Eleanor of Aquitaine and Her Influence on History

Written by Simon Williams

Eleanor of Aquitaine was Queen of France and then England, mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John, and one of the most powerful political figures of the 12th century. She was imprisoned twice for defying the kings who were her own sons.

Key Facts

• Born: c.1122, Poitiers, Duchy of Aquitaine
• Died: 1 April 1204, Fontevraud Abbey, Anjou
• First marriage: King Louis VII of France, 1137 to 1152 (annulled)
• Second marriage: King Henry II of England, 1152 to 1189 (his death)
• Children: Eight, including Richard I and King John
• Imprisoned by: Henry II (c.1173-1189) and Richard I (briefly, 1190s)
• Buried: Fontevraud Abbey, Anjou, alongside Henry II and Richard I

Who Was Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Legendary 12th Century Queen?

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12th century Europe, inheriting vast swathes of land and wealth as Duchess of Aquitaine in her adolescent years. She leveraged her power and prominence into two pivotal queenships, first wedding King Louis VII of France in 1137 at only age 15 to become Queen Consort, then marrying Henry of Anjou after getting her first marriage annulled in 1152, following his coronation as King Henry II of England. This second union resulted in her bearing several influential royal sons like Richard the Lionheart and King John. Throughout her long and consequential life, Eleanor played crucial roles in decade-spanning political conflicts as Queen and Mother while also championing patronage of medieval arts and culture.

Born Into Nobility in France's Aquitaine Region

Eleanor was born in 1122, eldest daughter to Duke William X of Aquitaine, ruler of extensive lands across western and southwestern France. As nobility, she received an esteemed early education in languages, music, literature and riding, preparing for future leadership. Under Frankish inheritance laws at the time, women could inherit lands and titles in their own right as heiresses.

Sudden Inheritance Transforms Teenage Eleanor into a Powerful Duchess

When Duke William died in 1137, 15-year old Eleanor rose to power as the new reigning Duchess of Aquitaine, gaining control over the duchy's sweeping holdings including Aquitaine proper, Poitou, Gascony and Bordeaux – coveted lands encompassing a vast region larger than modern France. Now the most eligible and desirable heiress in all of 12th century Europe, Eleanor swiftly found herself highly sought-after by nobles and royals seeking to benefit from access to her immense assets via marriage alliances.

A Strategic Royal Union with the King of France

In 1137, at the mere age of 15, Eleanor was wed to the King of France, Louis VII, in a prestigious political match. This marriage granted her the eminent title of Queen Consort of France and allowed King Louis to incorporate her substantial Aquitaine lands into his royal demesne. Though a successful dynastic alliance at first, the union confronted challenges during its early years.

Accompanying the Momentous Second Crusade

As King Louis VII led the Second Crusade between 1147-1149 seeking to reclaim the Holy Land, Queen Eleanor convinced him to allow her to accompany the royal crusader contingent. Eleanor travelled through Byzantium and on to the Holy Land along with 300 of her ladies-in-waiting, exerting considerable influence over moral and strategy. Her rumoured affair with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers, during this legendary endeavour, however, introduced strains into her marriage with Louis.

Dissolution on Questionable Grounds

After 15 years without producing a male heir, Eleanor's high-profile royal marriage ultimately dissolved. While the reasons remain ambiguous in the historical record, the Papacy controversially granted an annulment in March 1152, potentially on grounds of consanguinity. Nonetheless, the two monarchs would remain connected through years of dispute over control of the wealthy Aquitaine province.

Her Swift Betrothal to Henry of Anjou

Despite being age 30 when her first marriage ended, Eleanor's marriage prospects and appeal remained strong, thanks chiefly to her substantial territorial holdings. Mere weeks after her annulment, she became betrothed and swiftly married Henry of Anjou, thirteen years her junior. His subsequent coronation as King Henry II of England would see her crowned Queen Consort once more by 1154.

Becoming Queen Consort of England

Henry of Anjou's subsequent coronation as King Henry II of England in 1154 saw Eleanor crowned Queen Consort once more following their swift marriage just two years prior. This began a period of consolidation of the Plantagenet dynastic empire, with Henry gaining control over England, Normandy, Anjou and Aquitaine by 1160 with Eleanor directly holding the latter as her duchy.

