Infanta Isabella of Spain

From Turtledove

Infanta Isabella of Spain
Historical Figure
Timeline:	OTL
Nationality:	Spain, later resided in The Netherlands
Religion:	Catholicism
Date of Birth:	1566
Date of Death:	1633
Cause of Death:	Natural Causes
Occupation:	Sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands
Spouse:	Albert of Austria
Relatives:	Philip II of Spain (father)
Affiliations:	House of Hapsburg
Timeline:	Ruled Britannia
Occupation:	Queen of England (1588-1598)

Infanta Isabella of Spain (1566–1633) was, together with her husband Albert of Austria joint sovereign of the Hapsburg Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France. She was the daughter of Philip II of Spain.

[edit] Infanta Isabella in Ruled Britannia

When Philip's forces conquered England in 1588, Isabella was installed as Queen; she had ancestors from the English House of Lancaster, which gave her a claim on the throne. She married the Austrian Prince Albert, her cousin and fellow Hapsburg, who became King of England through her.

She restored Catholicism as the kingdom's official state religion. (Her predecessor, Queen Elizabeth, had made Protestantism the official state religion, restoring that status to it after her own predecessor, Queen Mary Tudor had elevated Catholicism following Henry VIII's favoritism of the Protestant sect which he had created over Catholicism.) Throughout her monarchy, she was supported by a large Spanish army but was also supported by a sizable English garrison, as well as Irish troops.

Isabella was overthrown in 1598 when the English, under the leadership of Robert Cecil, revolted against her government and restored Elizabeth to the throne. She and Albert narrowly escaped England with their lives.

Isabella was named for Queen Isabella of Castile, who had helped unify Spain a century before (and had supported Christopher Columbus' exploratory journey to the New World). During her reign over England, Isabella was in the audience when a play honoring her namesake and written by Spanish soldier and playwright Lope de Vega debuted.

Office
Preceded by Queen Elizabeth	Queen of England (Ruled jointly with King Albert) (Ruled Britannia) 1588-1598	Succeeded by Queen Elizabeth