isabella (3)

The couple ruled the Spanish Netherlands together...

and after Albert's death, Isabella was appointed Governor of the Netherlands on behalf of the King of Spain. A false anecdote links Isabella, the siege of Ostend, and the horse coat colour isabelline. The reign of Albert and Isabella is considered the Golden Age of the Spanish Netherlands.

When Albert died in 1621...

Isabella joined the Secular Franciscan Order...

and was appointed the Governor of the Netherlands on behalf of the King of Spain. She was succeeded as Governor by Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, the third son of her half-brother Philip III of Spain in 1633.

She was of great importance to the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales. She lived there as nun with her aunt Empress Maria and gifted major artworks to the convent, including a famous series of Brussels tapestries. This famous cycle was designed by Rubens and depicts Isabella as patron saint Clare of Assisi with Monstrance.

~wikipedia~