Isabella, Countess of Foix facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Isabella
suo jure Countess of Foix
Seal of Isabella
Reign	1399-1428
Born	before 2 November 1361
Died	1428
Buried	Abbey of Boulbonne
Noble family	Foix
Spouse(s)	Archambaud de Grailly
Issue	John I, Count of Foix Gaston of Foix Archambaud of Foix Matthew of Foix Peter, Archbishop of Arles
Father	Roger Bernard V, Viscount of Castelbon
Mother	Gerauda of Navailles

Isabella of Foix (born before November 2, 1361 – died 1428) was an important noblewoman in France. She was the Countess of Foix and Viscountess of Béarn from 1399 until her death. Isabella inherited these important titles from her family. She shared her power with her husband, Archambaud de Grailly, and later with her son. She became countess after her brother, Matthew, died without children.

Life of Isabella of Foix

Isabella was the daughter of Roger Bernard V, Viscount of Castelbon. Her mother was Gerauda of Navailles. Isabella was the oldest of three children. Her two brothers were Matthew and Roger Bernard, who died when he was young.

Isabella married Archambaud de Grailly in 1381.

Becoming Countess of Foix

After her younger brother Matthew died in 1398, Isabella was the last living member of the House of Foix. She inherited a large area of land, especially in the Pyrenees mountains.

However, the King of France, Charles VI of France, did not want Isabella to inherit this land. This was because her husband, Archambaud, had supported England during the Hundred Years' War. The French king wanted to make sure that Foix stayed loyal to France.

So, a French army invaded Foix and took control of many parts of it. To solve this problem, Isabella and her husband agreed to follow the French Crown. In 1399, they signed the Treaty of Tarbes. This treaty allowed Isabella to become countess. In return, her husband had to stop supporting England. Also, their two oldest sons had to go to the royal court.

The family of Foix then showed their loyalty to France. In 1412, Archambaud was given an important job as lieutenant-general of the Languedoc region.

In 1402, Isabella and Archambaud arranged a marriage for their oldest son, John. He was to marry Joan, the oldest daughter of Charles III of Navarre. This marriage was meant to create a strong link between Foix and Navarre. Sadly, Joan died in 1413 without having any children. This meant the plan for a union between Foix and Navarre did not happen.

Foix was also a neighbor of the Crown of Aragon. Relations improved after 1400. The King of Aragon, Martin of Aragon, gave Isabella back the county of Castelbon. He had taken it from her brother in 1386.

Archambaud died in 1413. Isabella died in 1428. She was buried in the Abbey of Boulbonne, where her ancestors were also laid to rest.

Isabella's Children

Isabella and Archambaud had several children:

• John (born around 1382 – died May 4, 1436). He became John I, Count of Foix. He married three times. He had two sons with his second wife, Jeanne d'Albret. Jeanne was the daughter of Charles I of Albret, a French military leader.
• Gaston (died after 1455). He married Margaret d'Albret.
• Archambaud (died September 10, 1419). He married Sancha de Cabrera and had a daughter named Isabelle.
• Matthew (died December 1453). He married Margaret, Countess of Comminges, but they had no children. He later married Catherine of Coarraze and had two daughters.
• Peter (1386 – December 13, 1464). He became the Archbishop of Arles.

See also

In Spanish: Isabel de Castellbó para niños