. She had a good relationship with the clerical powers in Bergen, made donations and in 1324, received several houses from the church.
lieutenant has been suggested, that she participated as a mediator in the negotiations between Norway and Scotland regarding Orkney and Shetland during 1312 under which the Treaty of Perth was reaffirmed. In 1339, the king pardoned a prisoner at her request.