Isabel Bruce (born circa 1272, died 1358) was queen of Norway as the wife of King Erik II Magnusson. Isabel was born in Carrick, Scotland. Her parents were Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. Her brothers included Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and Edward Bruce, who briefly was High King of Ireland. In 1293, when she was 21, Isabel visited Norway with her father and was married in Bergen to King Erik.
Isabel was King Erik's second wife. He had previously been married to King Alexander III of Scotland's daughter Margaret, who died in childbirth in 1283. When Alexander died in 1286, Erik's three year old daughter Margaret, the Maid of Norway, became heir to the Scottish throne. Erik arranged her marriage to the English King Edward I's son Edward, Jr., but it all fell through when the seven year old Margaret died suddenly while journeying to Scotland in 1290. Her death left Scotland without a monarch and at the mercy of King Edward I.
Aged just 26, Isabel was widowed when Erik passed away in 1299. He was succeeded by his brother, King Haakon V of Norway, who reigned until his own death in 1319. Isabel outlived her husband by 59 years and never remarried. They never had a son and male heir, although they did have a daughter, Ingeborg Eriksdottir of Norway, who, after having initially been betrothed to Jon II, Earl of Orkney, married Valdemar Magnusson of Sweden, Duke of Finland, in 1312. Isabel herself arranged the two betrothals.
She never returned to Scotland and lived in Bergen, Norway for the rest of her life and died there. As a queen consort, there is little information about her life, but her life is better documented as queen dowager. Queen Isabel participated in many official events and ceremonies and was very influential. She was present with the royal couple at the inauguration in 1305 of Bishop Arne Sigurdssön, the new Bishop of Bergen. Isabel had a good relationship with the clerical powers there, made donations, and in 1324 received several houses from the church. It has been suggested that she participated as a mediator in the negotiations between Norway and Scotland regarding Orkney and Shetland in 1312, under which the Treaty of Perth was reaffirmed. In 1339, the king pardoned a prisoner at Isabel's request. She exchanged letters with her sister Christina Bruce and sent soldiers in her support. In 1359, Ingeborg, who became Duchess of Uppland, Öland and Finland upon her marriage, made her own mother one of her heirs.
The testament:
Testamente Jssabelle drottning. Jn nomine dominj amen[.] Er thet alle menn kundigtt att wy Jssabelle droning, som wirdulege herre gode aminding Erick medt gudtz miskund Norigis konings søn Magnus konings aate, men gudt thet loffuede, giorde thenne skick for osz till Christ Kircke i Bergenn Gud sielff til loffs och dyder, wor frue stj. Marie och hin hillige Suniwe och alle gudtz hillige menn til werdinge, och osz til euindelig bøne hold och sallig hielp, att wy giffue i wortt testamente forsagde Christ kircke och aff siffiadom osz, och i hender bettalde werduleg herre herre andfindt medt gudtz miskund biskop i Bergenn xx mercker Brendar, wegne i gode loglige engslom pendinge, medt saadann for ord som her fylger, att forsagde Bisp gord skall euendelig skyldig till werre, att holde ther stadene wore /l-/ medt /-l/ huertt aar medt /-j/ pund wax, ii /-j/ skillinge englom till offers och føde v fattige meniske paa huer wor aars dag, medt sælle tide och messe sangh høgtidelige att Ringe lade alle klockerne ther i staden quell och morgen, som ther sker effther andre høffdinger, ther som thette timelig testamente haffuer giordt, Och til sands windisbyrdt att thenne wor skick wrygelig medt herre bispens samtycke och jattalse setther hand och hans Cappitulij there Jndsegle for thenne /l-/ breff /-l/ Chirographum medt wortt Jndsegle, haffuer och herre Bispenn enn Chirographum lig thenne ord fraa orde som her stander, medt samme Jndsegle Jndseglede i Bergenn x k[a]lendas decembris Anno Mcccxvj aa attande aare mynn werdulege herris hakoner koningx
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