Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England

Typical excellent research of the topic by Weir. Not as captivating a subject as her later Tudor era women (Boleyn sisters, Elizabeth I, Jane Seymour, etc).

I found this book a great help. I'd read about Isabella in books on Edward the III in the past. There she has been introduced as the Evil Queen---Snow White might well have known her. Her political activities in association with Roger Mortimer, The Evil Schemer in most stories, is presented as a lurid background to the Benign Rule of King Edward---all he did was start the Hundred Years War. So far as the reader can make out from these references, the entire purpose of the Queen's existence was to provide balance to the parable of Good King Edward. Furthermore, most of the books in which I found Isabella referenced, make her look as though she popped out of nowhere. It was nice to read a book by a sensible author.I think part of the problem with this queen---or of any of the queens for that matter---is that she is "incidental" to the stories of English Kings. She seems to pop out of nowhere, because most of the narrative is about the acts and events surrounding a particular king. But Isabella didn't pop out of nowhere. She was the daughter of the most powerful king in Europe at the time, the king of France, and her subsequent behavior showed that better than any pedigree ever could. The author managed to recreate for the reader the world around her chosen subject which made everything--even the Knights Templar affair--make much better sense. Like Eleanor of Aquitaine, an earlier French aristocrat involved in the narrative of English kings, Isabella was a handful, and she'd been trained to be one from birth. The whole narrative of the Middle Ages is one of power and who had it, and the daughters of kings played a part in it, even if it was often a more passive part.Ms Weir's Isabella is no more greedy, ambitious, scheming or flawed than any other aristocrat of her age. It was a period of major testosterone overload, and she trampled a few of the treasured masculine principles of her time by taking action against individuals in her husband's government who threatened her own power and against her husband the king because it was a waste of time not to deal with him when she had the opportunity. She was practical if nothing else. But then so did Eleanor of Aquitaine and with far less bad press.Most of the books that refer to the queen make it seem as though she had an awful end---one can almost hear "as were her just deserts"---but in fact Ms Weir's biography makes it apparent that she lived as long as anyone of her age, had more than a passing influence on the events of her time, enjoyed the affection of her children, and lived a quiet and comfortable existence to the extent that anyone at the time did. In short, hers was a successful and very adventurous life.Particularly of interest to me was the possibility that Edward II did not meet with the grim and sensational end that he was reputed to have done and that he might actually have survived, hiding in exile as a religious hermit. I also found fully creditable a short contact with his son, Edward III, before his death at least as the author interpreted her data. That he felt the need to set his life in order at that time of his life---given that he had survived as she suggests---seems very likely to me. Certainly other individuals took these steps as they approached the end of their lives. I'm not as sure, however, that I believe that his body was surreptitiously introduced into the tomb built for him. The author credits a report that a porter whom Edward was supposed to have killed to escape was subsequently represented as the assassinated king to avoid problems when an intended assassination was bungled. I think it's often best to leave well enough alone, and I suspect the monarchs of the Middle Ages were inclined to agree. Either he escaped the assassination attempt and lived his life as a hermit later buried elsewhere, or he didn't and occupies his tomb as history largely has it. I can't imagine Edward III making a switch out of sentiment.A superb book that fills in a lot of the details.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Weir's biography of Queen Isabella and the demise of Edward II of England. Very well written, and much easier to read than Weir's earlier biography of Eleanor of Aquataine. Having said that, I found myself a bit dismayed by two things: 1. Very difficult to figure out what year events occurred; this author, like many others, wrote entire chapters which gave months & days, but I found myself going back in the narrative repetitively to try and determine the year...and 2. Clearly Ms. Weir's purpose was to do her best to absolve Isabella of Edward II's death! She tries very hard to make a case that Edward was in fact not killed at Berkeley Castle, but rather escaped and lived the rest of his life in exile, primarily in Italy. I found this hard to believe, and the evidence to that effect a bit lacking. One situation which really caught my eye was Weir's statement that Edward's body (or that of a substitute if he in fact was not killed but escaped?) was IMMEDIATELY embalmed and completely wrapped in waxed "cerecloth" after his death in October, 1327. The body was then kept at Berkeley until December when it was released to the Abbot of Gloucester to be buried in St. Peter's Abbey, Gloucester...at which time "the corpse had been dressed in the late King's coronation robes, including his shirt, coif, and gloves...". I found myself wondering how they "dressed" a body that was COMPLETELY wrapped in waxed cloth? Interesting! From my perspective, I don't see that Isabella needed then or now "absolution" for the death of Edward II. He was a very bad king, betrayed her repeatedly with both Gaveston and De Spenser, took away her income, seperated her from her children, etc. The way I see it, Isabella likely harbored a deadly and undying hatred for her husband, and would've wanted to ensure that, after his overthrow, he would NEVER be able to return. Nevertheless, an outstanding book and well worth the time of any reader wanting to better understand the life and times of Isabella of France and her husband, Edward II.

Alison Weir provides a fresh and factual perspective on Queen Isabella, wife of King Edward II of England. If you are into English history, I would highly recommend this book. The reading is not fast paced but full of actual events and occurances that made this time in history so important. Married around age 12, Isabella moves into adulthood as a woman who well understands politics of the time, the worth of a crown, and the power and wealth it brings. She effectively disposes of her husband, an English King, who has lead a life of immorality turning all English nobility against him. This intelligent woman finds a way over throw her husband replacing her son Edward III on the throne. I find myself going back and starting the book all over again. I can count on Alison Weir, in all of her historical biographies, to provide the reader with insightful and intriguing worlds bringing historical characters to life.

Overall, I enjoyed this history of Isabella. She's a person that I can say did pretty well for herself, as a medieval woman. I support any wife who overthrows her husband.That being said, I don't know if I buy that Edward II escaped and survived as a hermit. Also, the early comments about homosexuality. Were they Ms. Weir's opinions? I wasn't clear on that or if she was repeating the opinion of the time.

Enjoyed this book. Very well researched. Incredible amount of detailed information. However, rather biased regarding certain matters. I think most historians would not agree with her that Edward II was not murdered. Her belief that a servant's body was substituted and then, years later after the natural death of Edward II abroad, the bodies were swopped again seems very far fetched. It must be an error (page 56 of paperback) that the Queen spent on a short trip to Becket's shrine "an astronomical £140,000" - according to [...], that would be over £82 million in today's money. A TV series "Secrets of Underground Britain" shown recently also cast doubt on the true location of "Mortimer's Hole" , Nottingham Castle where Mortimer was surprised by the King's men and arrested. They have now found new, more likely tunnel, originating in a garden in the Park Estate. Overall extremely well written and an enjoyable read.

Well researched book on one of the most (in)famous women in history. I liked the detail and the very personal approach to the subject. I've always enjoyed the author's style and admired her passion. There are many proven facts and some mysteries such as the Fieschi letter. Recommended to who loves history and the story of amazing women who helped shape it.

This is an ex_library book and very well used . Some pages coming out and 2 pages not printed The book was cheap enough but had I known the condition would not have purchased as the postage was expensive

Bought this book for my wife who is a great reader of historical books and has become an avid reader of Alison Wear in particular. So this is really a 2nd hand comment on the writer rather than this particular book. One of the best around

Still reading it... Have struggled with all the details (Do I really need to know all the dates and the cost of everything?)Apart from that it has been interesting from a historical perspective.