Isabella of Scotland (1195–after October 1263), also known as Isobel or Isabel, was a daughter of William the Lion, King of Scotland and his wife Ermengarde de Beaumont. She was a member of the House of Dunkeld and by marriage she was Countess of Norfolk.
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Early life
Isabella was born before 1195 and was the second of four children born to her father by his marriage to Ermengarde de Beaumont. Her older sister was Margaret, Countess of Kent, her younger brother was King Alexander II of Scotland and her younger sister was Marjorie, Countess of Pembroke. Isabella also had many illegitimate half-siblings from her father.
Isabella's father William the Lion had battled with Henry II of England and his younger son John of England. Due to the Treaty of Norham, 7 August 1209, King William was forced to submit to a peace and send Isabella and Margaret to England as hostages. The sisters were imprisoned at Corfe Castle along with Eleanor, the Fair Maid of Brittany, who had been under house arrest to prevent her claim on England. Isabella was only fourteen when she was sent to England and was a hostage with her sister for around 16 years. In June 1213, John sent green robes, lambskin-trimmed cloaks, and summer slippers to the three princesses.
Isabella and Margaret were both intended in marriage to John's sons and the Scots made a payment of 15,000 marks, equivalent in modern values to tens of millions of pounds, to pay for these royal weddings. The marriages of legitimate daughters should have been a powerful diplomatic and dynastic tool for William but they were now in John's control. William died on 4 December 1214 and was succeeded by his son.
