165:
713:, about two miles downstream of the ancient walled city, which Isabel de Forz is said to have built in the late 13th century. The details of the weir's construction are uncertain: a source of 1290 states that Isabel had it built in 1284 and thereby damaged the salmon fishing and prevented boats from reaching Exeter, but a later source of 1378 claims that she had had the weir built in 1272, leaving a thirty-foot gap in the centre through which boats could pass, until it was blocked between 1307 and 1327 by her cousin
726:
439:
463:
286:
44:
753:, was called upon to settle. She is said to have done this by arranging to meet the disputants on top of a marshy hill near the site whereupon she took off a ring from her finger and threw it into the middle of the bog declaring "that shall be the boundary". The place where these four parishes meet is called "Ring in the Mire".
745:
Two legends exist which feature Isabel de Forz. One, that of the Seven
Crosses, of which there are many variations, relates that she came across a poor man carrying a basket containing what he said were puppies, but which were in fact seven of his children whom he was going to drown because he could
611:(1272–1307) had long wanted to acquire Isabel's estates. In 1276 he proposed that she should sell him the lands in southern England which she had inherited from her brother, but the conveyance was not completed. Following the death in 1274 of her daughter and last surviving
1033:
According to
Sanders, p.112, the manor of Christchurch, sometimes called a barony, was part of the barony of Plympton, granted by King Henry I to Richard de Redvers (died 1107), but was sold together with the Isle of Wight to the crown by
746:
not afford to keep them. After severely upbraiding him for his lack of morality, Isabel adopted the children and ensured that they were looked after and well-educated until their adulthood when she found employment for all of them.
534:
In her mid-twenties, widowed for two years, then left with a rich dower, she was one of the richest heiresses in
England, and a much-sought-after wife for several powerful and ambitious men. In 1264 Simon de Montfort (second son of
208:. After the early death of her husband and her brother, before she was thirty years old, she inherited their estates and became one of the richest women in England, living mainly in
666:
After Isabel's death, the feudal barony of
Plympton and eventually the Earldom of Devon passed to her 17-year-old second cousin once removed (Both shared common ancestry from
589:
to
Stratton, probably as a reward for his financial services, and he continued as her chief financial official until at least 1286. She apparently owned her own copy of the
1343:
536:
408:
393:
228:
298:
274:
155:
105:
1126:
1283:
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646:, rushed to her and drafted a charter to confirm the sale of the Isle of Wight to the king. It was read to the dying Isabel, who ordered her
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262:
191:
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150:
130:
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117:
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539:) acquired the very valuable rights to her remarriage, having obtained the royal licence requisite for the remarriage of a female
988:
910:
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in the 1260s is known to have risen by 2/3rds, from £1,500 to £2,500 (now equivalent to equivalent to £3,163,086 in 2023).
519:
on the Isle of Wight. She used titles including "Countess of Aumale and of Devon" and "Lady of the Isle", and in her surviving
227:, in a transaction that has ever since been considered questionable. Her heir to the feudal barony of Plympton was her cousin
761:
562:
Many of Isabel's estate accounts from her long period of widowhood have survived and have been subjected to much study. Her
205:
764:
still takes place in the town every seven years. There was also a tradition that she was responsible for the planting of
586:
1333:
797:
Some sources state that it was Isabel's mother, Amicia, who ordered the leat to be built and presented it to the town.
223:
She had six children, all of whom died before her. On her death bed, she was persuaded to sell the Isle of Wight to
675:
340:. She was also granted custody of two of her younger sons, Thomas and William. The king granted to his own son and
302:
232:
164:
872:: Charles' Roll, 15; Glover's Roll, B13; Walford's Roll, C60; The Camden Roll, D142 & St George's Roll, E28)
683:
201:
512:
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The
Redvers lion is repeated as a border around a shield containing the de Forz arms of her husband. Legend:
1338:
687:
616:
524:
179:
725:
626:
In 1293 King Edward I re-opened negotiations to acquire Isabel's southern lands, and while travelling from
647:
479:
After the death of her husband in 1260, Isabel lived with her children and her mother, Amice de Clare, at
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484:
445:
326:
62:
1043:
Charter XXII, published in
Appendix to Worsley, Sir Richard, History of the Isle of Wight, London, 1781
487:
of
Holderness that Isabel did not already hold, and they administered the area jointly for some years.
17:
1258:
Mrs Rose-Troup (1905). "The Lady of the Isle: Isabella de
Fortibus, Countess of Albemarle and Devon".
452:
arms of her husband, William de Forz (a cross patonce). This seal displays a rare mixture of forms of
1328:
1323:
552:
412:
378:
318:
810:
1130:
942:
Mate, Mavis (August 1980). "Profit and
Productivity on the Estates of Isabella de Forz (1260–92)".
734:
608:
547:
in Hampshire, and later in Wales. Four years later, in November 1268, her marriage was granted to
483:
in her barony of Holderness. Isabel and Amice jointly purchased the outstanding two-thirds of the
1274:
1173:
959:
643:
516:
209:
682:. In 1315 he petitioned Parliament, unsuccessfully, claiming his right as Isabel's heir, to the
599:, with her advisers she prosecuted in the law courts dozens of cases, both civil and criminal.
