NAME Eleanor of Aquitaine (Aliénor d'Aquitaine), also known as Eleanor of Guyenne.
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Eleanor was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. She was Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France (1137–1152), and Queen of England (1154–1189). She was a patron of the arts, a political leader, and the mother of three kings and two queens
BIRTH Eleanor was born around 1122 in Poitiers or Bordeaux, southwestern France, into the House of Poitiers, a lineage of powerful dukes.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Eleanor was the eldest daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aenor de Châtellerault.
CHILDHOOD She grew up in the sophisticated and cultured court of Aquitaine, known for its patronage of poets and musicians (troubadours). Her childhood ended abruptly with her father's death while on pilgrimage, instantly making her Duchess and leading to her swift betrothal to the heir to the French throne.
EDUCATION Eleanor received an excellent education for a high-ranking noblewoman of her time. She was certainly literate (likely in Latin and her vernacular Occitan/French), well-versed in music, literature (especially the poetry of the troubadours), and courtly pursuits. She would have been trained in estate management and understood the politics of her duchy. Her training in governance and courtly arts prepared her to rule Aquitaine independently.
CAREER RECORD 1137 – 1204 Duchess of Aquitaine (ruled directly or influenced rule throughout this period)
1137 – 1152 Queen of France: 1137 – 1152
1147-1149 Participant in the Second Crusade
1154 – 1189 Queen of England
1189-1204 Queen Mother
APPEARANCE Contemporary chroniclers praised Eleanor as “beautiful, graceful, dark-eyed, and colourful,” a description romanticized in medieval literature. Her striking presence captivated courts across Europe.
No contemporary portraits of Eleanor exist. Later descriptions and her tomb effigy depict her as tall and intelligent-looking. Some sources suggest she may have had reddish-auburn hair.
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| Queen Eleanor Frederick Sandys, 1858 National Museum Cardiff |
FASHION As Duchess of Aquitaine and Queen of two realms, Eleanor was a leader of fashion. The Aquitainian court was known for its richer colours and styles compared to the more austere northern French court. She would have worn the typical attire of 12th-century high nobility: long gowns (like the bliaut), tunics, elaborate belts, and mantles, likely made from fine wools, silks, and adorned with embroidery or fur. She is credited with bringing more colourful and luxurious southern styles north. Her style influenced courtly dress across France and England.
CHARACTER Eleanor is consistently portrayed as highly intelligent, strong-willed, energetic, politically astute, and possessing great personal charm. She was also known for her determination, ambition, and passionate nature. Depending on the chronicler (and their allegiance), she could also be described as manipulative, troublesome, or impulsive. She was fiercely protective of her rights and her children's inheritance. (2)
A German poet’s tribute—“I’d give all away. If the English Queen Would be mine for a day”—hints at her magnetic charm. (1)
SPEAKING VOICE As an educated noblewoman fluent in several languages (Occitan, Old French, Latin) and accustomed to commanding courts and negotiating politics, she likely possessed a clear, articulate, and persuasive voice. Eleanor’s eloquence is inferred from her diplomatic successes.
SENSE OF HUMOUR Eleanor’s wit sharpened her political maneuvers. She famously quipped that Louis VII was “more of a monk than a man,” mocking his piety and lack of passion. (1
RELATIONSHIPS Eleanor married Louis VII on July 25, 1137, at the Cathedral of Saint-André in Bordeaux. The union was arranged shortly after her father's death, as Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest and most powerful territories in France. Her marriage to Louis brought Aquitaine under the French crown and elevated her to Queen of France when Louis ascended the throne later that year.
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| Gemini's image of Eleanor and Louis' wedding |
The marriage was troubled from the start due to their vastly different personalities—Eleanor was lively and headstrong, while Louis was deeply pious and monkish. Their union produced two daughters, Marie and Alix, but failed to yield a male heir. Eleanor accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade (1147–1149), where rumors of an affair with her uncle Raymond of Antioch further strained their relationship.
