Isabella de Braose

Isabella, Princess of Wales and Lady of Snowdon ( – ) was the eldest daughter of William de Braose, Lord of Abergavenny, and his wife Eva Marshal (daughter of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke). Isabella was married to Dafydd II, Prince of Wales, though their marriage proved childless.

Marriage

William de Braose, Lord of Abergavenny, one of the most powerful barons in the Welsh Marches, had been captured in battle by Llywelyn, Prince of Gwynedd, in 1228.

Later life

Dafydd became ruler of Gwynedd and the prominent Welsh leader following Llywelyn's death in 1240, and was recognised as Prince of Wales by his uncle, King Henry III of England. Isabella's marriage with Dafydd proved childless. Her dowry of the lordship and castle of Builth was contested by the English crown, and with the 1247 Treaty of Woodstock it was transferred to the crown. However, as heiress of her mother Isabella did inherit the castle of Haverfordwest, lands in Caerleon and in Glamorgan. Additionally, she inherited livestock and other property in Welsh law as widow of Prince Dafydd. The cattle were transferred to the land of the Earl of Gloucester in August 1246.

Historical novels

Princess Isabella appears as a minor character in several historical novels: Raymond Foxall (1959) Song for a Prince: The Story of Llywelyn the Great covers the period from King John's invasion in 1211 to the execution of William de Braose. Sharon Kay Penman (1985) Here be Dragons Isabella appears as a minor character wed to Dafydd, Prince of Wales. Edith Pargeter (1960–63) "The Heaven Tree Trilogy" features Llywelyn, Joan, William de Braose, and several of Llywelyn's sons as major characters, amongst them Dafydd with Isabella appearing as his wife.