400:
or widows of such requiring royal licence to remarry) she refused to marry him and hid away in
351:
She had six children by William de Forz, four sons and two daughters, who all predeceased her:
1110:
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750:
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The other legend concerns the disputed boundary of four parishes in East Devon which she, as
1165:
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57:
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died and, subject to his widow's and his mother's dower rights, she inherited his lands in
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to the Crown her lands in the north and in the County of Aumale and its associated lands.
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266:
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of his heir (whose name is not known), and his estates passed to the crown, namely King
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270:
136:
277:. Her early life was apparently spent at Tidcombe near her father's seat at Tiverton.
1317:
1290:
908:"Forz, Isabella de, suo jure countess of Devon, and countess of Aumale (1237–1293)".
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Isabel is also said to have given in perpetuity a water supply to the inhabitants of
698:
679:
615:, Aveline, a certain John de Eston was found (against expectations) by a jury at her
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Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford, 5th Earl of Gloucester, 1st Lord of Glamorgan
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50:
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670:(died 1217), Isabel's great-grandfather and Courtenay's great-great-grandfather)
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Her husband used both "Forz" and the Latinized form "Fortibus" as his surname.
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Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster. In 1268 her marriage was granted to
396:) having acquired the very valuable rights to her remarriage in 1264, (female
329:
314:
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651:
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1080:
The Ports of the Exe Estuary 1660 – 1860. A Study in Historical Geography
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SECRETUM ISABELL(A)E DE FORTIB(U)S (COMITISSA(E)) DEVONI(A)E ET INSUL(A)E
453:
419:(1258–1273) did marry Edmund in 1269, but died four years later, aged 15.
367:
Avice de Forz (died before April 1269), daughter, predeceased her mother;
306:
196:
392:
Simon de Montfort. Despite the younger Simon de Montfort (second son of
381:, but died childless four years later, aged 15, predeceasing her mother.
321:. One-third of her late husband's estates were granted to Isabel as her
1177:
963:
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596:
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559:(1259–1274) in 1269, but she died childless four years later, aged 15.
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472:("Personal seal of Isabel de Forz, Countess of Devon and of the Isle")
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in the early morning of 10 November 1293, aged 56, and was buried at
415:, but she refused to marry him either. Instead however, her daughter
348:), the other two-thirds of the estates and the marriage of the heir.
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43:
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543:. However, she refused to marry him and hid from him, at first in
500:
322:
284:
163:
364:
William de Forz (died before April 1269), predeceased his mother;
986:"Stratton, Adam of (d. 1292x4), administrator and moneylender".
361:
Thomas de Forz (died before April 1269), predeceased his mother;
246:
1245:
English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent 1086–1327
301:(died 1260), who held land in Yorkshire and Cumberland and was
1229:
Traditions, Legends, Superstitions and Sketches of Devonshire
1191:
Skinner, Emily (1907). "Burg de Tiverton and the Town Leat".
1023:. Vol. IV. London: St. Catherine Press. pp. 322–4.
253:, and she is the subject of several legends and traditions.
186:; July 1237 – 10 November 1293) was the eldest daughter of
1260:
Report & Transactions of the Devonshire Association
1193:
Report & Transactions of the Devonshire Association
1096:
History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Devon
555:, but having refused him also. He married her daughter
444:
Showing her paternal arms of Redvers (a lion rampant)
619:
to be Isabel's next heir. In 1278 this John de Eston
297:
At the age of 11 or 12 she became the second wife of
1112:
The year book, of daily recreation & information
573:, a notorious money-lender, in association with the
1154:"The Increase in the National Consumption of Water"
760:. A ceremony to commemorate the gift, known as the
385:Upon her father's death. Marrying William de Forz.
146:
123:
112:
101:
85:
70:
34:
569:From about 1274 her estates were being managed by
358:Teron de Forz, predeceased his father and mother;
839:
837:
835:
355:John de Forz, predeceased his father and mother;
1129:. Tiverton Town Council website. Archived from
1055:The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names
851:
849:
768:, a stand of ancient stunted oak trees high on
630:in Kent, Isabel was taken ill and stopped near
515:in Yorkshire. From then on she lived mainly at
1021:The Complete Peerage, edited by H.A. Doubleday
650:to seal it on her behalf. She died at nearby
8:
1152:Baldwin-Wiseman, William Ralph (June 1909).
992:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
914:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
309:. When he died in 1260, their children were
200:(in her own right) the earldom and also the
1082:. The University of Exeter. pp. 21–22.
1057:. Cambridge University Press. p. 161.
864:Arms of Guillaume de Forz, Comte d'Aumale:
245:, now a suburb of Exeter, is named after a
194:, in 1262, without children, she inherited
1270:
42:
31:
690:, part of the Feudal barony of Plympton.
190:(1217–1245). On the death of her brother
1158:Journal of the Royal Statistical Society
1098:. Sheffield: William White. p. 219.
537:Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
409:Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster
394:Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
229:Hugh de Courtenay, 1st/9th Earl of Devon
989:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
911:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
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18:Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon
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829:Sanders, pp. 137–8, Barony of Plympton
638:. One of Edward's favourite servants,
299:William de Forz, 4th Earl of Albemarle
1092:One version of the story appears in:
668:William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon
497:Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon
263:Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon
192:Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon
188:Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon
36:Isabel de Forz, 8th Countess of Devon
7:
715:Hugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon
672:Hugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon
523:she is regularly referred to in the
956:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1980.tb01162.x
678:, Devon, who in 1335 was declared
235:, Devon, who in 1335 was declared
216:, which she held from the king as
65:by the Courtenay family, her heirs
25:
585:. In 1276 she gave her office of
373:(1259–1274), who in 1269 married
61:(Redvers). These arms were later
461:
437:
404:in Hampshire and later in Wales.
273:(c. 1220 – 1284), a daughter of
1344:13th-century countesses regnant
1019:Cokayne, George Edward (1916).
741:, possibly a portrait of Isabel
491:Inheriting the Earldom of Devon
332:, half of the feudal barony of
261:She was the eldest daughter of
762:Perambulation of the Town Leat
325:, comprising one-third of the
27:English noblewoman (1237–1293)
1:
686:and to the adjacent manor of
684:Lordship of the Isle of Wight
388:After his death she courted:
206:lordship of the Isle of Wight
1006:UK public library membership
928:UK public library membership
587:Chamberlain of the Exchequer
1349:13th-century ladies regnant
944:The Economic History Review
336:, and the feudal barony of
291:Gules, a cross patonce vair
1365:
1053:Victor Watts, ed. (2004).
866:Gules a cross patonce vair
676:feudal baron of Okehampton
233:feudal baron of Okehampton
1297:
1288:
1280:
1273:
603:Selling the Isle of Wight
495:In 1262 Isabel's brother
202:feudal barony of Plympton
41:
1227:Citing Mrs. Bray (1838)
705:, takes its name from a
634:in Surrey, opposite the
48:Isabel's paternal arms:
1094:White, William (1879).
1078:Clark, E. A. G (1960).
811:Inquisition Post Mortem
617:inquisition post mortem
344:, Prince Edward (later
1109:Hone, William (1832).
998:10.1093/ref:odnb/26652
920:10.1093/ref:odnb/47209
878:20 August 2013 at the
742:
721:Legends and traditions
648:Lady of the Bedchamber
607:It is known that King
294:
269:in Devon, by his wife
249:that she built on the
168:
950:(3). Wiley: 326–334.
728:
694:Countess Wear, Exeter
636:Palace of Westminster
592:Statutes of the Realm
431:Two of Isabel's seals
288:
167:
529:Isabella de Fortibus
184:Isabella de Fortibus
868:(per the following
735:Christchurch Priory
1334:English countesses
1302:Title next held by
1284:Baldwin de Redvers
1275:Peerage of England
1216:Legendary Dartmoor
940:See, for example:
743:
701:, now a suburb of
517:Carisbrooke Castle
295:
281:Marriage and issue
210:Carisbrooke Castle
204:in Devon, and the
169:
151:Baldwin de Redvers
131:Baldwin de Redvers
1312:
1311:
1291:Countess of Devon
1164:(2). Wiley: 249.
1064:978-0-521-16855-7
1004:(Subscription or
926:(Subscription or
813:#156, dated 1293.
644:clerk in chancery
549:Edmund Crouchback
375:Edmund Crouchback
289:Arms of de Forz:
176:Isabel de Redvers
162:
161:
16:(Redirected from
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1281:Preceded by
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1212:"Wistman's Wood"
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1329:1293 deaths
1324:1237 births
1221:27 December
976:held in fee
454:marshalling
334:Cockermouth
1318:Categories
1295:1262–1293
1115:. W. Tegg.
1008:required.)
930:required.)
818:References
662:Succession
628:Canterbury
564:net income
450:dimidiated
330:Holderness
1266:: 206–45.
729:Sculpted
711:River Exe
707:fish weir
652:Stockwell
597:litigious
553:Henry III
525:Latinized
505:Hampshire
481:Burstwick
424:Widowhood
411:, son of
379:Henry III
319:Henry III
313:, so the
251:River Exe
180:Latinized
153:(brother)
147:Relatives
108:(d. 1260)
74:July 1237
63:quartered
1137:13 April
876:Archived
770:Dartmoor
751:Countess
609:Edward I
521:charters
513:Harewood
315:wardship
307:Normandy
197:suo jure
139:(mother)
133:(father)
113:Children
1299:Dormant
1238:Sources
1178:2340220
964:2595191
709:on the
632:Lambeth
448:by the
446:impaled
338:Skipton
257:Origins
212:on the
124:Parents
118:Aveline
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703:Exeter
575:Tuscan
507:, the
311:minors
102:Spouse
1174:JSTOR
960:JSTOR
776:Notes
583:Lucca
527:form
501:Devon
323:dower
58:azure
1223:2016
1139:2016
1059:ISBN
511:and
247:weir
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