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Isabella of Austria

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This article is about the wife of Christian II of Denmark. For the third wife of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, seeInfanta Isabel, Duchess of Burgundy.
Isabella of Austria
Portrait byMabuse
Queen consort of DenmarkandNorway
Tenure12 August 1515 – 20 January 1523
Coronation12 August 1515
Copenhagen Castle
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure1 November 1520 – 23 August 1521
Born18 July 1501
Brussels,Duchy of Brabant,Holy Roman Empire
Died19 January 1526(1526-01-19)(aged 24)
Ghent,County of Flanders,Holy Roman Empire
Burial
St. Peter's Abbey, Ghent(1526–1883)
St. Canute's Cathedral, Odense(since 1883)
Spouse
​
​
(m.1514)​
Issue
among others...
HouseHabsburg
FatherPhilip the Handsome
MotherJoanna of Castile

Isabella of Austria(Isabel;18 July 1501 – 19 January 1526), also known asElizabeth,was born anArchduchessofAustriaandInfanta of Castilefrom theHouse of Habsburg,and subsequently becameQueen of Denmark,NorwayandSweden,under theKalmar Union,as the wife of KingChristian II.She was the daughter of KingPhilip Iand QueenJoannaofCastileand the sister ofCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor.She ruled Denmark asregentin 1520.[1]

Her upbringing, overseen by her aunt ArchduchessMargaret,was marked by a comprehensive education inMechelenunder the guidance of notablehumanistslikeJuan Luis VivesandAdrian of Utrecht.In 1514, she entered into astrategic marriagewith Christian II of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, the marriage encountered early challenges with diplomatic tensions arising from Christian II's existing relationship withDyveke Sigbritsdatter,his Dutchmistress.Following Dyveke's death in 1517 the relations between Isabella and her husband significantly improved, and Isabella was entrusted with the position ofregentin 1520 and political advisor to the king.[2]

In 1523, her husband, King Christian II, was deposed. The political upheaval prompted the Danish royal family, including Isabella and her children, to seek refuge in various European states, such asEngland,Saxonyand theHabsburg Netherlands.During this exile, Isabella strongly advocated for her husband's cause. In 1524, she participated in theImperial DietinNürnberg,where she campaigned on behalf of King Christian II, seeking support for his restoration to theDanish throne.[3]

Her travels through Germany, England, and the Netherlands contributed to her evolving religious sympathies for theProtestantmovement.[4]Isabella's death in 1526 prompted widespread mourning. She received both Protestant and Catholic communion, but the Habsburgs declared that she had died a fervent Catholic.

Childhood and marriage

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Portrait of Isabella, age 2. Isabella is on the right. She is pictured with her brotherCharlesand her sisterEleanor.

Isabella was born on 18 July 1501 inBrusselsas the third child ofPhilip the Handsome,ruler of theHabsburg NetherlandsandJoanna the Mad,heiress to the Spanish kingdoms ofCastileandAragon.Her father was the son of the reigningHoly Roman EmperorMaximilian Iand his deceased consortMary, Duchess of Burgundy,while her mother was the daughter ofthe Catholic MonarchsFerdinand II of AragonandIsabella I of Castile,after whom she is named. She was baptized in Brussels by theBishop of Cambrai,Henri de Berghes.

She had two older siblings,EleanorandCharles,as well as three younger siblingsFerdinand,MaryandCatherine.Isabella and her siblings were considered the "noblest children" of her time. Her brothers became the most powerful men in Europe as Holy Roman Emperors. Her sisters became queens inPortugalandFrance,BohemiaandHungary,and Portugal, respectively.

Upbringing at Mechelen

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Following the early death of Isabella's father in September 1506, her mother's mental health began to deteriorate. Isabella, along with her brother, Charles, and her sisters, Eleanor and Mary, was put into the care of her paternal aunt,Archduchess Margaret,governor of theHabsburg Netherlands,while the two other siblings, Ferdinand and Catherine, remained inCastile.Eleanor, Isabella, and Mary were educated together at their aunt's court inMechelen.[5]

Margaret, a wise, staunch Catholic, and politically experienced woman, played a significant role in shaping Isabella's upbringing. Under her aunt's care, Isabella received a comprehensive education from the learnedrenaissance humanistsof the time. Her upbringing at the opulentcourt in Mechelenafforded Isabella the finest education of her time, and among her notable tutors wereJuan Luis Vivesand the laterPope Adrian VI,who was associated with thepre-Reformation movementknown as the "Brethren of the Common Life."The Brethren were viewed favourably byMartin LutherandPhilipp Melanchthonfor their emphasis on Christiandevotionandself-sacrifice.Many members of this movement later aligned with theProtestant causein its divergence from the authority of thepapal church.[6][2]

