However, her influence was limited by the king’s favoritism and the hostility of the English nobility toward her French origins. The queen’s frustration grew as Edward increasingly favored his male favorites over his queen and the traditional nobility.
The Rise of the Despensers and Court Intrigue
The downfall of Isabella’s position was largely tied to the rise of the Despenser family, particularly Hugh Despenser the Younger. His influence over Edward II marginalized Isabella and her supporters.
The Despensers acquired vast lands and power, antagonizing many nobles and isolating the queen. Isabella’s requests to remove the Despensers went unheeded, deepening her alienation.
Her relationship with Edward deteriorated, and the court became a hotbed of factional rivalry.
The Turning Point: Isabella’s Rebellion
In 1325, Isabella was sent to France to negotiate peace between England and France. Instead of returning to England with the king’s authority, she allied herself with Roger Mortimer, a powerful English nobleman who had escaped captivity in England.
Together, Isabella and Mortimer gathered support from disaffected English nobles and launched an invasion of England in 1326. This bold move marked the beginning of the queen’s rebellion. shutdown123