Eleanor of Aquitaine was a powerful figure in Western Europe, known for her wealth, influence, and involvement in the Second Crusade. She was Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France, and later Queen of England, playing significant roles in politics, culture, and military affairs during the High Middle Ages.
In 1099, Crusaders successfully captured Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
The Abbey of Fontevraud was founded in 1101 by Robert of Arbrissel, establishing a unique mixed-gender monastery led by a woman. It sparked controversy at the time and had 36 abbesses succeeding each other, including notable figures like Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is born in Poitiers or Belin as the daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aenor de Chatellerault.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was born in 1124 as the eldest child of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aénor de Châtellerault.
Duke William X, Eleanor of Aquitaine's father, passes away, leaving Eleanor as the sole heir to his land and wealth, making her the ward of the French King Louis VI.
In 1130, Eleanor of Aquitaine's mother and younger brother, Aigret, passed away, leaving her vulnerable as the heiress to the vast fiefdom of Aquitaine.
In 1135, King Henry I of England passed away, leading to a 19-year war for the crown of England.
Duke William X of Aquitaine died on Good Friday, 9th April 1137, leaving his 13-year-old daughter Eleanor as the Duchess of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest heiresses in Europe.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is quickly married off to Prince Louis of France by King Louis VI, ensuring her future as a Queen. Prince Louis, who was initially destined to become a monk, becomes the only male heir to the French throne after his brother's death.
After the death of Louis VI on August 1, Louis and Eleanor were informed that they were now King and Queen of France. Eleanor was crowned Queen of France at Bourges on Christmas Day 1137.
Eleanor of Aquitaine and Prince Louis of France ascend to the throne as King and Queen of France.
Louis VII marched on Toulouse to enforce Eleanor's claim to the County of Toulouse. Despite laying siege to the city, he was unable to subjugate it and had to withdraw.
In the summer of 1150, Eleanor gave birth to a second daughter named Alix (Adelicia). The lack of a male heir was a concern due to the Capetian line's tradition.
Abbot Suger, who supported the marriage between Louis and Eleanor, passed away on January 13, 1151. His death shifted the balance of opinions regarding the marriage.
On March 11, 1151, a synod presided over by Archbishop Hugues de Toucy was held at Beaugency to consider the annulment of the marriage between Louis and Eleanor on grounds of consanguinity.
Eleanor sought an annulment of her marriage to Louis VII, which was eventually granted on 21 March 1152 on the grounds of consanguinity within the fourth degree.
Eleanor married her third cousin Henry, Duke of Normandy, on Whitsun, 18 May 1152 in Poitiers.
In December 1154, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine were crowned at Westminster.
On 28 February 1155, Eleanor gave birth to her second child, Henry, while King Henry was absent.
On 8 September 1156, Eleanor gave birth to her fourth child, Richard, at Beaumont Palace.
Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, is born to Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
On 23 September 1158, Eleanor gave birth to her fourth son, Geoffrey, while Henry was away in France.
In September 1160, Henry summoned Eleanor and their children to be with him in France.
In September 1161, Eleanor gave birth to her second daughter, Eleanor, in Domfront, Normandy.
In March 1166, Henry II crossed to France to join Eleanor after an unprecedented separation during Christmas. He remained in France for another four years.
Eleanor conceived her last child, John, with Henry after being reunited by Easter in 1166. John was born on Christmas Eve the same year.
In December 1167, Eleanor gathered her movable possessions in England and transported them to Argentan. Christmas was celebrated at the royal court there before she left for Poitiers.
In February 1168, Eleanor brought Matilda to the continent for her marriage to Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony. The marriage took place on 1 February 1168.
On December 29, 1170, John, the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, was born at King's Manor House in Oxford.
Queen Eleanor led her sons in a revolt against their father, King Henry II, due to strained marriage and her desire for power. The plot aimed to overthrow King Henry and secure the throne for Eleanor and one of her sons.
After the failed revolt, Queen Eleanor became a prisoner of King Henry II. This event marked a significant shift in power dynamics within the royal family.
