Isabella of Angoulême: The Scandalous Queen of England Who Helped Spark a War
In this episode of Queens Podcast, Katy and Nathan unpack the chaotic life of Isabella of Angoulême, the controversial Queen of England and wife of King John.
Married at just twelve to the 33-year-old king, Isabella’s union helped ignite political turmoil between England and France, contributing to the loss of Normandy and the instability that led to the Magna Carta. Chroniclers painted her as a “Jezebel,” blaming her for wars, rebellion, and even witchcraft.
After King John’s dramatic death in 1216, Isabella returned to France, remarried in scandalous fashion, and continued making waves well into her fifties.
Troublemaker or survivor? From child queen to dowager rebel, this is one of medieval England’s most misunderstood women.
Time stamps:
00:00 Language Warning Intro
01:43 Cocktail of the Week Jezebel
03:50 Isabella Origins and Aquitaine Explained
09:06 King John Enters the Chat
11:56 War Fallout and Blaming Isabella
15:02 A Queen Packed Away and Controlled
19:15 Tumultuous Marriage and Heirs
20:43 Heir and Haters
22:59 Magna Carta Chaos
28:04 Exile and Motherhood Myths
29:58 Hot Second Marriage Scandal
33:38 Loyalty Wars and Queen Feud
35:34 Rebellion and Poison Rumors
40:17 Abbey Retirement and Legacy
Sources
- Queens Of England podcast
- Tudor Dynasty podcast
- History: The Interesting Bits
- Katy's Corner Isabella of Gloucester
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