By 1152, their marriage was annulled on the grounds of consanguinity (they were third cousins), a decision likely influenced by Eleanor's failure to produce a son. Eleanor regained control of Aquitaine but lost custody of her daughters, who remained in the French court. The annulment marked one of history's most expensive royal divorces due to the loss of Aquitaine from the French crown. (3)
Just eight weeks after her annulment from Louis VII, Eleanor married Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou, on May 18, 1152, in a modest ceremony at Poitiers Cathedral. This marriage was politically advantageous for both parties: it united Aquitaine with Henry’s territories in Normandy and Anjou, creating a vast Anglo-French domain that surrounded much of Louis VII’s possessions. Henry would later ascend to the English throne as King Henry II in 1154. (3)
The union between Eleanor and Henry was far more dynamic than her first marriage. Both were intelligent, ambitious, and strong-willed, which led to both passionate collaboration and intense conflict. Together they had eight children—five sons (including Richard the Lionheart and John) and three daughters—cementing Eleanor’s legacy as a matriarch of European royalty.
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| 14th-century depiction of Henry and Eleanor holding court |
However, their marriage deteriorated over time due to Henry’s infidelity and Eleanor’s increasing autonomy in ruling Aquitaine. In 1173, she supported her sons’ rebellion against Henry, leading to her imprisonment for 16 years until his death in 1189.
Eleanor had complex relationships with her children, often using her influence to advance their positions. She was particularly close to Richard I and actively secured the throne for John after Richard's death.
Eleanor’s marriages were not just personal unions but strategic alliances that reshaped medieval Europe. Her first marriage linked Aquitaine to France temporarily, while her second established the Angevin Empire and positioned her as one of the most influential women in history.
MONEY AND FAME Eleanor was immensely wealthy through her inheritance of Aquitaine, which comprised a huge territory in southwestern France, richer and larger than the direct domains of the King of France at the time. This wealth gave her significant power and independence. She was famous across Christendom as Duchess, Queen of two kingdoms, Crusader, and mother of kings.
The Sunday Times later dubbed Eleanor “the richest woman of the Millennium”. (1)
FOOD AND DRINK Eleanor would have enjoyed a rich and varied diet. This included game, poultry, beef, pork, fish (especially on religious fast days), fine breads, cheeses, seasonal fruits and vegetables, often heavily spiced (spices were a luxury). Wine, particularly from her native Aquitaine, would have been a staple drink. Feasts and banquets were common court events.
MUSIC AND ARTS Eleanor was a major patron of music and the arts. Her grandfather was a noted troubadour, and she continued this tradition, supporting poets, musicians, and storytellers at her courts in Aquitaine, Paris, and later England. She played a significant role in the flourishing of courtly love literature and culture.
LITERATURE Eleanor's patronage fostered the creation of literary works, particularly the lyric poetry of the troubadours and trouvères, and early chivalric romances. She was literate herself and likely enjoyed listening to and reading these works.
Eleanor championed the matière de Bretagne, Arthurian legends popularized by Chrétien de Troyes. Her court’s “Code of Love” codified romantic etiquette, influencing medieval literature. (2)
NATURE Eleanor’s domains spanned Aquitaine’s lush vineyards and forests, which she managed meticulously. Her travels through Europe’s diverse landscapes, from the Pyrenees to Jerusalem, deepened her appreciation for nature’s grandeur.
PETS High-ranking nobles typically kept pets such as dogs (for hunting, companionship, and lap dogs) and sometimes birds like parrots or falcons for hunting. It's likely Eleanor had such animals at her courts.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS An avid equestrian, Eleanor hunted stag and hawked well into her 70s.
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| Eleanor with hawk and stag Gemini |
At 78, she crossed the Pyrenees to secure a bride for John, showcasing her physical endurance.
SCIENCE AND MATHS Her education included arithmetic and astronomy, skills applied in managing Aquitaine’s economy and navigating crusader routes.
