Eleanor of Aquataine

Eleanor of Aquitaine was born around 1122. Her grandfather, William IX, was the wealthy and powerful Duke of Aquitaine. When Eleanor was about five years old, William IX died and her father became Duke William X. A few years later, Eleanor's mother and brother died which meant that Eleanor would the heir to the vast lands of Aquitaine.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most powerful and fascinating personalities of feudal Europe. On his deathbed, her father William X asked his most trusted noblemen to place Eleanor in the care of Louis, the King of France. King Louis knew just what to do with the young, beautiful, and wealthy Eleanor. He arranged for her to be married to his son and heir. On August 1, 1137, Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Louis of France. A few days after the wedding, Eleanor's father-in-law died and her husband became King Louis VII.

Eleanor jumped enthusiastically into the role of queen of France, and to the consternation of many observers, the new king respected his wife's intelligence and consulted her frequently on matters of state. Queen Eleanor frequently visited Aquitaine, where she was well regarded by her father's former men-at-arms.

Eleanor and her husband the King were in their teens, but they had little else in common. Eleanor was high-spirited and strong-willed. King Louis was a quiet, introspective and religious man.

In 1144, Muslims captured the city of Edessa located in the Middle East, which had been in Christian han

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nable. Louis demanded that Eleanor follow him to Jerusalem. Furious, Eleanor announced that their marriage was not valid in the eyes of God, for they were related through some family connections to an extent prohibited by the Church. Louis nonetheless forced Eleanor to honor her marriage vows and ride with him. The expedition fail led by Louis failed, and a defeated Eleanor and Louis returned to France in separate ships. On their way home they stopped in Rome, where the pope persuaded them to go to bed together. The result of this Papal intercession was a second daughter born in 1150. Although her marriage to Louis continued for a time, and she bore him two daughters, the relationship was over. In 1152 the marriage was annulled and her vast estates reverted to Eleanor's control. Eleanor left her two daughters by King Louis to be raised in the French court. Within a year, at age thirty, Eleanor married the twenty-year-old Henry who was heir to the British throne. Two years later Henry became king of England. Their temperaments as well as their wealth were well matched. This new husband became Henry II, the King of England in 1154. For the next thirteen years Eleanor bore Henry five sons and three daughters. (William, Henry, R

Category: History - E