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Isabella GabsbyrgskayaQueen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden
Date of Birth: 18.07.1501
Country:  Belgium |
Content:
Biography of Isabella of Habsburg
Isabella of Habsburg, also known as Isabella of Burgundy, Isabella of Austria, and Isabella of Castile, was born on an unknown date. She was the daughter of King Philip I of Castile and Joanna of Castile, and the sister of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Isabella was born into a royal family and held various titles including Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Archduchess of Austria, Infanta of Spain, and Princess of Burgundy.
Marriage and Family
On July 11, 1514, Isabella married Christian II, the King of Denmark, in a ceremony where the groom was absent. Instead, her grandfather, Emperor Maximilian I, stood in for the groom. A year later, the Archbishop of Norway arrived to accompany Isabella to Copenhagen, and on August 12, 1515, the official marriage took place. Isabella was crowned and given the name Elizabeth.
During the first year of their marriage, Isabella's relationship with King Christian II was chilly. The king had been involved with his mistress, Dyveke Sigbritsdatter, since 1507 and had no intention of leaving her for his young wife. However, the situation changed in 1517 when Dyveke died, possibly from poisoning. In the following years, Isabella's relationship with her husband significantly improved.
Isabella and Christian II had three children together. Their son, Hans, was born in 1518 and died in 1531. Their daughter, Dorothea, born in 1520, married Friedrich II, Elector Palatine. Their second daughter, Christina, born in 1521, became Duchess of Milan and gained fame thanks to a portrait painted by Hans Holbein the Younger when the English King Henry VIII was seeking a bride.
Later Years
In 1523, Christian II was overthrown by nobles supporting his uncle, Frederick. The new king sought to maintain good relations with Isabella's family and personally wrote a letter to Germany offering her a pension as a widowed queen. He also allowed her to stay in Denmark under his protection while Christian II fled to the Netherlands.
However, Isabella responded with a letter beginning with the words "ubi rex meus, ibi regna mea" (Latin for "where my king is, there is my kingdom"). She left Denmark with her husband and children. Unfortunately, Isabella passed away at the age of 24, leaving behind a legacy as a member of the influential Habsburg family.
