Description
Ysabel of Valois’ life was shaped by power, diplomacy and tragedy. As the eldest daughter of King Charles VI of France, she was married at six years old to Richard II, king of England, bringing her dolls in her trousseau to a foreign land. A political pawn throughout her life, she was virtually held hostage by Henry IV following Richard’s deposition and death, and after her return to France she was married off to Charles, Duke of Orléans.
This first independent biography of Ysabel for over 120 years places her remarkable story within the wider context of the French and English medieval courts, revealing the politics, ceremonies and material culture that framed her life. Through Ysabel’s tragic story, a turbulent era of English and French history is brought vividly to life.
