Isabelle of Luxembourg (1247-1298) was a daughter of
Henry V of Luxembourg and his wife,
Margaret of Bar. Isabelle was a member of the
House of Luxembourg.
Family
Isabelle was the third of seven children. Her elder brother was
Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg, successor to their father. Isabelle's sister was
Philippa of Luxembourg, who married
John II, Count of Holland and were parents to twelve children.
Philippa of Hainault, Queen consort of
Edward III of England was a descendent of Philippa.
Isabelle's maternal grandparents were
Henry II of Bar and his wife
Philippa of Dreux. Isabelle's paternal grandparents were
Waleran III of Limburg and his wife
Ermesinde, Countess of Luxembourg.
Marriage
In March 1265, Isabelle married
Guy of Dampierre . Her marriage was determined by events that occurred many years before her birth. Indeed, around 1165, her great-grandfather
Henry IV the Blind, Count of Namur and Luxembourg, had no children from his first marriage. He named his brother
Baldwin IV of Hainaut as his successor. Baldwin died in 1171, and Henry the blind confirmed his nephew
Baldwin V of Hainaut. But with one more attempt to have children, Henry the blind married his second wife
Agnes of Gelderland. Agnes bore a daughter,
Ermesinde and thus had broken the promise he had made to Baldwin. A war however ensued, with the result that Baldwin would be Henry's designated heir in
Namur.
Isabelle's father claimed his wrights of Namur, being son of Ermesinde. Henry V failed on his claim to rule Namur. Isabelle's parents wanted to make peace with Guy over a dispute of Namur. Isabelle became Guy's second wife; his first wife, Matilda had died one year earlier. Guy already had eight children with Matilda. Isabelle gave-birth to another eight children:
- Isabelle (d. 1323), married 1307 Jean de Fiennes, Lord of Tingry and Chatelain of Bourbourg
- Philippa (d. 1306, Paris)
- Jeanne (d. 1296), a nun at Flines
Guy arranged a marriage between their daughter Philippa and
Edward, Prince of Wales. However, Philip imprisoned Guy and two of his sons, forced him to call off the marriage, and imprisoned Philippa in
Paris until her death in 1306. Guy was summoned before the king again in 1296, and the principal cities of Flanders were taken under royal protection until Guy paid an idemnity and surrendered his territories, to hold them at the grace of the king.
Isabelle died in the September of 1298 , he husband died six years later, in 1304.