Famous Women in History: Eleanor of Aquitaine

NAME: Eleanor of Aquitaine

LIFETIME: 1122 – April 1, 1204

WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Eleanor of Aquitaine holds her place as one of ENTITY’s famous women in history for being independently wealthy and one of the most powerful women in Western Europe. Growing up she was afforded the best possible education, studying arithmetic, astronomy, history, and languages. She was described as “extroverted, lively, intelligent, and strong-willed.” She was praised for her beauty, and was considered even more beautiful than Perpulchra. She inherited the Duchy of Aquitaine from her father, making her one of the most eligible brides in Europe, and three months after she was orphaned she became Queen of France after marrying Louis VII.

WHY WE LOVE HER: Eleanor married Louis VII, bringing a large dowry and land to the French crown. However when her father negotiated any marriage contract for her, it stipulated that her lands would remain her own until one of her sons was enthroned as King of France and Duke of Aquitaine, and no such son was born. A rock crystal vase is displayed at the Lourve and remains history’s only object connected to Eleanor. She gave this particular vase as a wedding gift to Louis. After thirteen years of marriage, Eleanor sought an annulment from Louis, but was denied by the pope. However after the birth of her second daughter Alix, Louis granted her request. A few months later she was engaged and then married to Henry, Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou. He would become King Henry II of England, and his marriage to Eleanor meant that he owned much of France as well, considering Aquitaine was one third the size of modern-day France. In the next 13 years, Eleanor gave birth to eight children: five sons and three daughters, and three of her sons would become Kings of England. Eventually Eleanor and Henry became estranged from each other, suffering from arguments. Henry had numerous affairs, but Eleanor remained ambivalent to them. The couple formally separated in 1169 and she returned to her home in Aquitaine. Her time spent there was one of cultural influence. Her court was called “the court of love” and she sponsored many arts, and troubadours, chivalry, and courtly love ruled here. In 1173, Eleanor supported her son in a bid for the crown, and when Henry learned of her involvement in the plot, he had her arrested. She was imprisoned from 1173 until Henry’s death in 1189, after which her favorite child became King Richard the Lionheart. In 1201 Eleanor retired from the public eye and took the veil of a nun. She remained in the abbey until her death, and was entombed next to Henry II and her son Richard. At the time of her death, she had outlived all but two of her children, King John I and her daughter Eleanor.

FUN FACT: While Richard was one the Third Crusade in Jerusalem, he left Eleanor in England as regent. When Richard was captured, she travelled to Germany to personally negotiate his ransom and return to England. However this crusade was not her first.   Eleanor and her then husband, Louis, travelled to Turkey to lead their own crusade against the Saracens, but their venture was ultimately a failure.