Isabella of Austria (Isabel; 18 July 1501 – 19 January 1526), also known asElizabeth, was born anArchduchess ofAustria andInfanta of Castile from theHouse of Habsburg, and subsequently becameQueen of Denmark,Norway andSweden, under theKalmar Union, as the wife of KingChristian II. She was the daughter of KingPhilip I and QueenJoanna ofCastile and the sister ofCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor. She ruled Denmark asregent in 1520.^[1]

Isabella of Austria
Portrait of a woman, presumed to be of Isabella byJan Gossaert
Queen consort of Denmark andNorway
Tenure	12 August 1515 – 20 January 1523
Coronation	12 August 1515 Copenhagen Castle
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure	1 November 1520 – 23 August 1521
Born	18 July 1501 Brussels,Duchy of Brabant,Holy Roman Empire
Died	19 January 1526(1526-01-19) (aged 24) Ghent,County of Flanders, Holy Roman Empire
Burial	St. Peter's Abbey, Ghent (1526–1883) St. Canute's Cathedral, Odense (since 1883)
Spouse	Christian II of Denmark ​ ​ (m. 1514)​
Issue among others...	Prince John Dorothea, Electress Palatine Christina, Duchess of Milan
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip the Handsome
Mother	Joanna of Castile

Her upbringing, overseen by her aunt ArchduchessMargaret, was marked by a comprehensive education inMechelen under the guidance of notablehumanists likeJuan Luis Vives andAdrian of Utrecht. In 1514, she entered into astrategic marriage with Christian II of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, the marriage encountered early challenges with diplomatic tensions arising from Christian II's existing relationship withDyveke Sigbritsdatter, his Dutchmistress. Following Dyveke's death in 1517 the relations between Isabella and her husband significantly improved, and Isabella was entrusted with the position ofregent in 1520 and political advisor to the king.^[2]

In 1523, her husband, King Christian II, was deposed. The political upheaval prompted the Danish royal family, including Isabella and her children, to seek refuge in various European states, such asEngland,Saxony and theHabsburg Netherlands. During this exile, Isabella strongly advocated for her husband's cause. In 1524, she participated in theImperial Diet inNürnberg, where she campaigned on behalf of King Christian II, seeking support for his restoration to theDanish throne.^[3]

Her travels through Germany, England, and the Netherlands contributed to her evolving religious sympathies for theProtestant movement.^[4] Isabella's death in 1526 prompted widespread mourning. She received both Protestant and Catholic communion, but the Habsburgs declared that she had died a fervent Catholic.

Isabella was born on 18 July 1501 inBrussels as the third child ofPhilip the Handsome, ruler of theHabsburg Netherlands andJoanna the Mad, heiress to the Spanish kingdoms ofCastile andAragon. Her father was the son of the reigningHoly Roman EmperorMaximilian I and his deceased consortMary, Duchess of Burgundy, while her mother was the daughter ofthe Catholic MonarchsFerdinand II of Aragon andIsabella I of Castile, after whom she is named. She was baptized in Brussels by theBishop of Cambrai,Henri de Berghes.

She had two older siblings,Eleanor andCharles, as well as three younger siblingsFerdinand,Mary andCatherine. Isabella and her siblings were considered the "noblest children" of her time. Her brothers became the most powerful men in Europe as Holy Roman Emperors. Her sisters became queens inPortugal andFrance,Bohemia andHungary, and Portugal, respectively.

Following the early death of Isabella's father in September 1506, her mother's mental health began to deteriorate. Isabella, along with her brother, Charles, and her sisters, Eleanor and Mary, was put into the care of her paternal aunt,Archduchess Margaret, governor of theHabsburg Netherlands, while the two other siblings, Ferdinand and Catherine, remained inCastile. Eleanor, Isabella, and Mary were educated together at their aunt's court inMechelen.^[5]

Margaret, a wise, staunch Catholic, and politically experienced woman, played a significant role in shaping Isabella's upbringing. Under her aunt's care, Isabella received a comprehensive education from the learnedrenaissance humanists of the time. Her upbringing at the opulentcourt in Mechelen afforded Isabella the finest education of her time, and among her notable tutors wereJuan Luis Vives and the laterPope Adrian VI, who was associated with thepre-Reformation movement known as the "Brethren of the Common Life." The Brethren were viewed favourably byMartin Luther andPhilipp Melanchthon for their emphasis on Christiandevotion andself-sacrifice. Many members of this movement later aligned with theProtestant cause in its divergence from the authority of thepapal church.^[6][2]

In her education, Isabella received instruction from Vives, coveringGreek andLatin studies. The curriculum included a focus on theGospels,St. Paul's Epistles, and select portions of theOld Testament.^[7]

Margaret acted as a maternal figure to her brother's children, and in October 1507, she informed her father, EmperorMaximilian I, who closely followed and actively participated in matters concerning his grandchildren, of Isabella and Maria contractingmeasles, with Eleonora showing symptoms. Due to thecontagious nature of the disease and winter conditions, Margaret and ArchdukeCharles opted to stay inBrussels rather than returning to Mechelen as initially intended.^[8]

