Adela was the third child and first daughter of Theobald II, Count of Champagne and Matilda of Carinthia,[1] and had nine brothers and sisters.

She went on to give birth to Louis VII's only son, Philip II,[2] and to the future Byzantine empress Agnes.

[citation needed] It took five years for Adela to give birth to Louis VII's only son, the future Philip Augustus, also called Philip "Dieu-Donne" or "God-given" because his birth was long-awaited by a kingdom that had enjoyed a long unbroken lineage of undisputed male heirs to the throne.

Adela formed an alliance with Hugh III of Burgundy and Philip I of Flanders, and even tried to interest Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

According to Gislebert of Mons, Isabella then appeared barefooted and dressed as a penitent in the town's churches to gain public support, which convinced Philip to change his mind.