The Hundred Years’ War was a long and chaotic struggle that actually lasted 116 years. From 1337 to 1453 England and France were just kind of nonstop at each other’s throats. We hear a lot about the battles and the kings, but what were some of the women of the time up to? Let’s get to know them today.
Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen of France
Yolande of Aragon, Duchess of Anjou
Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster
Joan of Navarre, Queen of England
Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England
Isabeau of Bavaria
Isabeau of Bavaria was Queen of France via her marriage to Charles VI. Poor baby Charles has gone down in history as Charles the Mad. Having her husband totally mentally check out lead the country to fall into a chaotic civil war all while also dealing with the ongoing Hundred Years War with England.
In this three-part series we start with things being kind of awesome. Isabeau and Charles are young and in love. The future is bright! But as his mental state decreases, more tough decisions fall on Isabeau and she had to make a tough call or two. This lead to her becoming one of the most hated women we’ve ever discussed on this show. She also had a fierce rivalry with our next queen…
Yolande of Aragon
Who was Yolande of Aragon, you ask? Only one of the most fascinating women in history. She was the Duchess of Anjou, Countess of Maine, and (disputed) Queen of Naples. You might be saying “but I thought this was a dispute between the French and English crowns“.
And you are right. However, after a strategic marriage alliance, Yolande found herself as Mother in Law to the next King of France, Charles VII. And when she found out that Isabeau of Bavaria was going to write him out of the line of succession in the 1420 Treaty of Troyes there was going to be hell to pay.
I wouldn’t fuck with Yolande and Isabeau felt the same way. This story is one of a hard headed woman who never took no for an answer and we love her for it.
Katherine Swynford
Katherine Swynford’s story is a little different than the others listed here. She was not born into royalty or wealth that lead her to control armies or determine policy. No, this is a love story. Katherine was the mistress of one of the most powerful dukes in England, John of Gaunt. Together they had many little Beaufort Babies who would (a few generations later) play a major part in the Wars of the Roses.
But just because she never signed a scandalous treaty doesn’t mean there isn’t lots of drama in this episode!
Joan of Navarre, Queen of England
Joan of Navarre did not need to remarry after her husband, the Duke of Brittany, died. In fact, it was totally inconvenient for her to remarry, but she fell in love.
We don’t get a lot of stories from the Middle Ages of kings and queens marrying for love, so it’s nice to know that this couple did. She married king Henry IV in 1403 which was a scandal because her new husband spent lavishly on her new bride and there was still this whole war going on. Later in her life, she would find herself in a sticky situation when her step son, Henry V, had her locked up for a time!
Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England
Margaret of Anjou walks the line between the Hundred Years War and The Wars of the Roses. Raised by her formidable grandmother, Yolande of Aragon, Margaret’s marriage to Henry VI of England was meant to end this pesky war once and for all.
And for the most part, it did. Unfortunately, her husband was a grandson of Isabuea of Bavaria and Charles “the mad”. So, her struggles and those of her grandmother in law are all too similar.