England's First Black Queen, Mother of the Black PrincePhilippa was the daughter of William of Hainault, a lord in part of what is now Belgium. When she was nine the King of England, Edward II, decided that he would marry his son, the future Edward III, to her, and sent one of his bishops, a Bishop Stapeldon, to look at her. He described her thus:
"The lady whom we saw has not uncomely hair, betwixt blue-black and brown. Her head is cleaned shaped; her forehead high and broad, and standing somewhat forward. Her face narrows between the eyes, and the lower part of her face is still more narrow and slender than the forehead. Her eyes are blackish brown and deep. Her nose is fairly smooth and even, save that is somewhat broad at the tip and flattened, yet it is no snub nose. Her nostrils are also broad, her mouth fairly wide. Her lips somewhat full and especially the lower lip…all her limbs are well set and unmaimed, and nought is amiss so far as a man may see. Moreover, she is brown of skin all over, and much like her father, and in all things she is pleasant enough, as it seems to us."
Four years later, Prince Edward went to visit his bride-to-be and her family, and fell in love with her. She was betrothed to him and, in 1327, when she was only 14, she arrived in England. The next year, when she was 15, they married and were crowned King and Queen, in 1330, when she was heavily pregnant with her first child and only 17.
This first child was called Edward, like his father, but is better known as the Black Prince. Many say that he was called this because of the colour of his armour, but there are records that show that he was called 'black' when he was very small. The French called him 'Le Noir'.
Philippa was a remarkable woman. She was very wise and was known and loved by the English for her kindliness and restraint. She would travel with her husband on his campaigns and take her children as well. When the King was abroad she ruled in his absence. Queen's College in Oxford University was founded under her direction by her chaplain, Robert de Eglesfield in 1341 when she was 28. She brought many artists and scholars from Hainault who contributed to English culture.
When she died, Edward never really recovered, and she was much mourned by him and the country. King Edward had a beautiful sculpture made for her tomb which you can see today at Westminster Abbey.
This portrait is of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, when she was young.
ReplyDeleteShe was as white as they come.Why are you spreading misinformation?
ReplyDeleteDummy read what it says about her description you think she never had African Ancestry in her lineage? So what about Queen Charlotte who was of mixed race like (Meghan Markle) who was married to King George III and gave birth to Queen Victoria.. You need to do diligent research history is "WHITEWASH."
DeleteWhy getting personal Unknown? The painting still shows Mary Queen of Scots!
DeletePhilippa was as white as they come.Why spreading lies?
ReplyDeleteSo answer this question why was Edward III was called "The Black Prince," ? Who was the son of Philippa Hainult the picture in this article?
DeleteReading this description, she was clearly a woman of colour. Prejudice against those of colour started around 1492 during the Spanish inquisition, but didn't become radicalised as the racism we know today until the late 18th century. Read the book "People of Colour and the Royals". It's fascinating.
DeleteHey Unknown the black Prince was called like that, because he painted his amour black before battle!
ReplyDelete