Isabel Bruce

Isabel Bruce
Queen consort of Norway
Reign	1293–1299
Born	1272 Carrick, Scotland
Died	1358 Bergen, Norway
Spouse	Eric II of Norway
Issue	Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway
House	House of Bruce
Father	Robert de Brus, jure uxoris Earl of Carrick
Mother	Marjorie, Countess of Carrick

Isabel Bruce (Isabella de Brus or Isobail a Brus, or Isabella Robertsdotter Brus) (c. 1272 Carrick, Scotland – 1358, Bergen, Norway) was a Queen consort of Norway, married to King Eric II. ^[1]

Biography

Political context

Isabel's parents were Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. Her brothers included Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and Edward Bruce who briefly was High King of Ireland. In 1293 at the age of 21, she traveled to Norway with her father and was married at Bergen to King Eric. Her dowry for the marriage was recorded at the time by Norwegian nobleman Audun Hugleiksson who noted she brought: precious clothes, 2 golden boiler, 24 silver plate, 4 silver salt cellars and 12 two-handled soup bowls (scyphus) to the marriage. ^{[2] [3]}

Isabel was king Erik's second wife, he having previously been married to the daughter of King Alexander III of Scotland, Margaret of Scotland, who died in childbirth in 1283. Upon the death of King Alexander three years later, his granddaughter, Eric's daughter Margaret, Maid of Norway became heir to the throne of Scotland. King Eric arranged the marriage of his daughter to the English King Edward I's son Edward, which became moot upon the child's death in 1290. The death of Queen Margaret left Scotland without a monarch, and at the mercy of Edward I of England. ^[4]

Soon, John Balliol tried to take the Scottish crown with the aid of John Comyn, the Red Comyn. The Bruce family captured strongholds in Galloway, and fighting in the name of the Maid of Norway (Margaret), suppressed the rebellion with many important families like the Stewards supporting them. At the time of Isabel's marriage in 1293, her brother was one of the claimants to the Scottish throne. The Bruces were aligned with King Edward against King John Balliol and his Comyn allies. In 1306, Robert the Bruce was chosen to be King of Scot. British historian G.W.S. Barrow observed that King Eric's renewed contacts with Scotland "increased the ties of friendship which bound him to the English king."^[5]

Later life

Isabel was widowed, at age 26, at the death of King Eric in 1299. Erik was succeeded by his brother, King Haakon V of Norway who reigned until his own death in 1299. Isabel never remarried, despite surviving her husband by 59 years. Their marriage did not produce a male heir, though it did produce a daughter, Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway, who, having firstly been engaged to Jon II, Earl of Orkney, married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden, Duke of Finland, in 1312. Isabel herself arranged both engagements.

She did not return to Scotland, but lived in Bergen, Norway the rest of her life. As a queen consort, there is little information of her life, but her life as a queen dowager is more documented. Isabel participated in many official events and ceremonies and did not lack influence. She was present with the royal couple at the inauguration in 1305 of Bishop Arne Sigurdssön, the new Bishop of Bergen. She had a good relationship with the clerical powers in Bergen, made donations and in 1324, received several houses from the church. It has been suggested, that she participated as a mediator in the negotiations between Norway and Scotland regarding Orkney and Shetland during 1312 under which the Treaty of Perth was reaffirmed. In 1339, the king pardoned a prisoner at her request. She exchanged letters with her sister Christina Bruce and sent soldiers in her support. In 1357, she was one of the heirs of her daughter Ingebjorg, Duchess of Uppland, Öland and Finland.^{[6] [7]}

Ancestry

Ancestors of Isabel Bruce

16. William de Brus               8. Robert de Brus                       17. Christina               4. Robert de Brus                             18. David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon               9. Isobel of Huntingdon                       19. Maud of Chester               2. Robert de Brus                                   20. Richard de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford               10. Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford and Gloucester                       21. Amice Fitz Robert               5. Isabella of Gloucester and Hertford                             22. William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke               11. Isabel Marshal                       23. Isabel de Clare               1. Isabel Bruce                                         24. Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick               12 Cailean (Nicol) mac Donnchaidh                       6. Níall of Carrick                             26. Niall Ruadh Ó Néill               13. daughter                       3. Marjorie of Carrick                                   28. Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland               14. Walter Steward of Dundonald                       29. uncertain               7. Margaret Stewart                             30. Gille Críst, Earl of Angus               15. Bethóc of Angus                       31. Marjorie of Huntingdon

References

1. "Isabella Bruce". • Store norske leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
2. Narve Bjørgo. "Eirik 2 Magnusson, Konge". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
3. Knut Helle. "Audun Hugleiksson “Hestakorn”". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
4. Narve Bjørgo. "Margrete Eiriksdotter, Prinsesse og Dronning". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
5. Barrow, G.W.S., Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, Edinburgh University Press, 2005, ISBN 9780748620227
6. Anna Elisa Tryti. "Arne Sigurdsson, Biskop". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
7. Randi Wærdahl. "Isabella Bruce, Dronning". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved October 29, 2015.

Other sources

• Blakely, Ruth Margaret (2005) The Brus Family in England and Scotland, 1100-1295 (Boydell Press) ISBN 978-1-84383-152-5
• Penman, Michael (2014) Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots (Yale University Press) ISBN 978-0-30014-872-5

Succession