In her education, Isabella received instruction from Vives, coveringGreekandLatinstudies. The curriculum included a focus on theGospels,St. Paul's Epistles,and select portions of theOld Testament.[7]

Margaret acted as a maternal figure to her brother's children, and in October 1507, she informed her father, EmperorMaximilian I,who closely followed and actively participated in matters concerning his grandchildren, of Isabella and Maria contractingmeasles,with Eleonora showing symptoms. Due to thecontagiousnature of the disease and winter conditions, Margaret and ArchdukeCharlesopted to stay inBrusselsrather than returning to Mechelen as initially intended.[8]

The household of the imperial children was headed by FirstChamberlain,Charles de Croy-Chimayand Grand Mistress (stewardess)Anna de Beaumont,a Spanish-Navarresenoblewomanof French origin, who had beenJuana’sformerlady-in-waiting,arriving in theLow Countrieswith the duchess in 1498.[9][10]

Matrimonial negotiations

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Margaret heavily participated in the marriage negotiations of her nieces, including Isabella's. In 1509, Isabella's grandfather EmperorMaximilianproposedHenry of Navarre,son ofJohn III,as a possible spouse, but the proposition was presumably dismissed by Margaret. By 1510, there were discussions about Isabel’s possible marriage toCharles II, Duke of Guelders,son ofAdolf, Duke of Guelders.However, both Margaret and Maximilian harbored reservations about sending the young princess toGuelders,questioning the match's prestige. The Lord of Guelders held a lower rank as a duke, and their family's objective was to wed their daughters into royal houses.[11]

Isabella's fortune, her succession rights, and her connections made her a valuable pawn in the royal marriage market. In 1513,Copenhagenhosted negotiations for the topic of the new KingChristian II's marriage, leading to an agreement to pursue one ofPhilip the Beautiful's daughters. This alliance promised strategic advantages, creating kinship with the emperor and making King Christian the brother-in-law of ArchdukeCharles,a powerful figure in key Dutch cities. Furthermore,Habsburg-Austrianprincesses were known for substantialdowries.[12][6]King Christian enlisted the help of his uncle,Frederick III, Elector of Saxony,who, well-connected with the Emperor, inquired about suitable matches at theImperial Court.In late October and early November, a national assembly inViborgrevisited the matrimonial issue, resolving to send anembassyto Emperor Maximilian for the formal proposal of Archduchess Isabella's hand.Bishop Gottschalk von Ahlefeldt,alongside CouncilorsMogens GjøandAlbert Jepsen Ravensberg,was chosen to lead this envoy.[13]

Wedding ringof Isabella; made ofgoldand adorned with an uncutsapphire.It bears the inscription: "Ave Maria gratia plena",i.e. the beginning ofHail Mary,the traditionalCatholic prayer.

The king of Denmark had first intended to marry Isabella's eldest sisterEleanor of Austria,but the Habsburgs considered Eleanor too valuable for the throne of Denmark, because as the eldest sister, there was a likelihood that her progeny may succeed. Therefore, Isabella was selected for the Danish king. The Emperor expressed approval for the potential alliance with Denmark, a sentiment that found favor in theLow Countries.This alliance was viewed as a strategic opportunity to enhance trade access to theBalticfor merchants fromBrugesandAmsterdam.[14] The envoyship reached the imperial court inLinzin early April, engaging in month-long negotiations culminating in the signing of a marriage contract on 29 April 1514. The substantial dowry amounted to 250,000Rhenishgulden,approximately equal to 800 millionDKKtoday[15](about 118 millionUSD), with contributions from Spain and theBurgundian territories.Princess Isabella was also assured an annual income of 25,000 Rhenishgulden.[16]

On 11 July 1514, one week short of her 13th birthday, Isabella wasmarried by proxyto King Christian II of Denmark with Emperor Maximilian I, her grandfather, standing in for the king. TheBishop of Cambrai,Jacob van Croÿ[nl],presided over the wedding which was conducted at theBrussels Palace.

