Isabella of France married Edward II in 1308, sealing an Anglo-French alliance. She was the daughter of the powerful French king Philip IV, and at first her role seemed conventional: queen, mother, diplomatic bridge between realms. But Edward’s reign fractured quickly. His reliance on controversial favorites—first Piers Gaveston, later Hugh Despenser the Younger—alienated much of the English nobility. Land seizures, political revenge, and military failures in Scotland deepened resentment. Isabel