Individual Details

Biography

On 23 April 1170 Isabelle was born at Valenciennes, the daughter of Baudouin V-VIII, count of Hainault and Flanders, and Marguerite of Flanders. In 1179 she was promised in marriage to the son of the count of Champagne. However when the political scene changed, she became engaged to the son of the king of France. The nuptials were to take place when she was of marriageable age, and in 1184 she was judged to be so. However, as the political alliances had again changed, Philippe II August, under the influence of his uncles, tried to break off the marriage before it was consummated.

The reason given was consanguinity, but young Isabelle went barefoot through the streets of the city, followed by lepers and the poor, all of whom joined her in demanding her rights outside the palace. Philippe took her back 'out of marital duty and without communicating with her in bed'. In 1187 she gave birth to a son Louis, but she died three years later after giving birth to stillborn twins.

Isabelle died in Ile de France on 15 March 1190.