The Early Bearing of Many Sons over 13 Years

As Henry II focused on expanding his kingdom through war and diplomacy, Eleanor busied herself bearing his male heirs to secure the succession. She gave birth to eight children over thirteen years, including the ill-fated Henry the Young King in 1155, Richard I born in 1157, and John, born in 1166, who would later sit on the English throne himself as King John "Lackland".

Wielding Influence as Queen and Administering Aquitaine

Though often apart from her husband conducting his campaigns, Eleanor actively wielded influence as Queen consort of England in court and council during her fertile decades. She also directly governed her sizeable duchy of Aquitaine for decades, where she promoted a rich artistic culture amongst the nobility, encouraged courtly love and troubadour lyric poetry, and became renowned as a protective patron.

Later Conflicts with Henry and Imprisonment

As she entered her mature years with grown sons, major conflicts emerged between Eleanor and King Henry II from the 1170s onward, centered around succession rights and autonomy over Aquitaine. By the 1180s these disputes deteriorated dramatically, prompting Henry to effectively place his Queen under house arrest within various English castles for up to sixteen years until the King's death.

Clashes with Richard I, the Lionheart

Following King Henry II's death in 1189, Eleanor initially avoided open conflict with her son, the renowned Richard I, as he immediately embarked on the Third Crusade after acceding to the English throne. However, during his absence abroad she discovered that Richard meant to name his nephew Arthur of Brittany as Aquitaine's successor rather than her. Eleanor conspired to raise support for another son, John, to take the Duchy, but Richard imprisoned her for nearly two years on his return.

Scheming in Support of John "Lackland"

Eleanor's loyalty swung decisively in favour of John once Richard named him as rightful heir to England and its French territories. She campaigned actively on John's behalf to secure lands and titles for him in the final years of King Richard I's reign. This would ultimately pay off when John succeeded his brother in 1199, taking the crown as King John.

Ongoing Imprisonment into Extreme Old Age

Despite briefly regaining authority with John's accession, by 1200 Eleanor once again found herself tightly controlled and incarcerated following disputes over her attempts to expand territorial claims in Aquitaine into Toulouse on her son's behalf. By this time in her mid-70s, she would spend most of the remainder of her long life confined by John, enduring a final imprisonment that lasted between 1202 until her death aged 82 in April 1204. She was entombed at the abbey in Fontevraud.

Legacy of a Formidable Queen

Though the last fifteen years of her life passed as a lonely captive widow, Eleanor of Aquitaine's dramatic career trajectory as Queen of both Louis VII and later Henry II left a bold legacy. She not only reigned over Aquitaine with keen authority but also birthed multiple sons that included the infamous English crusading monarch Richard the Lionheart and the much-maligned King John, hugely impacting the beleaguered later Plantagenet era.

This article is part of the Notable Historical Figures series. Explore all articles at historiesandcastles.com/blogs/historical-figures.

Deepen Your Understanding

History rarely happens in isolation. The people, places, and events on this page are part of a much bigger story. The articles below explore the threads that connect to what you have just read.

→ King Henry II: A Monarch of Legal Reforms: Eleanor's second husband and the man whose legal revolution remade England. Understanding Henry II is essential to understanding Eleanor's world.

→ King John: England's Most Controversial Monarch: The son Eleanor campaigned to put on the throne. His catastrophic reign and the road to Magna Carta are the direct legacy of the Plantagenet family politics Eleanor spent her life navigating.

→ Stephen of Blois: A Historical Overview: The civil war Eleanor's second husband ended. Understanding the Anarchy that preceded Henry II's reign shows why Eleanor's political skills were so urgently needed.

→ The Anarchy: Civil War in Medieval England: The nineteen years of warfare that shaped the world Eleanor entered when she married Henry of Anjou in 1152.

→ Medieval Legal System Under Edward I: The legal institutions Edward I built were the heirs of the reforms Henry II introduced during Eleanor's years as Queen of England.

People Also Ask

Who was Eleanor of Aquitaine?