QUEEN Eleanor of Aquitaine was, by any measure, a woman several centuries ahead of her time—brilliant, determined, and with an uncanny knack for acquiring thrones. She became Queen of France on July 25, 1137, when she married Louis VII at the Cathedral of Saint-André in Bordeaux. The whole thing was orchestrated by Louis’s father, King Louis VI, whose main interest in the match was Eleanor’s vast duchy of Aquitaine—rich, sprawling, and inconveniently independent. Unfortunately for him, and for France, the marriage turned out to be rather less successful than the land grab.
Eleanor was intelligent, politically shrewd, and fond of lively company. Louis, on the other hand, was deeply religious, contemplative, and about as much fun as a damp monastery. Tension was inevitable. They had two daughters, but no male heir, which in the grand medieval tradition of blaming women for biology, was deemed a serious failing. Things took a nosedive when Eleanor accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade (1147–1149). There, she scandalized half of Christendom by insisting on riding about in full armor and, more worryingly for Louis, spending an inordinate amount of time with her uncle Raymond of Antioch, a man charming enough to make any husband nervous.
By the time they got back to France, the marriage was beyond saving. In March 1152, the whole thing was quietly annulled on the grounds of consanguinity (a handy medieval excuse meaning “we just noticed we’re distant cousins, how embarrassing”). Louis got to keep their daughters, but Eleanor kept Aquitaine, which—crucially—meant she was still the most eligible bachelorette in Europe.
And she wasted no time. Just eight weeks later, she married Henry Plantagenet, the ambitious young Duke of Normandy, on May 18, 1152. This was a spectacularly good career move. Henry became King of England two years later, and Eleanor found herself queen once again—this time of an empire that stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. It was all going splendidly for a while: she and Henry had eight children, including the future kings Richard the Lionheart and John (who would later lose most of England’s continental possessions in a fit of spectacular incompetence).
But marriage to Henry proved no easier than marriage to Louis. Henry was brilliant but unfaithful, and Eleanor, rather sensibly, preferred not to spend her life being publicly humiliated. By 1173, she was actively supporting a rebellion against him, led by their own sons. It didn’t go well. Henry won, Eleanor was arrested, and she spent the next 16 years imprisoned in various English castles—presumably with plenty of time to reflect on her life choices.
She was finally released in 1189, when Henry inconveniently died, and Richard the Lionheart took the throne. Eleanor, proving she still had plenty of political savvy left, essentially ran England in Richard’s absence while he was off crusading. She even arranged for his ransom when he was captured, a situation that might have been deeply embarrassing if it weren’t so absurdly expensive.
By the time she died in 1204 at the impressive age of 82, Eleanor had ruled as Queen of France, Queen of England, and the de facto leader of an empire. Not bad for someone whose first husband thought she was just a useful piece of land.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Eleanor lived within the framework of 12th-century Catholic Christianity. While demonstrating conventional piety, her life shows a strong pragmatic and political focus rather than deep theological speculation. She navigated complex Church politics, including the conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket.
Her crusade experiences in Antioch and Jerusalem exposed her to diverse spiritual perspectives, though she remained a pragmatic ruler.
POLITICS Eleanor was a major political figure for over 60 years. She administered Aquitaine, influenced policies in France and England, engaged in diplomacy, managed dynastic alliances through her children's marriages, supported her sons' rebellion against Henry II, acted as regent for Richard I, and played a crucial role in securing the succession for John.
SCANDAL Several events caused scandal or rumour:
Her conduct during the Second Crusade, particularly alleged closeness with her uncle, Raymond of Antioch (likely exaggerated by critics).
The annulment of her marriage to Louis VII.
Her open rebellion against her second husband, Henry II, leading to her long imprisonment.
Her association with the "Courts of Love" (whose historical reality is debated) was seen by some as promoting ideas contrary to Church doctrine.
MILITARY RECORD Eleanor of Aquitaine’s participation in the Second Crusade (1147–1149) was a defining chapter in her life, marked by bold decisions, political tensions, and enduring myths.
