Philippa of Hainault Biography

Birth of Philippa of Hainault, a daughter of William I, Count of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland, and Joan of Valois, the granddaughter of Philip III of France

Eldest sister Margaret marries Emperor Louis IV

Betrothed to Prince Edward. The couple are second cousins so a Papal dispensation is required

A Papal dispensation is sent sent from Pope John XXII

Philippa and her retinue arrive in England in December 1327 escorted by her uncle, John of Hainaut. On 23 December she reaches London where a "rousing reception was accorded her"

Philippa of Hainault & Prince Edward marry

Philippa marries Edward III and becomes Queen of England

King Edward commenced his personal rule when he staged a coup and ordered the arrest of his mother and Mortimer. Shortly afterward, the latter was executed for treason, and Queen Dowager Isabella was sent to Castle Rising in Norfolk, where she spent the remainder of her life

Gives birth to Edward, the Black Prince

Crowned 3 months before the birth of her 1st son, the Black Prince

Gives birth to Isabella

Philippa continues as Edward III's queen during the Scottish campaign

Gives birth to John of Gaunt

Gives birth to Edmund of Langley, 4th son of Edward III

The Queen's College, Oxford is named after Philippa. It was founded in 1341 by one of her chaplains, Robert de Eglesfield, in her honour

Gives birth to Edmund of Langley

Birth of Thomas Woodstock son of Edward III & Philippa of Hainault

Gives birth to Thomas of Woodstock

Death of Philippa of Hainault, followed by Edward's decline into premature senility. Had bourne Edward III 12 children, 5 of the 7 sons survived to manhood

Given a state funeral and interred at Westminster Abbey. Her tomb was placed on the northeast side of the Chapel of Edward the Confessor and on the opposite side of her husband's grandparents Edward I and Eleanor of Castile and great grandfather Henry III