The household of the imperial children was headed by FirstChamberlain,Charles de Croy-Chimay and Grand Mistress (stewardess)Anna de Beaumont, a Spanish-Navarresenoblewoman of French origin, who had beenJuana’s formerlady-in-waiting, arriving in theLow Countries with the duchess in 1498.^[9][10]

Margaret heavily participated in the marriage negotiations of her nieces, including Isabella's. In 1509, Isabella's grandfather EmperorMaximilian proposedHenry of Navarre, son ofJohn III, as a possible spouse, but the proposition was presumably dismissed by Margaret. By 1510, there were discussions about Isabel’s possible marriage toCharles II, Duke of Guelders, son ofAdolf, Duke of Guelders. However, both Margaret and Maximilian harbored reservations about sending the young princess toGuelders, questioning the match's prestige. The Lord of Guelders held a lower rank as a duke, and their family's objective was to wed their daughters into royal houses.^[11]

Isabella's fortune, her succession rights, and her connections made her a valuable pawn in the royal marriage market. In 1513,Copenhagen hosted negotiations for the topic of the new KingChristian II's marriage, leading to an agreement to pursue one ofPhilip the Beautiful's daughters. This alliance promised strategic advantages, creating kinship with the emperor and making King Christian the brother-in-law of ArchdukeCharles, a powerful figure in key Dutch cities. Furthermore,Habsburg-Austrian princesses were known for substantialdowries.^[12][6] King Christian enlisted the help of his uncle,Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, who, well-connected with the Emperor, inquired about suitable matches at theImperial Court. In late October and early November, a national assembly inViborg revisited the matrimonial issue, resolving to send anembassy to Emperor Maximilian for the formal proposal of Archduchess Isabella's hand.Bishop Gottschalk von Ahlefeldt, alongside CouncilorsMogens Gjø andAlbert Jepsen Ravensberg, was chosen to lead this envoy.^[13]

The king of Denmark had first intended to marry Isabella's eldest sisterEleanor of Austria, but the Habsburgs considered Eleanor too valuable for the throne of Denmark, because as the eldest sister, there was a likelihood that her descendants may succeed. Therefore, Isabella was selected for the Danish king. The Emperor expressed approval for the potential alliance with Denmark, a sentiment that found favor in theLow Countries. This alliance was viewed as a strategic opportunity to enhance trade access to theBaltic for merchants fromBruges andAmsterdam.^[14]The envoyship reached the imperial court inLinz in early April, engaging in month-long negotiations culminating in the signing of a marriage contract on 29 April 1514. The substantial dowry amounted to 250,000Rhenishgulden, approximately equal to 800 millionDKK today^[15] (about 118 millionUSD), with contributions from Spain and theBurgundian territories. Princess Isabella was also assured an annual income of 25,000 Rhenishgulden.^[16]

On 11 July 1514, one week short of her 13th birthday, Isabella wasmarried by proxy to King Christian II of Denmark with Emperor Maximilian I, her grandfather, standing in for the king. TheBishop of Cambrai,Jacob van Croÿ [nl], presided over the wedding which was conducted at theBrussels Palace.

She remained in the Netherlands, but is said to have fallen in love with her spouse at the sight of his painting, and asked to be taken to Denmark. A year after the wedding, theArchbishop of Nidaros,Erik Valkendorf [da], was sent to escort her toCopenhagen. The Danish fleet arrived inVeere,Zeeland on 1 July 1515, and later than month, a tearful Isabella departed on 16 July 1515.^[17] The fleet encountered a violent tempest, that dispersed the Danish convoy along the shores ofJutland. The vessel carrying the Queen narrowly averted shipwreck, and upon safely reachingHelsingør in the start of August, she penned a poignant letter to the Margaret: "Madame, if I could choose for myself, I should be with you now; for to be parted from you is the most grievous thing in the world to me".^[18] Isabella and Christian had their initial encounter atHvidøre, Christian II's summer residence, where he greeted her with an elaborate entourage of over 1000 individuals.^[19]

The marriage was ratified on 12 August 1515, when she was 14 years old.

Isabella was crowned Queen of Denmark and Norway, the same day of her matrimonial ratification, on 12 August 1515 atCopenhagen Castle by theArchbishop of Lund,Birger Gunnersen [sv;da;no].^[20] She began using another version of her name, Elisabeth, but the relationship between her and her new family and Christian was quite cool during the first years of the marriage. The King's Dutch mistress,Dyveke Sigbritsdatter, had been with him since 1507, and he was not about to give her up for a teenager. Dyveke's mother,Sigbrit Willoms, was also influential at court, and Isabella was given less influence than both of them. This angered the Emperor, and caused some diplomatic strife between him and King Christian, but the matter was resolved when Dyveke died in 1517, and Isabella's relationship with her husband improved vastly over the next few years; her relationship with Sigbrit Willoms improved as well, and both women acted as political advisors to the king. From 1516,Anne Meinstrup was headlady-in-waiting of her court.

