Isabella
was the eldest daughter of John II of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut
(dc.1273) and Alice de la Roche of Athens. She had been
previously married as a child to child-King
of Cyprus, Hugh II. The marraige was not consummated.
Following the
death of her husband Hugh (Dec. 1267), Hugh
III of Cyprus hoped to use her as an eligible heiress to
attract some distinguished King to the East. Although a
virgin-widow, her virginity of short duration, and she became
notorious for her lack of chastity. Isabella undertook a brief
liaison with Julian of Sidon.
A papal bull
was issued urging her to marry. As an act of defiance, Isabella
gave herself and her lordship to an Englishman Hamo L'Estrange
(or the Foreigner), a companion of Prince Edward of England
(1272). On Hamo's death (1273), she put herself and her fief
under the protection of Bairbars.
Hugh of Cyprus
tried to carry her off. Isabella returned to Beirut, but this
time with a Mameluke guard installed to protect her. On the
death of Bairbars, Hugh resumed control of the fief. Isabella
married twice more (3. Nicholas L'Aleman, and 4. William Barlais)
before her death (1282). Beirut the passed to her sister Eschiva,
wife of Humphrey of Montfort (d.1283).
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