Learn more about this amazing queen by clicking the pages to the left. Everything you know about eleanor of aquitaine is wrong. Married to louis, king of france, she divorced him to marry henry plantagenet, eventually becoming queen of england. Queen of france, queen of england and jean floris alienor d aquitaine. Throughout her long life, she made many inflluencial decisions and is mother to two kings. How did eleanor become such a powerful queen during the period in which she lived. Queen eleanor of aquitaine inherited the duchy of aquitaine from her father in 17. Eleanor, faithful to her word, kept her half of the bargain she had made with bernard. Labande believes leonor was a worshiped protector of troubadours. As the title implies, much of the novel takes place after eleanor, having helped her sons to rebel against their father, is imprisoned by a furious henry. Eleanor of aquitaine was said to have been a beautiful woman with blond hair and blue eyes. Eleanor of aquitaine 11241204 still fascinates and intrigues historians today, who continue to. He was also the heir to the throne of england as settlement of the conflicting claims of his mother empress matilda empress maud, daughter of henry i of england, and her cousin, stephen, who had seized the throne of england at.
In a work of masterly scholarship, jean markale presents a fascinating portrait of a woman. These children were given the best possible chance to succeed in their life because of their mothers legacy and the ties she made throughout her life. The captive queen follows eleanor from her marriage to henry ii to his death, with an epilogue that breezes through eleanors last years. Having inherited a vast feudal domain stretching from the loire to the pyrenees, she was one of the greatest heiresses in history. Eleanor was the elder daughter of william, tenth duke of aquitaine. I was looking for more information about eleanor s life than analysis on the comparisons between her and guinevere, etc. Perhaps the most famous aspect of the reign of queen eleanor of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine harmony and happiness of courtly love. I was looking for more information about eleanors life than analysis on the comparisons between her and guinevere, etc. Eleanor was the daughter and heiress of william x, duke of aquitaine and count of poitiers, who possessed one of the largest domains in francelarger, in fact, than those held by the french king. Evans, lecturer in medieval history at central michigan university.
Looks at eleanors life and her role in history, the second crusade, courtly love, the plantagenet court, and arthurian literature. Eleanor was born in the year of 1122,her exact date of birth was never really found. Louis and eleanor were married in july 17, but had little time to get to know one another before louis father the king fell ill and died. The royal couple had 8 children, five sons, and three daughters. In keeping with our theme of medieval british queens, lets look into the life of eleanor of aquitaine. Louis would add aquitaine to the royal lands, but the marriage did not turn out as well as he hoped. Eleanor of aquitaine 12th century phoenix history of. Christmas 1183an aging and conniving king henry ii plans a reunion where he hopes to name his successor. Queen eleanor of aquitaine remained heavily involved in the ruling of king henry iis vast empire in france and england.
A troubadour was a composer and performer of old occitan lyric poetry during the high middle ages. Eleanor of aquitaine simple english wikipedia, the free. By the wrath of god, queen of england, random house 1999 all about history is part of future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen consort of france and england. Aquitaine and the troubadours eleanor of aquitaine. Venturing off on crusades, working in the government systems of both countries she ruled, and attempting to save her kingdoms through alliances made with her children, eleanor. Ralph of diceto her passions are made of nothing but the finest parts of pure love. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 171152 and england 11541189 and duchess of aquitaine in her own right 171204.
Eleanor of aquitaine was born in 1122, either at bordeaux or at the nearby castle of belin. Eleanor lived for a long time and passed through a lot of ups and downs in her life. Eleanor of aquitaine women in world history curriculum. Download the lion in winter 1968 yify torrent for 1080p. Learn more about eleanor of aquitaine in this article. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen of france and england, wife of louis vii of france. She had a younger sister called petronilla of aquitaine.
Duchess and heiress of aquitaine and gascogne, countess of poitou. William x held one of the largest domains in franceeven larger than that held by the king of france himself. As a member of the ramnulfids house of poitiers rulers in southwestern france, she was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western europe during the high middle ages. In tracing her life story professor owen reassesses her political importance during the reigns of her husband henry ii and her sons, richard the lionheart and john, and aims to separate the true historical eleanor from. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The 12th century saw significant advances in both the intellectual and. Deconstructing the story of eleanor of aquitaine the. A history of eleanor of aquitaine british heritage. Eleanor of aquitaine had a total of ten children and a countless number of grandchildren. Queen eleanor of aquitaine accomplished feats that most women in her day would not have dreamed of. Ive been reading a biography of eleanor of aquitaine 171152, which led me to the subject of troubadours. Eleanor of aquitaine is often remembered as one of two things.
