Empress Isabella I
| Isabella the Black Lady | |
|---|---|
| Empress of the Royá | |
Common depiction of Isabella following the death of the Lord Montaimont. | |
| Empress of the Lonvergian Empire | |
| Reign | 13th December 1087 – 22nd December 1121 |
| Coronation | 12th December 1087 |
| Predecessor | N/A |
| Successor | Catherine I |
| Queen of Monnegárd | |
| Reign | 11th December 1060 – 6th February 1066 |
| Coronation | 12th May 1070 |
| Predecessor | N/A |
| Successor | Godefroy, Prince of the Valleys |
| Born | 14th February 1036 Château d'Étaingard, Bordouai |
| Died | 22nd December 1121 (Aged 86) Citadelle de Borville, Rochefort |
| Burial | 25th December 1121 |
| Spouse | Sébastien, Lord of Montaimont
(m. 1052; died 1055) Cédric Bourguignon, Duc of Áncort
(m. 1056; died 1059) Catherine I (m. 1067; died 1130) |
| Issue | |
| Dynasty | Rousselle |
| Father | Gérald, Marquis of Bordouai |
| Mother | Philippa of Guignemoy |
| Religion | Church of the Saints |
Empress Isabella I (14th February 1036 - 22nd December 1121), more commonly known as Isabella of Étaingard before her accession to the throne, and also known as the Black Lady, was Empress of the Lonvergian Empire from 1087 until her death in 1121. She was the first Empress of the House of Rousselle. A distant descendant of the first Monheric King, Guiot I, but born into a noble family in decline, Isabellas' life would be one steeped in greatness, controversy and tragedy as she grew from meagre beginnings to leading the first great medieval powerhouse in the North. Her dominions would grow on the Garrahan Peninsula to include the Monheric petty kingdoms of Erloy, Dallé and Baronnier, the eastern reaches of the Borondian highlands in Belandia and hold direct rule over the powerful Principalities of Laón and Sedaccó. Futhermore she oversaw the containment of the western Velandian tribals and the continuation of a long-lasting northern defensive war with the Wexan Duchies.
She was born in the Province of Bordouai as the eldest child and only daughter of Gérald of Bordouai (Great-Grandson of Guiot I) and Philippa of Guignemoy (daughter of Princess Mathilde), growing up alongside six younger brothers, only two of which would survive to adulthood. She was betrothed at the age of fourteen to the young son of the Duc of Ancort, Sébastien, Lord of Montaimont and was sent away from home as soon as she turned of age at sixteen in 1052.
As Lady of Montaimont, she was treated poorly by her bitter and drunkard husband who felt he deserved greater power, titles and a higher standing wife. After failing to produce any male heirs and only producing a single daughter, Séverine, Isabella was publicly beaten at court in a drunken, petty revenge by her husband. Many historians believe that this was the catalyst of what caused the brutal murder of Sébastien, as only a day later his beheaded corpse was found in his bedroom (1st of May 1059).
Whether or not Isabella herself was involved with the crime is up for debate, but many at the time suspected she at least had a guiding hand in the murder if not a part to play herself. Some contemporaries at later dates took this as more of a heroic stand against abuse, and have such depicted Isabella as the killer herself, painting her with a bloodied sword in one hand, and her husbands head in the other; typically wearing a proud look of satisfaction across her face.