Philippa of Hainault, LG or Philippa of Holland (June 24, 1314 – August 15, 1369) is Queen of England as the wife of King Edward III.
Edward, Duke of Guyenne, her future husband, promises in 1326 to marry her within the following two years.
She is married to Edward, first by proxy, when Edward dispatches 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 is celebrated formally in York Minster on January 24, 1328, some months after Edward's accession to the throne of England.
In August 1328, he also fixea his wife's dower.
Philippa acts as regent on several occasions when her husband is away from his kingdom and she often accompanies him on his expeditions to Scotland, France, and Flanders.
Philippa wins much popularity with the English people for her kindness and compassion, which are demonstrated in 1347 when she successfully persuades King Edward to spare the lives of the Burghers of Calais.
It is this popularity that helps maintain peace in England throughout Edward's long reign.
The eldest of her fourteen children i Edward, the Black Prince, who becomes a renowned military leader.
Philippa dies at the age of fifty-five from an illness closely related to dropsy.
The Queen's College, Oxford is founded in her honur.
