Isabella of Angouleme, Queen of England

Image © Jone Johnson Lewis

Isabella of Angoulême was married at age 12 to John of England, the king who signed the Magna Carta, and youngest son of Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry II. Their relationship was fiery, producing five children including the future King Henry III. As a widow she returned to France where she married without the permission of England that the English expected her to request; she and her husband had nine children before she ended up in hiding after a major scandal involving the French king. Read more: Isabella of Angouleme.