Isabella of Lorraine

1400 (age 53)

France

When Isabella's father, Charles II, died in 1431, Rene became duke-consort of Lorraine. However, the succession was challenged by a nephew of Charles II's, Antony of Vaudemont. Later that year Antony defeated Rene at Bulgneville and took him, prisoner. Rene was subsequently turned over to his great political enemy Philip the Good of Burgundy, who imprisoned him at Dijon. Isabella immediately took up the defense of the duchy against Antony and helped to negotiate Rene's release on parole in May 1432. As part of the terms of his release, Isabella and Rene had to agree to give their sons John and Louis as hostages in his place. During this period of freedom, Rene acquired the titles of duke of Anjou and count of Provence on the death of his brother, along with the family's titular claim to the kingdom of Sicily. In 1434, shortly before her death, Joan II, the reigning queen of Naples and Sicily, adopted Rene, drawing him and Isabella into a succession dispute with Aragon's King Alphonso. Alarmed by Rene's growing power and political influence, Philip the Good demanded his return to captivity in the same year, leaving Isabella not only to defend the duchy of Lorraine but also to press his claims to Naples and Sicily. By all accounts, Isabella was successful in both endeavors. In 1435 Isabella sailed from Marseilles to Naples. Once there, she took control of the troops loyal to Rene's cause and repelled Aragonese efforts to take the city. In addition to directing the city's defense, she also skillfully negotiated with both mercenary leaders and the Genoese for soldiers and naval support. Her political skills were further tested by recurring money shortages and the need for delicate diplomacy in the dispute that not only involved her husband and the king of Aragon, but also the king of France and Pope Eugenius IV. Rene was finally released in February 1437 and went to Naples in the following spring to join his wife. However, it was Isabella who successfully defended the city against a major offensive launched by Alphonso in 1438. Even after his arrival, Rene continued to rely on Isabella in both political and military matters, and the two worked together in attempting to secure Rene's claim to Naples and Sicily. The city was once again under siege by Alphonso in 1441, and by 1442 Rene and Isabella were forced to abandon Naples permanently, along with Rene's ambitions to establish an Italian kingdom. After their return to France Isabella continued to be actively involved in the administration and defense of Lorraine, where, with help from Charles VII of France, her right to the duchy was firmly established. Working with Rene, she was also involved in negotiating marriages for her children designed to secure peace with Burgundy and to bolster Rene's claims to territories in Maine. Isabella died on 28 February 1453 after a lengthy illness and was succeeded in Lorraine by her son John.

Isabella of Lorraine

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also known as Isabel, Isabelle, Isabeau de Lorraine, Isabel of Bar

Noblewoman ruler

Background

Isabella was the eldest daughter of Charles II, Duke of Lorraine and Margaret of the Palatinate.

Career

When Isabella's father, Charles II, died in 1431, Rene became duke-consort of Lorraine. However, the succession was challenged by a nephew of Charles II's, Antony of Vaudemont. Later that year Antony defeated Rene at Bulgneville and took him, prisoner. Rene was subsequently turned over to his great political enemy Philip the Good of Burgundy, who imprisoned him at Dijon.

Isabella immediately took up the defense of the duchy against Antony and helped to negotiate Rene's release on parole in May 1432. As part of the terms of his release, Isabella and Rene had to agree to give their sons John and Louis as hostages in his place. During this period of freedom, Rene acquired the titles of duke of Anjou and count of Provence on the death of his brother, along with the family's titular claim to the kingdom of Sicily. In 1434, shortly before her death, Joan II, the reigning queen of Naples and Sicily, adopted Rene, drawing him and Isabella into a succession dispute with Aragon's King Alphonso. Alarmed by Rene's growing power and political influence, Philip the Good demanded his return to captivity in the same year, leaving Isabella not only to defend the duchy of Lorraine but also to press his claims to Naples and Sicily. By all accounts, Isabella was successful in both endeavors.

In 1435 Isabella sailed from Marseilles to Naples. Once there, she took control of the troops loyal to Rene's cause and repelled Aragonese efforts to take the city. In addition to directing the city's defense, she also skillfully negotiated with both mercenary leaders and the Genoese for soldiers and naval support. Her political skills were further tested by recurring money shortages and the need for delicate diplomacy in the dispute that not only involved her husband and the king of Aragon, but also the king of France and Pope Eugenius IV. Rene was finally released in February 1437 and went to Naples in the following spring to join his wife. However, it was Isabella who successfully defended the city against a major offensive launched by Alphonso in 1438.

Even after his arrival, Rene continued to rely on Isabella in both political and military matters, and the two worked together in attempting to secure Rene's claim to Naples and Sicily. The city was once again under siege by Alphonso in 1441, and by 1442 Rene and Isabella were forced to abandon Naples permanently, along with Rene's ambitions to establish an Italian kingdom.

After their return to France Isabella continued to be actively involved in the administration and defense of Lorraine, where, with help from Charles VII of France, her right to the duchy was firmly established. Working with Rene, she was also involved in negotiating marriages for her children designed to secure peace with Burgundy and to bolster Rene's claims to territories in Maine. Isabella died on 28 February 1453 after a lengthy illness and was succeeded in Lorraine by her son John.

Achievements

While Isabella de Lorraine did not don armor or ride at the head of troops, she is credited with staving off a challenge to her inheritance of the duchy of Lorraine during her husband's long imprisonment and with valiantly defending his claim to Naples and Sicily.

In July 1445, Isabella appointed her son John to be her governor-general in Lorraine and retired to her manor Launay in Saumur.

Personality

Isabella is described as beautiful, witty, brave and with the ability to be careful and make hard decisions in difficult circumstances.

Connections

In 1419 Isabella was married to Rene of Anjou, second son of Louis II of Anjou and Yolanda of Aragon. The marriage produced at least four children, including Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482), who was married to King Henry VI of England in 1445 as part of a truce in the Hundred Years' War.

Father:: Charles II, Duke of Lorraine
Mother:: Margaret of the Palatinate
husband:: Rene of Anjou
Son:: John II, Duke of Lorraine
Son:: Louis of Anjou
Daughter:: Yolande de Bar
Daughter:: Margaret of Anjou

References

Amazons to Fighter Pilots: A Biographical Dictionary of Military Women
2003

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