Fatal Facts About Isabella, The She-Wolf Of France
The She-Wolf Of France
Isabella of France began her life as an innocent French maid, and ended it as one of the most ruthless monarchs England ever saw.
1. She Dominated Her Age
14th-century France was a viper’s nest of dangerous beauties, courtly intrigue, and all-out war. Somehow, Isabella of France managed to master all three realms—and her own husband. From her beginnings as a naïve bride to her jaw-dropping vengeance on her own kin, there’s a reason she became known as the “She-Wolf Of France”.
2. Her Father Was Ice Cold
Isabella was born around 1295 to an extremely powerful, very beautiful, and intensely cold family. Her father, King Philip IV of France, was known as “the Fair” for his good looks, but was also described as "neither a man nor a beast, but a statue” for his chilly demeanor.
Meanwhile, her mother Joan passed when she was quite young…amidst dark rumors that Isabella’s father had slain her. It was a bitter childhood—but her entrance into adulthood was the real nightmare.
3. She Was A Child Bride
As daughter of the King of France—and a calculating king at that—Isabella was always destined for a politically advantageous marriage.
In her case, it happened very fast: When she was 12 years old, she was sent to England to marry King Edward II, a man around 10 years her senior.
But in the end, an age gap was the least of their problems.
4. She Showed Off
The royal union, which took place on January 25, 1308, was full of pomp and circumstance.
In accordance with her high rank—and her well-known taste for pretty things—Isabella had brought over a massive wardrobe full of furs, headdresses, two gold crowns, and hundreds of yards of linen.
All this was meant to impress Edward and the foreign royal court—but it was Isabella herself who truly made an impression.