Plantagenet possessions had been entrusted to prince john and eleanor of aquitaine, the queen motherqueen of england, former queen of france, duchess of aquitaine, countess of poitou, et ceteraduring richards absence. Troubadours were poets and musicians whose art form flourished mostly between the 11 th and th centuries. Primary documents, biographical material and thematic chapters bring this unique period to life. Eleanors court was a trend setter in the medieval world, known for its sophistication and luxury. Eleanor of aquitaine became an amazing queen to aquitaine that she continued all of the things her father created. The exact date of her birth is unknown, but she was raised in one of europes most cultured courts and given an excellent education. Eleanor of aquitaine, courtly love, and the troubadours. The mere mention of eleanor of aquitaine brings to mind an remarkable woman in. She was the queen of both france and england in the 12th century. Duchess eleanor of aquitaine, queen consort of france, queen consort of england duration. The following year eleanor gave birth, not to the manchild she had ordered but to a daughter, whom she named marie in honor of the queen of heaven. Henry was the duke of normandy through his mother, empress matilda, and count of anjou through his father. Aquitaine was like a separate nation with lands extending in southwestern france from the river loire to the pyrenees. Her legacy was passed on through her children and grandchildren and their upbringing.
Medieval music at banquets troubadours, poetry, eleanor. Eleanor of aquitaine was a warrior at heart, and even. At age 15 she married louis vii, king of france, bringing into the union her vast possessions in from the river loire in france to the pyrenees near the border of modern germany. She was the wife of two kings and mother of three kings and she went on crusade to the holy land. Eleanor of aquitaine and the four kings by amy kelly who provides an excellent lifeandtimes approach, and eleanor of aquitaine by marion meade who gives a feminist interpretation. Eleanor of aquitaine, duchess of aquitaine in her own right, queen of france the first wife of king louis vii of france, marriage annulled after 15 years and queen of england wife of king henry ii of england survived her first husband, her second husband, and eight of her ten children. While neither of these descriptions is wrong they fall short in illustrating the magnanimity of this 12 th century queen. John williams waterhouse, the soul of the rose, 1903. Queen eleanor of aquitaine synonyms, queen eleanor of aquitaine pronunciation, queen eleanor of aquitaine translation, english dictionary definition of queen eleanor of aquitaine.
The following biography information provides basic facts and information about the life of eleanor of aquitaine a medieval queen in england during the middle ages. Eleanor might be the queen in paris, but she was still an aquitanian, a foreigner, like nearly. Eleanor aquitaines literary role, i have gathered scattered information from different sources. Eleanor of aquitaine by the wrath of god, queen of england. In 1173, henrys sons started a revolt against their father with eleanor siding with her sons. Expressing personal feelings became the province of troubadours. Eleanor of aquitaine harmony and happiness of courtly. Queen eleanor of aquitaine was not an average queen. She brought the province of aquitaine to england when she married henry ii of england. And the king looked oer his left shoulder and a grim look looked he, oh, earl marshal, but for my oath, then hanged you would be. She was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12thcentury europe. Upon williams death in 17 she inherited the duchy of aquitaine and in july 17 married the heir to the french throne, who succeeded his father, louis vi, the following month.
This fascinating new biography tells the story of one of the most influential figures of the twelfth century, eleanor of aquitaine, successively queen of france and of england. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen consort of both louis vii of france 1752 and henry ii of england 11521204 and mother of richard i the lionheart and john of england. Queen eleanor, independent spirit of the medieval world. Eleanor of aquitaine is a fascinating and remarkable woman who lived in the medieval ages. Eleanor was wealthy because she was heiress of the duchy of aquitaine, one of the greatest fiefs in europe. She was the longestlived british queen consort until the death of queen mary, wife of king george v, 749.
Eleanor of aquitaine this is part of my medieval queens of england series, in which i write a short biography of the queens of england from matilda of flanders to elizabeth i. The author offers an accessible overview of the vibrant personal and intellectual developments in the medieval court and monasteries during eleanor of aquitaines lifetime. She also was a person who cared about the education of the people of aquitaine were all mostly educated and smart. Queen and rebel by jean flori, translated by olive classe. Due to her fathers enormous wealth, eleanor was raised in one of europes most cultured courts and given an excellent education, the bbc reports. With troops that she had helped to recruit at vewzelai, eleanor made the long expedition from metz to byzantium in the spring and summer of 1147.
Alison weir brought her to life and as well as telling her story, she explained how her life as a woman was then in medieval society to how women are treated in todays society. The awardwinning film, lion in winter, katherine hepburn shows eleanors inner life during her captivity. The english medieval queens and princesses of the middle ages cover the periods from 1066 1485. In may 1152, eleanor of aquitaine married henry fitzempress. Eleanors father was, william x, ruler of aquitaine. Eleanor, queen of france and england and duchess of aquitaine. Countess of anjou, queen consort of france and of england. Eleanor of aquitaine was one of the most powerful people in feudal europe.
Queen eleanor turned in her bed and cried that she was betrayed. In her train came troubadours and poets, first to france and then to england. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 17 1152 and england 11541189 and duchess of aquitaine in her own right. Queen eleanor of aquitaine definition of queen eleanor. Eleanor of aquitaine was in her time the most famous woman in the world. She was queen of not one nation, but two both france and england, as well as dutchess to the land of aquitaine. Eleanor, duchess of aquitaine was one of the leading personalities of the middle ages, and also one of the most controversial. They tended to be employed by a wealthy person, often for their whole careers, and mostly in the provence region of medieval france.
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