She remained in the Netherlands, but is said to have fallen in love with her spouse at the sight of his painting, and asked to be taken to Denmark. A year after the wedding, theArchbishop of Nidaros,Erik Valkendorf[da],was sent to escort her toCopenhagen.The Danish fleet arrived inVeere,Zeelandon 1 July 1515, and later than month, a tearful Isabella departed on 16 July 1515.[17]The fleet encountered a violent tempest, that dispersed the Danish convoy along the shores ofJutland.The vessel carrying the Queen narrowly averted shipwreck, and upon safely reachingHelsingørin the start of August, she penned a poignant letter to the Margaret: "Madame, if I could choose for myself, I should be with you now; for to be parted from you is the most grievous thing in the world to me".[18]Isabella and Christian had their initial encounter atHvidøre,Christian II's summer residence, where he greeted her with an elaborate entourage of over 1000 individuals.[19]

The marriage was ratified on 12 August 1515, when she was 14 years old.

Queen

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Portrait of Isabella around the time of her marriage by theMaster of the Legend of the Magdalen,c. 1515.

Isabella was crowned Queen of Denmark and Norway, the same day of her matrimonial ratification, on 12 August 1515 atCopenhagen Castleby theArchbishop of Lund,Birger Gunnersen[sv;da;no].[20]She began using another version of her name, Elisabeth, but the relationship between her and her new family and Christian was quite cool during the first years of the marriage. The King's Dutch mistress,Dyveke Sigbritsdatter,had been with him since 1507, and he was not about to give her up for a teenager. Dyveke's mother,Sigbrit Willoms,was also influential at court, and Isabella was given less influence than both of them. This angered the Emperor, and caused some diplomatic strife between him and King Christian, but the matter was resolved when Dyveke died in 1517, and Isabella's relationship with her husband improved vastly over the next few years; her relationship with Sigbrit Willoms improved as well, and both women acted as political advisors to the king. From 1516,Anne Meinstrupwas headlady-in-waitingof her court.

In 1520, Christian took the throne of Sweden, thereby making Isabella Queen of Sweden. After taking Stockholm, he asked the Swedish representatives to turn it and the regency of Sweden over to Isabella if he himself should die when his children were minors. She was to be the last Queen of Sweden who was also Queen of Denmark during theKalmar union,but she in fact never visited Sweden; pregnant at the time of her spouse's accession to the throne of Sweden, she did not follow him there. Isabella served as the regent of Denmark during Christian's stay in Sweden.[1]Her husband was deposed as king of Sweden the following year. King Christian imprisoned many Swedish noblewomen, related to rebellious Swedish nobles, at the infamousBlåtårn( "Blue Tower" ) of Copenhagen Castle, includingChristina Gyllenstierna,Cecilia MånsdotterandMargareta Eriksdotter Vasa.Gustav I of Swedenused their purported harsh treatment in captivity in his propaganda against Christian II and claimed that the Danish monarch starved the women and children, who only survived by the mercy shown to them by the queen of Denmark, Isabella of Austria.[21]

When King Christian was deposed in 1523 by disloyal noblemen supporting his uncle, DukeFrederick,the new king wanted to be on good terms with Isabella's family. He wrote her a personal letter in her nativeGerman,offering her a dowager queen's pension and permitting her to stay in Denmark under his protection while King Christian fled to theLow Countries.But Isabella replied inLatin"ubi rex meus, ibi regnum meum"(" where my king is, there is my kingdom ").

Exile

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Three children of Christian II and Isabella: (Dorothea, John and Christina), byJan Mabuse,1526.

Isabella left Denmark with her husband and their children after her husband was deposed in 1523 and travelled to the Netherlands. Isabella and Christian travelled around Germany in an attempt to gain help for Christian's restoration to the throne. Isabella made her own negotiations with her relatives, and also accompanied her husband on his travels.[22]

The Danish royal family then journeyed to England. While in England, they had an audience withHenry VIIIat theRoyal Palace in Greenwichand were later accommodated atHampton Court Palace.[23]They visitedSaxonyin 1523 andBerlinin 1523–1524. In Berlin, Isabella became interested in the teachings ofLuther,and felt sympathy for Protestantism,[22]however she never converted officially. When she visitedNürnbergin 1524, she received communion in the Protestant way, which so enraged her birth family, the Habsburgs, that Christian decided that she should hide her Protestant views in the future, for political reasons.[22]

In the spring of 1525, Isabella caught some kind of serious illness, which worsened after she travelled through a storm later that year, and lasted all summer. The former queen died at the castle ofZwijnaardenear Ghent aged twenty-four, on 19 January 1526. She received both Protestant and Catholic communion, but the Habsburgs declared that she had died a convinced Catholic.[22]Her religious sympathies, and whether she was a Protestant or a Catholic after 1524, have been debated. At her deathbed, she gave the cause of her husband's restoration to her aunt, the regent of the Netherlands,Margaret of Austria.She was buried on 4 February 1526 at theSaint Peter's Abbey, Ghent.

