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
Father	Robert Bruce
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.

Biography

Isabel's parents were Robert Bruce and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. Her brothers included King Robert I of Scotland, and Edward Bruce who briefly was High King of Ireland. She travelled to Norway with her father was married to King Eric in Bergen in 1293.

Isabel was king Erik's second wife, and indeed his second Scottish one. She was widowed, at age 24, at his 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 for her daughter's marriages.

She did not return to Scotland, but lived in Bergen in 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 did the most out of her position as queen dowager, participated in many official events and ceremonies and did not lack influence. She was present at the inauguration of the new Bishop of Bergen with the royal couple in 1305. She had a good relationship with the clerical powers in Bergen, made donations and received properties from the church: in 1324, she received several houses from the church. It has been suggested, that she participated as a mediator in the conflicts between Orkney, Shetland and Scotland in 1312. In 1339, the king pardoned a prisoner at her request. She exchanged letters with her sister Christina in Scotland and sent soldiers there. In 1357, she was one of the heirs of her daughter, the duchess of Öland.

Ancestry

Family 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

• http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Isabella_Bruce/utdypning