The Skaggs-Files

Philippa of Hainault (24 June 1311 - August 14, 1369) was the Queen consort of Edward III of England.

Philippa was born in Flanders, the daughter of William VI of Hainault and second cousin of Edward III. She married Edward on January 24, 1328, at York Minster. They had thirteen children, including five sons who lived into adulthood and whose rivalry would eventually bring about the long-running civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses.

The French writer Jean Froissart came with Philippa to England as her secretary, and his observations on life at court are a valuable source of information about this period. Philippa is remembered by history as a tender-hearted woman, who interceded with her husband and persuaded him to spare the lives of the six burghers of Calais, whom he had planned to execute as an example to the townspeople. She died of dropsy at Windsor, and was buried at Westminster.

Philippa of Hainault (~1314 - August 15, 1369) was the Queen consort of Edward III of England.

Philippa was born in Flanders (modern Belgium) and was the daughter of William III, Count of Hainaut and Jeanne de Valois, the granddaughter of Philip III of France. She married Edward at York Minster, on October, 1327, nine months after his accession to the English throne and, unlike many of her predecessors, she did not alienate the English people by retaining her foreign retinue upon her marriage or bringing large amounts of foreigners to the English court.

Philippa accompanied Edward on his expeditions to Scotland (1333) and Flanders (1338-40), where she won acclaim for her gentleness and compassion. She is also remembered by history as the tender-hearted woman, who interceded with her husband and persuaded him to spare the lives of the Burghers of Calais whom he had planned to execute as an example to the townspeople.

Philippa and Edward had thirteen children, including five sons who lived into adulthood and whose rivalry would eventually bring about the long-running civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Their sons are listed below:
Edward the Black Prince
Lionel of Antwerp
John of Gaunt
Edmund of Langley
Thomas of Woodstock

They also had several daughters.

Philippa died of dropsy in Windsor Castle, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.