Eleanor formally took the cross during Bernard of Clairvaux’s fiery sermon at the Council of Vézelay on March 31, 1146, alongside her husband Louis VII of France. The event, orchestrated to rally support for the crusade after the fall of Edessa (1144), saw Louis, Eleanor, and French nobles prostrate themselves before Bernard to receive the pilgrims’ cross. This act symbolized her commitment to the crusade, though her motivations likely blended piety, political strategy (supporting her uncle Raymond in Antioch), and personal ambition.
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| Taking the Cross (Sébastien Mamerot c. 1490 ) |
Legends claim Eleanor led 300 noblewomen dressed as Amazons and a retinue of Aquitainian knights. While chroniclers like William of Tyre amplified these stories, modern historians (e.g., Conor Kostick) note such accounts are exaggerated or conflated with troubadour tales. The crusade’s chroniclers often blamed women for logistical burdens, but Eleanor’s actual role was more pragmatic: securing Aquitainian support and leveraging her status as Duchess. (4)
Eleanor clashed with Louis over military strategy. In Antioch (1148), she sided with her uncle Raymond’s plan to attack Aleppo, while Louis insisted on prioritizing Jerusalem. This rift fueled rumors of infidelity and led Louis to forcibly remove her from Antioch.
During the Battle of Mount Cadmus (January 1148), poor decisions by the vanguard commander (Geoffrey de Rancon, Eleanor’s vassal) led to heavy French losses. Critics blamed Eleanor for the baggage train’s size and her detachment’s absence from the fight, though Louis’ weak leadership was the primary issue.
The crusade ended in failure after the disastrous siege of Damascus (July 1148). By 1149, Eleanor and Louis returned separately to France, their marriage irreparably damaged. The annulment (1152) and her subsequent marriage to Henry II of England reshaped European politics
Later, as regent for Richard, she played a key role in raising his ransom and securing England against rebellion, demonstrating strategic acumen. She defended her own lands in Aquitaine at various times
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Eleanor lived to be around 82 years old, an exceptionally long lifespan for the period. This indicates a fundamentally strong constitution. She endured the physical hardships of numerous childbirths, extensive travel on horseback and by sea (including the Crusade), and years of imprisonment, remaining politically active into her late seventies/early eighties
HOMES As Duchess and Queen, Eleanor resided in numerous castles and palaces, including:
Palaces in Poitiers and Bordeaux (Aquitaine)
Palais de la Cité (Paris)
Tower of London, Westminster Palace, Winchester Castle (England)
Various castles in Normandy and Anjou (e.g., Chinon, Rouen) She was imprisoned in various locations, including Salisbury Castle and Chinon Castle. She spent her final years and died at Fontevraud Abbey.
DEATH Eleanor died on April 1, 1204, at Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou, where she had taken the veil as a nun in her final years. She outlived all but two of her children.
Eleanor was buried in the abbey church alongside her second husband, Henry II, and her son Richard I. Her tomb effigy, depicting her reading a book, symbolizes her lifelong dedication to learning.
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| Eleanor of Aquitaine's tomb effigy by Adam Bishop , Wikipedia |
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Eleanor has been a popular figure in historical fiction, theatre, and film. Notable portrayals include:
Katharine Hepburn's Oscar-winning portrayal in the film The Lion in Winter (1968), focusing on her relationship with Henry II and their sons.
Glenn Close in the 2003 television remake of The Lion in Winter.
Numerous historical novels depict her life and era including Sharon Kay Penman’s Plantagenet Saga and Alison Weir’s biographies. She is often portrayed as intelligent, powerful, and manipulative.
ACHIEVEMENTS Preserved Aquitaine’s independence through strategic marriages and rebellions.
Patronized troubadour culture, shaping medieval literature and music.
Governed as regent during Richard I’s reign, stabilizing England’s political landscape.
Mediated peace between England and France, securing John’s succession.
Established a legacy of female leadership in a male-dominated era
Sources (1) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (2) Britannica (3) The Creative Historian (4) Medievalists
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