Philippa of Hainault

Philippa of Hainault was Queen of England as the wife of King Edward III. Edward, Duke of Guyenne, her future husband, 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 in October 1327. The marriage was celebrated formally in York Minster onJanuary 1328, some months after Edwards accession to the throne of England. In August 1328, he also fixed his wifes dower.

Philippa was born in Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut, in the Low Countries, a daughter of William I, Count of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland, and Joan of Valois, the granddaughter of Philip III of France. She was one of eight children and the second of five daughters. Her eldest sister Margaret married Emperor Louis IV in 1324 and in 1345, she became the suo jure Countess of Hainaut upon the death of their brother William in battle. William II, Count of Hainaut, nicknamed the Audacious, was also possessor of the counties of Zealand and Holland as well as of the seigniory of Frieze these vacant inheritances were devolved to Margaret after agreement between Philippa and her sister. Edward III of England, however, in 136465, in the name of his wife Philippa, demanded the return of Hainaut and other inheritances which had been given over to the Dukes of BavariaStraubing. He was not successful, as it was the custom in these regions to favour male heirs.

Source: Wikipedia