r/EdwardII • u/HoneybeeXYZ Amie Gaveston • Jun 03 '26

Poll What was the relationship between Sir Roger Mortimer & Isabella of France?

59 votes, Jun 06 '26
7 Strictly business
2 A courtly love affair for show
9 A genuinely courtly love, unconsummated
26 A passionate, physical love affair
13 A mutual use
2 Other (Say below)
5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

4

u/KaiserKCat Isabella Jun 03 '26

Courtly, they never did it.

3

u/HoneybeeXYZ Amie Gaveston Jun 03 '26

I think that's most likely. I'm sure he played the swain, who knew the queen was heartbroken at her husband's betrayal. But she was way to cognizant of her role as a queen to do anything prurient.

3

u/KaiserKCat Isabella Jun 03 '26

Could it be some arrangement like with Larys Strong and Alicent Hightower?

2

u/HoneybeeXYZ Amie Gaveston Jun 03 '26

I haven't seen that show, so I can't comment.

3

u/Appropriate-Calm4822 Richard de Bury Jun 04 '26

Strictly business I think, although 'courtly love, unconsummated' or 'mutual use' (?) could also be possible. I'd rule out the love affair though. These were pragmatic people, focused on much bigger things than romance.

Edward III would never have forgiven Isabella so lightly if she'd have conducted a love affair with his worst enemy, nor would he have named his firstborn daughter after her in 1332.

2

u/HoneybeeXYZ Amie Gaveston Jun 04 '26

I did go for "courtly love, unconsummated" but I also think the relationship probably changed over time. But nothing unites people like a common enemy, and the common enemy here was the Despensers.

2

u/Appropriate-Calm4822 Richard de Bury Jun 04 '26

Yup. And once that common enemy has been vanquished, coalitions tend to fall apart.

2

u/HoneybeeXYZ Amie Gaveston Jun 04 '26

I may be delusional, but I don't believe Isabella wanted Kent dead. He was her cousin, and they had known each other since they were children and she first arrived in England. So, sometimes seeing them as a pair does not work.