On this day, 8 January 1297
the marriage of Elizabeth of Rhuddlan, youngest daughter of Edward I of England, to John I, Count of Holland took place in Ipswich.
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On this day, 8 January 1297, was the marriage of Elizabeth of Rhuddlan, youngest daughter of Edward I of England, to John I, Count of Holland.
At the tender age of two, Elizabeth was betrothed to the infant John, son of Florence V, Count of Holland. This was probably because Florence V’s daughter was meant to marry Alphonso, Edward I’s elder son, but Alphonso had died before the marriage could take place, dissolving an “alliance that was on many grounds desirable.” Therefore, in April 1285, Florence V sent three ambassadors to England to offer marriage between his son and heir, John, and Princess Elizabeth. This was “favourably received,” and in June 1285 Edward I sent two knights to Holland to confirm. As a part of the contract, Elizabeth was to receive 8,000 livres Tournois annually, and John was to come to England to receive his education (meaning, be raised). Her dowry was to consist of 50000 livres Tournois, with 10000 given when John arrived in England, 10000 when he reached age 7, and 30000 on their marriage.
When the last direct heir to the throne of Scotland, Margaret, the maid of Norway, died en route to Scotland, Edward I “took it upon himself the office of arbitrator of the numerous claimants.” When he picked John Baliol and not Florence V, Duke of Holland, along with irritation from Florence about some commercial transactions regarding the wool trade, “Florence, dissatisfied and angry, was induced to forsake the English party, and join himself to that of France.”
In January 1295, Florence V entered into an agreement with the French king, Philip le Bel, to assist “against the allies of England, though declining to engage in active warfare against the English king himself.” At this point, his son John became a hostage of Edward, although he was still treated kindly as the king’s son-in-law.
Edward “stirred up foreign enemies against the Earl of Holland until the latter became at length so exasperated, that he began to seriously entertain the idea of cutting off his son John from the succession, on account of his English education and associations…” He persisted in this against the wishes of the king of England and the people of Holland.
Soon, a secret plot was formed, possibly either encouraged by or set in action by Edward I “to vindicate the rights of his daughter and son-in-law.” The object was to seize Florence V and imprison him either in Holland or England, forcing his abdication and the elevation of Prince John to the throne. However, on 27 June 1296, when Florence V was captured, his conspirators feared the successful attempt to liberate him, and therefore they “murder[ed] their unfortunate victim, with many circumstances of atrocious cruelty.”
Fearing that Prince John’s uncle, John d’Avennes, Earl of Hainault, would assume the regency, the barons and citizens of Holland almost immediately “prevail[ed] upon the king [Edward I] to permit the immediate return of Prince John.”
While Edward I worked to settle disputes in Holland among the nobles there, preparations were made for the marriage of Elizabeth and John. Elizabeth arrived in Ipswich on 30 December 1296 where the marriage was to take place. On this day, 8 January 1297, the marriage between John I, Duke of Holland Elizabeth of Rhuddlan took place at the priory church in Ipswich. The king, the prince of Wales, the Bishop of London, and many magnates and prelates of England and Holland were present. Feasting followed, with “minstrels, trumpeters, harpers, fiddlers, guitar players, tabourers [drummers] and fools” all providing entertainment.
Soon afterwards, preparations for the new countess’s departure for England were underway. Her father was to ensure she lived with all the finery she was accustomed:
“For her chapel hall, and kitchen, a magnificent set of gold and silver plate was prepared, all the cups, dishes, bowls, pitchers, chandeliers, chalices, patens, alms-dishes, etc., of which are inventoried at great length” in the jeweller’s account of 1297. “The goldsmith also furnished tressures and other jewelled head-dresses… The manufacture of her bridal robes occupied workman-tailors for four days and four nights; they were embroidered with silk, and profusely adorned with gilt buttons. Her coronal was of gold, set with rubies, emeralds, and pearls…”
Elizabeth was meant to accompany her husband to Holland when he went soon after their marriage. However, “the young countess manifested a strong repugnance to leave England, even though all the vessels were already assembled which were to transport her to her new home.” Edward reportedly threw her new coronet into the fire in anger, although it was saved.
At the end of August, Edward I travelled to Flanders and was accompanied by his daughter Elizabeth, who in turn joined her husband in Holland. She thereafter lived in the palace at The Hague.
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Sources for this article:
Lives of the Princesses of England, from the Norman Conquest, Volume 3 By Mary Anne Everett Green
https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/elizabeth-of-rhuddlan/elizabeth-of-rhuddlan-the-kings-favourite-sister/
https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/elizabeth-of-rhuddlan-countess-of-holland-countess-of-hereford/
https://historytheinterestingbits.com/tag/elizabeth-of-rhuddlan/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_from_Rhuddlan.jpg
Interesting! I do feel sympathy for her, not wanting to travel. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one young lady.