In early 1176, Henry II tried to persuade Eleanor to become a nun at Fontevrault, but she refused with the support of the Archbishop of Rouen.
Louis VII, the first husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine, passed away in 1180 CE. His death had significant implications for the political landscape of the time.
Eleanor was released from imprisonment on 6 July 1189, following the death of her husband Henry II.
On September 3, 1189, Queen Eleanor was finally released from her 15-year captivity at Winchester Castle. Her imprisonment was a result of King Henry's suspicion of her involvement in a plot against him. This event marked a significant moment in the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
In June 1191, Eleanor arrived in England in the company of Walter de Coutances and exercised significant influence over the affairs of England during King Richard I's absence.
In 1192 CE, Richard I was kidnapped by Henry VI of the Holy Roman Empire and held for ransom. This event had a major impact on the political dynamics of the time.
In 1193, Eleanor wrote letters to Pope Celestine III expressing her personal suffering due to Richard's captivity and played a crucial role in raising the ransom demanded from England.
Eleanor of Aquitaine raised the ransom for her son, Richard I, who was held captive. She personally delivered the ransom to Austria and successfully brought her son back home in 1194 CE.
On April 6, 1199, Richard the Lionheart passed away at Chalus.
In early 1200, Eleanor traveled to Castile to select a princess for the marriage agreement between King Philip II's heir-apparent Louis and one of John's nieces.
In 1202, Eleanor of Aquitaine played a crucial role in defending Anjou and Aquitaine against her grandson Arthur of Brittany, securing John's French possessions. Her actions were instrumental in ensuring John's victories on the Continent.
Eleanor of Aquitaine passed away on 31 March 1204 and was entombed in Fontevraud Abbey next to her husband Henry II, son Richard I, and daughter Joan.
Eleanor of Aquitaine passed away on April 1, 1204, in Fontevrault, Anjou, France. She was the queen consort of both Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, and was known as one of the most powerful women in 12th-century Europe.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is portrayed as Eleonora di Guienna in Gaetano Donizetti's opera Rosmonda d'Inghilterra (1834).
In 1858, Frederick Sandys painted 'Queen Eleanor', adding to the many artistic representations of Eleanor of Aquitaine throughout history.
Eleanor was portrayed by Martita Hunt in the 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men.
Norah Lofts wrote a fictionalized biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1955, exploring romanticized episodes in her life.
Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II are the main characters in James Goldman's 1966 play The Lion in Winter, where Katharine Hepburn played Eleanor in the 1968 film adaptation.
In 1973, E. L. Konigsburg wrote a children's novel featuring Eleanor of Aquitaine titled 'A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver'.
The book 'Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings' by A. Kelly was published in 1978. It explores the life and influence of Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful women in medieval Europe.
In 1979, Judy Chicago created 'The Dinner Party' installation featuring a place setting for Eleanor of Aquitaine, highlighting her enduring presence in popular culture.
In 1987, Jean Plaidy wrote 'The Courts of Love', a fictionalized account of Eleanor of Aquitaine's life as part of the 'Queens of England' series.
The book 'Les femmes au pouvoir' by Suzanne Tunc explores the history of the Abbey of Fontevraud, focusing on two abbesses from the 12th and 17th centuries. It highlights the unique nature of the abbey as a mixed-gender institution led by women.
In 1995, Sharon Kay Penman prominently featured Eleanor of Aquitaine in the novel 'When Christ and His Saints Slept', part of the Plantagenet series.
In 2002, Kristiana Gregory penned a fictionalized diary titled 'Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine' as part of 'The Royal Diaries' series.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was commemorated on a French €0.50 postage stamp in 2004, marking the 800th anniversary of her death.
Desmond Seward's biography delves into the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, portraying her as a powerful medieval queen who ruled over France and England. It emphasizes her thirst for power, her beauty, and her political influence during the Middle Ages.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is featured as a playable leader for the English and French civilizations in the 2019 video game expansion Civilization VI: Gathering Storm.