Isabella of Valois, Duchess of Bourbon

Isabella of Valois (1313 – 26 July 1383) was duchess of Bourbon by marriage to Peter I, Duke of Bourbon. Following her husband's death at Poiters, she took the veil. Isabella died 26 July 1383, aged seventy.

Life Isabella was the daughter of Charles of Valois by his third wife Mahaut of Châtillon. On 25 January 1336 she married Peter I, Duke of Bourbon, son of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon and Mary of Avesnes. Peter and Isabella had only one son, Louis and seven daughters. Her husband died at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, and Isabella never remarried.

After her husband's death Isabella's son Louis became the Duke of Bourbon. In the same year 1356, Isabella arranged for her daughter Joanna to marry Charles V of France; as he was at the time the Dauphin of France, Joanna duly became Dauphine.

She had as her butler Jean Saulnier, knight, lord of Thoury-sur-Abron, councilor and Grand Chamberlain of France and bailiff of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.

In 1369, the mercenaries led by Bernard de la Salle, Bernard de Wisk and Hortingo de la Salle besieged her residence, the Belleperche Castle, but they were expelled by the troops of her son, the Duke of Bourbon and the Duke of Burgundy. However, Isabella was taken hostage, and was ransomed by King Charles V of France in 1372.

Upon becoming a widow, Isabella took the veil. She died on 26 July 1383 at the age of seventy. She was buried in Eglise des Frères Mineurs in Paris.

Issue Isabella and Peter had: Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, 1337-1410, became Duke of Bourbon in 1356 married Anne of Auvergne had issue. Joanna of Bourbon, 1338-1378, married King Charles V of France, had issue. Blanche of Bourbon, 1339-1361, married King Peter of Castile, she was murdered by him in 1361 and had no issue. Bonne of Bourbon, 1341-1402, married Amadeus VI of Savoy, by whom she had issue. Catherine of Bourbon, 1342-1427, married John VI of Harcourt Margaret of Bourbon, 1344-1416, married Arnaud Amanieu, Lord of Albret, by whom she had issue. Isabelle of Bourbon, 1345-1345, died young Marie of Bourbon, 1347-1401, prioress of

Ancestors