Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), Queen of Henry II

[lexi4]

Eleanor of Aquitaine has always fascinated me. My interest in her developed after watching A Lion in Winter. I have read several book about her and discovered her to be an amazing woman. Her husband, Henry, was notorious for having affairs and it was rumored that Eleanor did as well.
Here are a few tidbits about her:

- She outlived all but two of her children and they were King John of England and Queen Eleanor of Castile.

- She had eight children with Henry: William (died young), Henry, Matilda,Richard, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joanna, and John.

-She had a younger sister, Petronella, with whom she was close.

- After Eleanor of Aquitaine discovered the love affair of her husband, Henry II, with Rosamund and went to France to confront her former husband, King Louis, her husband Henry II intercepted her plan, made her prisoner, and sent her to England to be kept at Winchester. She remained prisoner until Henry II died and then Richard gave her her freedom. He then made her Regent of England while went on crusade. She was Regent from 1189 until 1199.

- She was queen to two kings

[Russophile]

Oh Lex! I have "Elanor of Aquitane and the 4 (I think it is!) Kings" and I have started it and started it and haven't finished!!
I think The Lion in Winter is incredibly fun! Loved it!
Didn't she have lots of daughters with King Louis and this is why he divorced her?

[lilytornado]

Oh, no I think SHE wanted to divorce him. I think I read that Loius actually liked her. I think they said that they are too closely related (not really close, but any proven relation was enough to annull in those days) and giving them only daughters was god's way of showing them. Louis was really religious.

[lexi4]

I think that is correct. And then she got with Henry and had a mess of sons. That woman was amazing.

[ladybelline]

She's one of my favorite Queens as well. A woman with a very strong personnality, in times where women were not really considered...

She had two daughters, Marie and Alix, with her first husband, King Louis VII of France.

There are many reasons behind their separation : Eleanor's supposed infidelity during the Second Crusade, many arguments between her and Louis (she apparently even said of him "Louis is more a monk than a King")
She married Henry only six weeks after the marriage's annulation!

[Russophile]

Wasn't Henry younger than her? Or am I thinking Tudor instead of Plantangent?

[ladybelline]

Henry was 10/12 years younger than Eleanor. (But you're also right, Henry VIII Tudor was six years younger than first wife Katherine of Aragon...)

[lexi4]

Originally Posted by ladybelline

She's one of my favorite Queens as well. A woman with a very strong personnality, in times where women were not really considered...

She had two daughters, Marie and Alix, with her first husband, King Louis VII of France.

There are many reasons behind their separation : Eleanor's supposed infidelity during the Second Crusade, many arguments between her and Louis (she apparently even said of him "Louis is more a monk than a King")
She married Henry only six weeks after the marriage's annulation!

Agreed. The woman had spunk! And how many can say the "ruled" over two kingdoms. She even got one of her sons to lead a war against her husband! Now that took some guts.

[ladybelline]

There are no portraits of Eleanor, only her representation on her tomb in Fontevraud Abbey, in France:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...d_Henri_II.jpg

Henry is buried at her side. Their son King Richard the "Lionheart" is there as well.

Edit: I was wrong! there's a representation of Eleanor and her son King John
in a monastery in Poitiers, France:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...sans_terre.jpg

[Ithil]

I totally agree that Eleanor of Aquitaine was a very amazing and fascinating woman!

[PssMarie-Elisabeth]

Eleanor Of Aquitaine,queen of Henry II

[CarolinaLandgrave]

She was a fascinating, vibrant, spitfire of a Lady - ie, a Queen.
Ive read and heard some really great things about her life and her character - very strong for a woman in the Middle Ages.

And I have to agree with Russophile - 'A Lion in Winter' is a great movie. Katherine Hepburn is the only person who could ever be Eleanor!

[georgiea]

Originally Posted by CarolinaLandgrave

She was a fascinating, vibrant, spitfire of a Lady - ie, a Queen.
Ive read and heard some really great things about her life and her character - very strong for a woman in the Middle Ages.

And I have to agree with Russophile - 'A Lion in Winter' is a great movie. Katherine Hepburn is the only person who could ever be Eleanor!

Eleanor was also a very beautiful woman.
He father made sure she was well educated for a woman in the Middle Ages.
I only know of two books written about her in recent years.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by georgiea

Eleanor was also a very beatiful woman.
He father made sure she was well educated for a woman in the Middle Ages.
I only know of two books written about her in recent years.

Isnt one of them on the Book of the mOnth club, if so, I've got it!

[scooter]

I love her story. She took no BS from anyone.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by scooter

I love her story. She took no BS from anyone.

And I bet she was prudent enough to take the things she had to take and couldn't do anything about in good grace.

[georgiea]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

And I bet she was prudent enough to take the things she had to take and couldn't do anything about in good grace.

After her battle for power with her sons over the King's throne. Eleanor of Aquitaine was imprision for many years by her husband the King. I think she must have been a very healthy indivudal because she lived through the imprisionment and her own husband's death. Her son let her go from prision.

I think one of the books I read was written by Alison Wier.

[Amy]

There are a few good books on Eleanor, i have read the books by Desmond Seward and Douglas Boyd. And i am currently reading the one by Marion Meade. There are also books written by Amy Kelly, D.D.R Owen and Alison Weir.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

And I bet she was prudent enough to take the things she had to take and couldn't do anything about in good grace.

I wonder if Elizabeth I took lessons. . . .

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

Amazingly, she ensured her linage would continue in France, even after her divorce, by arranging the marriage of her granddaughter, Bianca of Castile, to her former husband's grandson, Louis VIII.
At the age of 80, she crossed the Pyranees and fetched Bianca herself and escorted her to Paris.
Bianca is known to history now as Blanche, mother of Louis IX or Saint Louis of France...

Larry