In 1520, Christian took the throne of Sweden, thereby making Isabella Queen of Sweden. After taking Stockholm, he asked the Swedish representatives to turn it and the regency of Sweden over to Isabella if he himself should die when his children were minors. She was to be the last Queen of Sweden who was also Queen of Denmark during theKalmar union, but she in fact never visited Sweden; pregnant at the time of her spouse's accession to the throne of Sweden, she did not follow him there. Isabella served as the regent of Denmark during Christian's stay in Sweden.^[1] Her husband was deposed as king of Sweden the following year. King Christian imprisoned many Swedish noblewomen, related to rebellious Swedish nobles, at the infamousBlåtårn ("Blue Tower") of Copenhagen Castle, includingChristina Gyllenstierna,Cecilia Månsdotter andMargareta Eriksdotter Vasa.Gustav I of Sweden used their purported harsh treatment in captivity in his propaganda against Christian II and claimed that the Danish monarch starved the women and children, who only survived by the mercy shown to them by the queen of Denmark, Isabella of Austria.^[21]

When King Christian was deposed in 1523 by disloyal noblemen supporting his uncle, DukeFrederick, the new king wanted to be on good terms with Isabella's family. He wrote her a personal letter in her nativeGerman, offering her a dowager queen's pension and permitting her to stay in Denmark under his protection while King Christian fled to theLow Countries. But Isabella replied inLatin "ubi rex meus, ibi regnum meum" ("where my king is, there is my kingdom").

Isabella left Denmark with her husband and their children after her husband was deposed in 1523 and travelled to the Netherlands. Isabella and Christian travelled around Germany in an attempt to gain help for Christian's restoration to the throne. Isabella made her own negotiations with her relatives, and also accompanied her husband on his travels.^[22]

The Danish royal family then journeyed to England. While in England, they had an audience withHenry VIII at theRoyal Palace in Greenwich and were later accommodated atHampton Court Palace.^[23] They visitedSaxony in 1523 andBerlin in 1523–1524. In Berlin, Isabella became interested in the teachings ofLuther, and felt sympathy for Protestantism,^[22] however she never converted officially. When she visitedNürnberg in 1524, she received communion in the Protestant way, which so enraged her birth family, the Habsburgs, that Christian decided that she should hide her Protestant views in the future, for political reasons.^[22]

In the spring of 1525, Isabella caught some kind of serious illness, which worsened after she travelled through a storm later that year, and lasted all summer. The former queen died at the castle ofZwijnaarde near Ghent aged twenty-four, on 19 January 1526. She received both Protestant and Catholic communion, but the Habsburgs declared that she had died a convinced Catholic.^[22] Her religious sympathies, and whether she was a Protestant or a Catholic after 1524, have been debated. At her deathbed, she gave the cause of her husband's restoration to her aunt, the regent of the Netherlands,Margaret of Austria. She was buried on 4 February 1526 at theSaint Peter's Abbey, Ghent.

Isabella's early death was mourned not only in theLow Countries but also in her husband's realms. Nationwide funeral services were held, and expressions of grief were widespread for the Princess known as "the mother of her people." Testimonies to her worth were abundant, including a letter fromHenry VIII of England, who regarded her as a sister.Martin Luther also paid tribute to her in his treatise on Holy Women.^[24]

Her fifteenth generation great-granddaughter,Princess Isabella of Denmark, was named after her.

• Bruden fra Gent (English:The Bride from Ghent) – a 2003 historic novel byDorrit Willumsen about King Christian II, Dyveke and mother Sigbrit, and about the marriage in 1515 with the only 14-year-old Elisabeth.

• Cartwright, Julia (1913).Christina of Denmark: Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590. E.P. Dutton.ISBN 978-0-404-09205-4.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Heiberg, Steffen, ed. (2001).Danske dronninger i tusind år (2. udg., 1. opl ed.). København:Gyldendal.ISBN 978-87-00-75146-0.
• Jørgensen, G. (1901).Dronning Elisabeth af Danmark (in Danish). G.E.C. Gad.ISBN 978-1172156450.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Olsen, Rikke Agnete (2005).Kongerækken. København:Lindhardt og Ringhof.ISBN 978-87-595-2525-8.

• Skipper, Jon Bloch, ed. (2006).Danmarkshistoriens årstal [The Dates of Danish history.] (in Danish) (2. rev. udg ed.). København: Aschehoug.ISBN 978-87-11-11597-8.
• Ylä-Anttila, Tupu (2019).Habsburg Female Regents in the Early 16th Century. Faculty of Arts.Helsinki:University of Helsinki.ISBN 978-951-51-5701-0.

• Kvindebiografisk Leksikon (Danish)