Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor was one of three grandchildren born from the dishonest relationship between William IX of Aquitaine and Dangereuse, wife of the viscount of Chвtellerault. William IX had stolen Dangereuse from the viscount, and even though the two could not officially marry, they had allowed their oldest children to marry each other. Dangereuse’s oldest daughter Aenor had married William IX’s oldest son, William X. They had three children, two daughters, Eleanor and Petronilla, and a son, William Aigret. Of the three, Eleanor was unique in that she resembled her grandparents more than she did her parents. She had the same traits of an iron will, gaiety, restlessness, and intelligence possessed by her grandparents. These are the trains which will help her become the queen of two nations in medieval Europe.

Eleanor of Aquitaine has been a very influential person in medieval Europe. Though her name and accomplishments are not universally recognized, they were nevertheless important in shaping Europe into the continent today. She had been born into wealth, and it had never left her side.

Eleanor had been married to King Louis VII of France, which was when she had received her first taste of great powers. However, after several years of debilitating problems, the marriage had obviously come to its end. Eleanor had requested an annulment from the church so that she and Louis VII would still remain related, as fourth cousins. The annulment was granted by the church without opposition from Louis VII.

Her next husband was Henry Plantagenet, heir to the English thrown. They had fallen deeply in love, despite the fact that Eleanor was a full twelve years older than Henry. After only six weeks since the annulment had been granted between Eleanor and Louis VII, she got married with Henry at Bordeaux. When Henry was appointed King of England at the Westminister Abbey, Eleanor was appointed Queen of England.

Though from this point on is considered by most people to be the time when Eleanor had acquired an ambition to rule and the power to make that possible, it didn’t really start until the two have had their second child.

Eleanor and Henry’s first child, a son called William, had died at an early age. After William, Eleanor gave birth to eight more children. In order from eldest to youngest, they were:

Matilda, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, John, Eleanor, and Joanna. Richard was Eleanor’s favorite child, while John was Henry’s favorite. The royal marriages of these children were planned at birth, which will eventually come to mean that Eleanor’s lineage will extend from England to every major nation in Europe.

The children had become rebellious to Henry, when they found out that he was having an affair