Isabella and Mortimer
Medieval history's greatest love affair or toxic power couple?
The love affair between Isabella of France and the English nobleman, Roger Mortimer is one of the most famous in English history. The queen of England who took down her husband, the king, with her lover at her heels.
The story is so good — sex, scandal, an on-the-edge-of-your-seat vibe — it has captivated the imagination of many historians and enthusiasts for centuries, with differing takes on Isabella’s role in the whole affair. (Few comments on Mortimer — no surprises there). There have even been multiple steamy re-imaginings of how Isabella and Mortimer found themselves in collusion together and in bed together. I think this one is my favourite — E.L. James, eat your heart out.
But what is so great about this story is that it is true. Probably not what is written in the novel above, but what actually went on between Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer of Wigmore. Well versed cynics will note here: we don’t actually know if they were having sex. My answer to that is, do you need a home video?