C13 & C14 makeups: Isabella of Angoulême

Isabella of Angoulême

Isabella of Angoulême (1188—1246) was suo jure Countess of Angoulême, and queen consort of England as the second wife of King John. She was Queen from 1200 until John's death in 1216. She had five children by the King including his heir Henry who succeeded John as Henry III of England.

In 1220, Isabella married Hugh X of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, by whom she had another nine children.

Isabella formed a conspiracy against King Louis IX of France in 1241, after being publicly snubbed by his mother, Blanche of Castile for whom she had a deep-seated hatred. In 1244, after the plot had failed, Isabella was accused of attempting to poison the king, and to avoid arrest, sought refuge in Fontevraud Abbey where she died two years later aged about 58.

The movies

Ironclad (2011): forthcoming …

Robin Hood (2010): Léa Seydoux as Isabella of Angoulême at around the time of the death of King Richard I and her marriage to John. Paul Engelen was the makeup designer.

The Devil’s Crown (1978): Coming soon …