Isabella's early death was mourned not only in theLow Countriesbut also in her husband's realms. Nationwide funeral services were held, and expressions of grief were widespread for the Princess known as "the mother of her people." Testimonies to her worth were abundant, including a letter fromHenry VIIIof England, who regarded her as a sister.Martin Lutheralso paid tribute to her in his treatise on Holy Women.[24]

Her fifteenth generation great-granddaughter,Princess Isabella of Denmark,was named after her.

Cultural depictions

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Literature

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  • Bruden fra Gent(English:The Bride from Ghent) – a 2003 historic novel byDorrit Willumsenabout King Christian II, Dyveke and mother Sigbrit, and about the marriage in 1515 with the only 14-year-old Elisabeth.

Issue

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Name Birth Death Notes
John 21 February 1518 1532 died young.
Philip Ferdinand 4 July 1519 1519 twin, died in infancy.
Maximilian 4 July 1519 1519 twin, died in infancy
Dorothea 10 November 1520 31 May 1580 married in 1535,Frederick II, Elector Palatineand had no issue.
Christina November 1521 10 December 1590 married in 1533,Francesco II Sforzaand had no issue, married secondly in 1541,Francis I, Duke of Lorraineand had issue.
Unnamed son January 1523 January 1523 stillborn.

Ancestry

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Bibliography

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  • Cartwright, Julia (1913).Christina of Denmark: Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590.E.P. Dutton.ISBN978-0-404-09205-4.
  • Heiberg, Steffen, ed. (2001).Danske dronninger i tusind år(2. udg., 1. opl ed.). København:Gyldendal.ISBN978-87-00-75146-0.
  • Jørgensen, G. (1901).Dronning Elisabeth af Danmark(in Danish). G.E.C. Gad.ISBN978-1172156450.
  • Olsen, Rikke Agnete (2005).Kongerækken.København:Lindhardt og Ringhof.ISBN978-87-595-2525-8.

References

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  1. ^abAnne J. Duggan: Queens and queenship in medieval Europe
  2. ^abOlsen 2005,p. 132.
  3. ^Heiberg 2001,p. 42.
  4. ^"Elisabeth, Christian 2.s dronning | lex.dk".Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon(in Danish). 2023-04-22.Retrieved2024-01-14.
  5. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 18-19.
  6. ^abHeiberg 2001,p. 41.
  7. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 6.
  8. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 22.
  9. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 29.
  10. ^Ylä-Anttila 2019,p. 71.
  11. ^Ylä-Anttila 2019,p. 73.
  12. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 37.
  13. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 38-39.
  14. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 12.
  15. ^"Inflationsberegner 1900-2023".Finansanalyser.2023-12-20.Retrieved2024-01-13.
  16. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 46-47.
  17. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 14.
  18. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 15.
  19. ^Jørgensen 1901,p. 68-72.
  20. ^Skipper 2006,p. 143.
  21. ^Tegenborg Falkdalen, Karin, Margareta Regina: vid Gustav Vasas sida: [en biografi över Margareta Leijonhufvud (1516–1551)], Setterblad, Stockholm, 2016
  22. ^abcdDansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon
  23. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 37-39.
  24. ^Cartwright 1913,p. 46-48.
  25. ^abWurzbach, Constantin von,ed. (1861)."Habsburg, Philipp I. der Schöne von Oesterreich".Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich[Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 112 – viaWikisource.
  26. ^abChisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Joanna".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  27. ^abHolland, Arthur William (1911)."Maximilian I. (emperor)".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  28. ^abPoupardin, René(1911)."Charles, called The Bold, duke of Burgundy".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  29. ^abChisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Ferdinand V. of Castile and Leon and II. of Aragon".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  30. ^abChisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Isabella of Castile".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toIsabella of Austria.
Isabella of Austria
Born:18 July 1501Died:19 January 1526
Royal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Christina of Saxony 		Queen consort of DenmarkandNorway
1515–1523 		Succeeded by
Queen consort of Sweden
1520–1521 		Vacant
Title next held by
Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg
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