Isabella of Scotland, Duchess of Brittany

Isabella, Duchess of Brittany

Isabella Stewart, Duchess of Brittany, was the daughter of James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort, born between 1425 and 1427.

It was said she was more beautiful than her elder sister Margaret, and that John VI, Duke of Brittany proposed to marry her to his son; thus he sent ambassadors to Scotland to take a description of her. They reported she was handsome, upright and graceful but she seemed simple too. The Duke's reply was "My friends, return to Scotland and bring her here, she is all I desire, and I will have no other; your clever women do more harm than good".

Isabella was married to Francis I, Duke of Brittany at the Château d'Auray on October 30, 1442, after which the whole court went to Rennes for eight days of festivities.

Upon the death of her sister Margaret, Isabella penned an illuminated prayer book of hours Livre d'Isabeau d'Escosse,

which is still in preserved to this day. She had two children:

• Marguerite of Brittany (1443–1469, Nantes), married Francis II, Duke of Brittany
• Mary of Brittany (1444–1506), married John II, viscount of Rohan and count of Porhoët

Upon her husband's death in 1450, there were talks of marriage between the Prince of Navarre and Isabella, this fell through due to the disapproval of Charles VII of France. Isabella died in 1494.

Sources

• Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families
• Annie Forbes Bush Memoirs of the Queens of France