Profession: Queen of England
Biography: Philippa of Hainault was the wife of King Edward III and Queen of England. She also served as her husband's political adviser and even acted as regent in 1346 during the period he was busy with the Hundred Years' War.
Her father was Count William of Hainaut and her mother was Prince Joan of Valois, she was the second of five daughters. When Queen Isabella of France, the Queen of England, visited the court of Hainaut, Prince Edward came with her. Isabella sought the Count's assistance to depose her husband, and Phillipa's betrothal to Edward was part of this agreement.
While she may thus have came to the throne quite incidentally, she took to the throne and was welcomed by the English people. Philippa took her duties as Queen of England quite seriously and made good on these demands both in terms of the familial and royal requirements.
She is remembered as a gentle and compassionate queen, traits which showed when she accompanied her husband during his campaigns and urged mercy—particularly upon the Burghers of Calais, who he had intended to execute in order to make less likely the necessity of further tiresome sieges.
Born: October 10, 1344
Birthplace: Valenciennes, County of Hainaut, Holy Roman Empire
Star Sign: Libra
Died: August 15, 1369 (aged 24)
Cause of Death: Illness
Personal Life
- 1328-01-24 King Edward III of England (15) marries Philippa of Hainault (18) at York Minster, in York
Famous Queens
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