Isabella de Fortibus
Encyclopedia
Isabella de Fortibus (or de Forz) (July 1237 – 10 November 1293) was the eldest daughter of Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon
. At the age of 11 or 12 she became the second wife of William de Fortibus
(or Forz) who owned land in Yorkshire and Cumberland and was the count of Aumale
in Normandy
. When he died in 1260 part of his estates (her "dower lands") were granted to her. Two years later, in 1262 her brother Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon
, died and left her his lands in Devon
, Hampshire
, the Isle of Wight
and Harewood in Yorkshire. She was in her mid-twenties and was one of the richest heiresses in England. She subsequently called herself countess of Aumale and of Devon, and lady of the Isle (of Wight).
Despite the younger Simon de Montfort (second son of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
) acquiring the rights to her remarriage in 1264, she would not marry him and hid for some time in Breamore Priory
in Hampshire and later in Wales. In 1268 her marriage was granted to Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster
, son of Henry III
, but she did not marry him either. Her daughter Aveline
did marry Edmund in 1269, but died four years later, aged 15. Isabella outlived all six of her children.
From 1262 she lived mainly on the Isle of Wight (which she owned), at Carisbrooke Castle
. Many of her estate accounts have survived and have been subjected to much study. Her net income in the 1260s is known to have risen from £1,500 to £2,500. She apparently owned her own copy of the statute
s of the realm and was very litigious
—with her advisers she prosecuted dozens of cases, both civil and criminal, through the judiciary
.
It is known that Edward I
had long wanted to acquire Isabella's estates; he proposed that she sell her southern lands to him in 1276, but the transfer did not take place. After her daughter Aveline—her last heir—had died, one John de Eston was found (against expectations) by a jury to be Isabella's next heir. In 1278 this John de Eston quitclaimed her lands in the north and the comté of Aumale and its associated lands to the crown. In 1293 the king reopened negotiations to acquire Isabella's southern lands. While travelling from Canterbury, Isabella was taken ill and stopped near Lambeth. One of Edward's favourite servants, Walter Langton
, rushed to her and wrote a charter to confirm the sale of the Isle of Wight to the king. It was read to the dying Isabella, who ordered her lady of the bedchamber to seal it. She died in the early morning of 10 November 1293 and was buried at Breamore Priory in Hampshire.
Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon
Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon and Lord of the Isle was the son of Baldwin de Redvers and Margaret FitzGerold and grandson of William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon.-Family and children:...
. At the age of 11 or 12 she became the second wife of William de Fortibus
William de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle
William III de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle played a conspicuous part in the reign of Henry III of England, notably in the Mad Parliament of 1258.He married:# Christina William III de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle (died 1260) (Latinised as de Fortibus) played a conspicuous part in the reign of Henry...
(or Forz) who owned land in Yorkshire and Cumberland and was the count of Aumale
Aumale
Aumale is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in north-western France.-Geography:A village of farming and associated light industry, situated in the valley of the Bresle River of the Norman Pays de Bray in Normandy on the border with Picardie. It is around ...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. When he died in 1260 part of his estates (her "dower lands") were granted to her. Two years later, in 1262 her brother Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon
Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon
Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon and Lord of the Isle was the son of Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon and Amicia de Clare, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford. He succeeded at the age of ten....
, died and left her his lands in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and Harewood in Yorkshire. She was in her mid-twenties and was one of the richest heiresses in England. She subsequently called herself countess of Aumale and of Devon, and lady of the Isle (of Wight).
Despite the younger Simon de Montfort (second son of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
) acquiring the rights to her remarriage in 1264, she would not marry him and hid for some time in Breamore Priory
Breamore Priory
Breamore Priory was a priory of Austin canons in Breamore, Hampshire, England.-Foundation:The priory was founded some time towards the end of the reign of Henry I by Baldwin de Redvers and his uncle Hugh de Redvers.-Dissolution:...
in Hampshire and later in Wales. In 1268 her marriage was granted to Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster
Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster
Edmund of Crouchback, 1st Earl of Leicester and Lancaster , was the second surviving son of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence. In his childhood he had a claim on the Kingdom of Sicily. His nickname refers to his participation in the Ninth Crusade.-Childhood:Edmund was born in London...
, son of Henry III
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...
, but she did not marry him either. Her daughter Aveline
Aveline de Forz
Aveline de Forz , Countess of Aumale and Lady of Holderness, was a British noble.Aveline was born at Burstwick in Holderness to William de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle and Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon. In 1269, she married Edmund Crouchback, the second son of Henry III of England, at...
did marry Edmund in 1269, but died four years later, aged 15. Isabella outlived all six of her children.
From 1262 she lived mainly on the Isle of Wight (which she owned), at Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke, near Newport, Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.-Early history:...
. Many of her estate accounts have survived and have been subjected to much study. Her net income in the 1260s is known to have risen from £1,500 to £2,500. She apparently owned her own copy of the statute
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
s of the realm and was very litigious
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
—with her advisers she prosecuted dozens of cases, both civil and criminal, through the judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
.
It is known that Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
had long wanted to acquire Isabella's estates; he proposed that she sell her southern lands to him in 1276, but the transfer did not take place. After her daughter Aveline—her last heir—had died, one John de Eston was found (against expectations) by a jury to be Isabella's next heir. In 1278 this John de Eston quitclaimed her lands in the north and the comté of Aumale and its associated lands to the crown. In 1293 the king reopened negotiations to acquire Isabella's southern lands. While travelling from Canterbury, Isabella was taken ill and stopped near Lambeth. One of Edward's favourite servants, Walter Langton
Walter Langton
Walter Langton was a bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and treasurer of England.He was probably a native of Langton West in Leicestershire....
, rushed to her and wrote a charter to confirm the sale of the Isle of Wight to the king. It was read to the dying Isabella, who ordered her lady of the bedchamber to seal it. She died in the early morning of 10 November 1293 and was buried at Breamore Priory in Hampshire.