Philippa of Hainault (Middle French: Philippe de Hainaut; 24 June c.1310/15 – 15 August 1369) was Queen of England as the wife of King Edward III.
Edward promised in 1326 to marry her within the following two years.
She was married to Edward, first by proxy, when Edward dispatched the Bishop of Coventry "to marry her in his name" in Valenciennes (second city in importance of the county of Hainaut) in October 1327.
The marriage was celebrated formally in York Minster on 24 January 1328, some months after Edward's accession to the throne of England.
In August 1328, he also fixed his wife's dower.Philippa acted as regent in 1346, when her husband was away from his kingdom, and she often accompanied him on his expeditions to Scotland, France, and Flanders.
Philippa won much popularity with the English people for her kindness and compassion, which were demonstrated in 1347 when she successfully persuaded King Edward to spare the lives of the Burghers of Calais.
This popularity helped maintain peace in England throughout Edward's long reign.
The eldest of her thirteen children was Edward, the Black Prince, who became a renowned military leader.
Philippa died at the age of fifty-six from an illness closely related to edema.
The Queen's College, Oxford was founded in her honour.
Author: engraved by W. H. Mote (1803-1871) after an illustration by J.W. Wright Source: engraving published in 1875 book "The Queens of England or Royal Book of Beauty" (or 1851 book "Biographical Sketches of the Queens of England"), edited by Mary Howitt License: CC-PD-Mark PD-Art (PD-old default) PD-Art (PD-old-70)