Page "Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy" Paragraph 1

Isabella was born in Évora and spent her youth in the Portuguese court in Lisbon.

The only surviving daughter in a family with five sons, she was brought up according to her mother's strict notions of etiquette and formality, but also indulged and protected.

She, like her brothers, was given a good education by her parents, who desired their children to be not only healthy but intelligent: the Infanta was thus taught several languages, given a good grounding in mathematics, and allowed to experiment in the sciences.

Her father, the romantic but sensible John I, ensured that she was given a good understanding of politics, allowing her to share with her brothers their instructions in affairs of state.

Her mother, the demure and pragmatic Philippa, imparted a commitment to duty, firm discipline, and religious faith that would later prove very important to Isabella.

Phillippa also instilled in the Portuguese infanta a favourable view of her native England, based as much on pragmatic recognition of the advantages to any nation allied with that kingdom as on sentiment.

She was fond of riding and hunting with her brothers, and she became proficient in Latin, French, English and Italian through her studies with the princes.