Isabel de Bolebec
Encyclopedia
Isabel de Bolebec, Countess of Oxford (1165 – 3 February 1245) was eldest daughter and co-heiress of Hugh II de Bolebec, lord of Whitchurch
, Buckinghamshire
, England
(d. c. 1166) and his wife Margaret de Montfichet. Isabel was a patroness of the Order of Friars Preacher (Dominicans
) in England. She was always referred to as Isabel or Isabella de Bolebec after her second marriage to Robert de Vere
in contemporary documents. She eventually inherited the entire Bolebec barony.
, later heir to the earldom of Oxford.
Isabel's only known child, Hugh de Vere
(later fourth earl of Oxford), was born within a year of her marriage to Robert de Vere and Isabel became countess of Oxford when Robert inherited the earldom from his brother in 1214.
Robert joined the barons whose dissatisfaction with King John of England
prompted their rebellion, and he was one of twenty-five barons elected by the terms of Magna Carta
to ensure the John's continued good behaviour. That position led to his excommunication
when Pope Innocent III released John from the terms of Magna Carta, and the king took Castle Hedingham
, Essex, the Earl's seat, in 1216.
Robert made peace with the regents of John's son, Henry III of England
, in 1217 and eventually served as a royal judge until his death in 1222. The widowed Countess Isabel purchased the wardship of her minor son and his inheritance for 6000 marks. They traveled together on pilgrimage "beyond the sea" in 1237.
s in 1221 to find quarters in the city of Oxford
, contributing to the building of their oratory
there c. 1227. When they needed a larger priory
, she and the bishop of Carlisle
bought land south of Oxford and contributed most of the funds and materials needed. She was buried in the new church there.
The countess was litigious, engaging in a number of lawsuits, including one long dispute with Woburn Abbey
.
Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire
Whitchurch is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about four miles south of Winslow, four miles north of Aylesbury and has approximately 850 residents....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(d. c. 1166) and his wife Margaret de Montfichet. Isabel was a patroness of the Order of Friars Preacher (Dominicans
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
) in England. She was always referred to as Isabel or Isabella de Bolebec after her second marriage to Robert de Vere
Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
Robert de Vere was the second surviving son of Aubrey de Vere III, first earl of Oxford, and Agnes of Essex. Almost nothing of his life is known until he married in 1207 the widow Isabel de Bolebec, the aunt and co-heiress of his deceased sister-in-law. The couple had one child, a son, Hugh,...
in contemporary documents. She eventually inherited the entire Bolebec barony.
Marriage
Isabel married first Henry of Nonant (Novaunt), Lord of Totnes, Devonshire who died childless in 1206. In 1207, she petitioned the Crown for the right to marry whom she wished. She received permission, and that same year she married Robert de VereRobert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
Robert de Vere was the second surviving son of Aubrey de Vere III, first earl of Oxford, and Agnes of Essex. Almost nothing of his life is known until he married in 1207 the widow Isabel de Bolebec, the aunt and co-heiress of his deceased sister-in-law. The couple had one child, a son, Hugh,...
, later heir to the earldom of Oxford.
Isabel's only known child, Hugh de Vere
Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford
Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford was an English nobleman and the only known child and heir of Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford.-Early Life:...
(later fourth earl of Oxford), was born within a year of her marriage to Robert de Vere and Isabel became countess of Oxford when Robert inherited the earldom from his brother in 1214.
Robert joined the barons whose dissatisfaction with King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
prompted their rebellion, and he was one of twenty-five barons elected by the terms of Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
to ensure the John's continued good behaviour. That position led to his excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
when Pope Innocent III released John from the terms of Magna Carta, and the king took Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham is a small village in northeast Essex, England, located four miles west of Halstead and is situated in the Colne Valley on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge....
, Essex, the Earl's seat, in 1216.
Robert made peace with the regents of John's son, Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, in 1217 and eventually served as a royal judge until his death in 1222. The widowed Countess Isabel purchased the wardship of her minor son and his inheritance for 6000 marks. They traveled together on pilgrimage "beyond the sea" in 1237.
Dominican Order
Isabel was one of the chief benefactors of the Dominican Order when the friars came to England. She assisted the friarFriar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s in 1221 to find quarters in the city of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, contributing to the building of their oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
there c. 1227. When they needed a larger priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, she and the bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
bought land south of Oxford and contributed most of the funds and materials needed. She was buried in the new church there.
The countess was litigious, engaging in a number of lawsuits, including one long dispute with Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey , near Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the seat of the Duke of Bedford and the location of the Woburn Safari Park.- Pre-20th century :...
.
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, "Isabel de Bolebec."
- Complete Peerage, "Robert De Vere, 3rd earl of Oxford", vol. X:210-3.
- Survey of the Antiquities of the city of Oxford...by Anthony Wood (Oxford Historical Society, 1890)
- Magna Charta Sureties 1215 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Page: 120-1, 154-3
- Burke's Peerage & Baronetage by John Burke, Page: 2498