Eleanor of Aquitaine (c.1122-1204) was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right and, through marriage, Queen Consort of France and then England. She was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in medieval Europe. Her first marriage to Louis VII of France was annulled in 1152 after fifteen years. She then married Henry of Anjou, who became Henry II of England, with whom she had eight children including the future Richard I and King John. She was twice imprisoned, once by her husband Henry II for sixteen years, and is buried at Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou.

Why was Eleanor of Aquitaine imprisoned?

Eleanor of Aquitaine was imprisoned on two separate occasions. Henry II placed her under house arrest from around 1173, following her alleged role in supporting the rebellion of her sons against their father, known as the revolt of 1173-74. She remained confined in various English castles for approximately sixteen years until Henry's death in 1189. She was then briefly imprisoned a second time by her son Richard I, reportedly after she attempted to secure control of Aquitaine for another son, John. Both imprisonments reflect how Eleanor's political ambitions continued to threaten the men around her even as she aged.

How many children did Eleanor of Aquitaine have?

Eleanor of Aquitaine had ten children in total across both marriages. With her first husband Louis VII of France she had two daughters: Marie and Alix. With her second husband Henry II of England she had eight children: Henry the Young King, Richard (the future Richard I), Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan, John (the future King John), and two children who died in infancy. Of these, three sons became kings: Henry the Young King (who died before his father and never reigned alone), Richard I, and John. Her daughters also made significant dynastic marriages across Europe.

What was Eleanor of Aquitaine's role in the Second Crusade?

Eleanor of Aquitaine accompanied her first husband Louis VII on the Second Crusade of 1147-49, bringing around three hundred of her ladies-in-waiting. This was highly unusual for the period. Her exact role in the crusade is disputed among historians. Chronicles recorded a rumoured affair with her uncle Raymond of Poitiers, Prince of Antioch, during a stop there, which Louis VII used to justify increased control over her movements. The crusade also strained their marriage over strategic disagreements. The episode became legendary, but many of the more dramatic details may have been embellished by later chroniclers hostile to Eleanor.

What was Eleanor of Aquitaine's legacy?

Eleanor of Aquitaine's legacy is threefold. Politically, she was a central figure in the Plantagenet dynasty, shaping succession disputes across half a century and acting as regent of England during Richard I's absence on crusade. Dynastically, she was the mother of two English kings and grandmother of several more. Culturally, she was a renowned patron of the arts at her court in Poitiers, fostering the troubadour tradition and courtly love literature. She is also one of the most written-about women of the medieval period, appearing in chronicles, romances, and later in plays and films. She died aged approximately eighty-two, outliving her husband and two of her sons.

Where is Eleanor of Aquitaine buried?

Eleanor of Aquitaine is buried at Fontevraud Abbey in the Anjou region of France, now in the Maine-et-Loire department. She died there on 1 April 1204 and was interred alongside her second husband Henry II of England and her son Richard I, the Lionheart. The abbey was the preferred burial site of the Plantagenet dynasty. The effigies of Eleanor, Henry II, and Richard I survive at Fontevraud and are among the finest examples of medieval funerary sculpture in Europe. Eleanor had chosen to retire to Fontevraud as a nun in her final years after her last political activities in the early 1200s.

Primary Sources and Further Reading

• Roger of Hoveden, Chronica (c.1192-1201): One of the most detailed contemporary chronicles for Richard I's reign and Eleanor's role in it. Available in Latin via the Rolls Series (Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores).
• Gerald of Wales, De Principis Instructione (c.1193-1217): Contains important, if hostile, material on Eleanor and Henry II. Available in modern translation through Penguin Classics selections.
• Turner, R. V. (2009): Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England, Yale University Press. The most authoritative modern biography, drawing on the full range of charter, chronicle, and administrative evidence.
• Weir, A. (1999): Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England, Jonathan Cape. A widely read narrative biography offering a comprehensive account of Eleanor's life, written for a general audience.
• Owen, D. D. R. (1993): Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen and Legend, Blackwell. Examines how Eleanor's life was transformed into legend in medieval literature, particularly the Arthurian and troubadour traditions that grew around her.

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