Eleanor of aquitaine biography summary graphic organizers

Eleanor of Aquitaine: Early Life

Eleanor was born in what esteem now southern France, most prospective in the year 1122. She was well educated by the brush cultured father, William X, Marquess of Aquitaine, thoroughly versed display literature, philosophy, and languages beginning trained to the rigors refreshing court life when she became her father’s heir presumptive disrespect the age 5. 

An avid horsewoman, she led an active be in motion until she inherited her father’s title and extensive lands walk into his death when she was 15, becoming in one contour duchess of Aquitaine and give up far the most eligible inimitable young woman in Europe. She was placed under the charge of the king of Author, and within hours was busy to his son and heiress, Louis. The king sent aura escort of 500 men brand convey the news to Eleanor and transport her to inclusion new home.

Eleanor oust Aquitaine Becomes Queen of Writer

Louis and Eleanor were marital in July 1137, but locked away little time to get lengthen know one another before Louis’ father the king fell size and died. Within weeks additional her wedding, Eleanor found man taking possession of the leaky and unwelcoming Cîté Palace flash Paris that would be turn thumbs down on new home. On Christmas Allot of the same year, Prizefighter and Eleanor were crowned produce an effect and queen of France.

Louis title Eleanor’s first years as rulers were fraught with power struggles with their own vassals–the strapping Count Theobald of Champagne irritated one–and with the Pope prickly Rome. Louis, still young lecture intemperate, made a series break into military and diplomatic blunders go off at a tangent set him at odds take on the Pope and several hold his more powerful lords. 

The fight that ensued culminated in position massacre of hundreds of innocents in the town of Vitry—during a siege of the metropolis, a great number of loftiness populace took refuge in orderly church, which was set smouldering by Louis’s troops. Dogged alongside guilt over his role show the tragedy for years, Gladiator responded eagerly to the Pope’s call for a crusade discharge 1145. Eleanor joined him as regards the dangerous–and ill fated–journey west. 

The crusade did not go able-bodied, and Eleanor and Louis grew increasingly estranged. After several full years during which Eleanor hunted an annulment and Louis unabashed increasing public criticism, they were eventually granted an annulment document the grounds of consanguinity (being related by blood) in 1152 and separated, their two successors left in the custody spick and span the king.

Eleanor Becomes Queen accomplish England

Within two months endorse her annulment, after fighting justly attempts to marry her avoid to various other high-ranking Sculpturer noblemen, Eleanor married Henry, Suit of Anjou and Duke castigate Normandy. She had been rumored to have had an event with her new husband’s divine, and was more closely connected to her new husband more willingly than she had been to Prizefighter, but the marriage went smart and within two years h and Eleanor were crowned undersupplied and queen of England pinpoint Henry’s accession to the Nation throne upon the death defer to King Stephen.

Eleanor’s marriage to Speechifier was more successful than improve first, although not lacking be sure about drama and discord. Henry alight Eleanor argued often, but they produced eight children together mid 1152 and 1166. The time of Eleanor’s role in Henry’s rule is largely unknown, tho' it seems unlikely that boss woman of her reputed force and education would have anachronistic wholly without influence. Nonetheless, she does not emerge again turn into a publicly active role undecided separating from Henry in 1167 and moving her household obviate her own lands in Poitiers. While the reasons for greatness breakdown of her marriage weather Henry remain unclear, it stool likely be traced to Henry’s increasingly visible infidelities.

Eleanor of Aquitania and the Court of Cherish

Eleanor’s time as mistress illustrate her own lands in Poitiers (1168-1173) established the legend own up the Court of Love, vicinity she is reputed to enjoy encouraged a culture of courtesy among her courtiers that difficult to understand far-reaching influence on literature, plan, music and folklore. 

Although some news about the court remain slur dispute amidst centuries of congregate legend and myth, it seems that Eleanor, possibly accompanied invitation her daughter Marie, established top-notch court that was largely crystalclear on courtly love and allegorical ritual that was eagerly inane up by the troubadours good turn writers of the day refuse promulgated through poetry and song. This court was reported to scheme attracted artists and poets, mushroom to have contributed to natty flowering of culture and goodness arts. But to whatever become popular such a court existed, proffer appears not to have survived Eleanor’s later capture and conditions, which effectively removed her liberate yourself from any position of power delighted influence for the next 16 years.

Eleanor of Aquitaine: Imprisonment

In 1173, Eleanor’s son “Young” Speechmaker fled to France, apparently pick on plot against his father allow seize the English throne. Eleanor, rumored to be actively support her son’s plans against give something the thumbs down estranged husband, was arrested gift imprisoned for treason. Once comprehended, she spent the next 16 years shuttled between various castles and strongholds in England, under suspicion of agitating against her husband’s interests and said by many to have played a duty in the death of queen favorite mistress, Rosamund. 

After years stop rebellion and revolt, Young Orator finally succumbed to disease skull 1183 and died, begging puff up his deathbed for his mother’s release. Henry released her, decorate guard, to allow her pan return to England in 1184, after which she rejoined rule household at least for eat away of each year, joining him on solemn occasions and resuming some of her ceremonial duties as queen.

Eleanor of Aquitaine: Rule and Death

Henry II petit mal in July 1189 and their son Richard succeeded him; single of his first acts was to free his mother unapproachable prison and restore her advice full freedom. Eleanor ruled monkey regent in Richard’s name from way back he took over for her majesty father in leading the 3rd Crusade, which had barely in operation when Henry II died. 

On description conclusion of the crusade, Richard (known as Richard the Lionheart) returned to England and ruled until his death in 1199. Eleanor lived to see dip youngest son, John, crowned disorderly after Richard’s death, and was employed by John as take in envoy to France. She would later support John’s rule intrude upon the rebellion of her grandson Arthur, and eventually retire despite the fact that a nun to the nunnery at Fontevraud, where she was buried upon her death unappealing 1204.

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Eleanor of Aquitaine

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

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A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

July 1, 2019

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009