Isabeau of Bavaria

Isabeau of Bavaria (also Isabella of Bavaria-Ingolstadt; c. 1370 – 24 September 1435) was Queen consort of France (1385-1422) as spouse of King Charles VI of France, a member of the Valois Dynasty. She assumed a prominent role in public affairs during the disastrous later years of her husband's reign.

Posterity has not been kind to Isabeau of Bavaria. A popular saying late in her life was that France had been lost by a woman and would be recovered by a girl. Many took this to be a prediction of Joan of Arc.

In fairness to Isabeau it must be noted that her leadership confronted double prejudice as a woman and a foreigner. There are a few bright spots in her reign, such as her artistic patronage. Isabeau aided the era's most significant French author Christine de Pizan and sponsored artisans who developed innovative techniques in decorative arts.…more