Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204)
We often hear that medieval Queens were subservient and completely devoted to their husbands. Not entirely valid. A Queen of a nation had special rights not given to most "ordinary" married women (sometimes to widows). Some Queens made use of their powers, other did not.
Eleanor was one of those women who took control.
As the heir to the duchy of Aquitaine, Eleanor grew up in a very vibrant and cosmopolitan court in Aquitaine. Her family had a great love for troubadours, courtly love and entertainments. Eleanor would adopt these for her own courts.
When she was 15, her father died and as was custom left here to the custody of the French King Louis VI (1081-1137). As her custodian, he had rights to her lands in Aquitaine and to arrange her future marriage. He married her to his son Louis VII (1120-1180), who was originally destined for the church, as his older brother had recently passed.
Eleanor was deemed too high spirited for the solemnity and stoicism of the court, especially in comparison with her monkish husband. Though, her husband adored her.
Eleanor and Louis became King and Queen soon after their wedding, and set off to the Holy Lands on a crusade. Legends tell a story of Eleanor and her entourage of ladies riding into battle as though she were an Amazon. *The legend is highly unlikely, but contributes to the great myth surrounding this formidable woman*
After the disastrous campaigns of the Crusades, Louis and Eleanor grew apart and after having 2 daughters, had their marriage annulled. The two daughters remained in custody of their father.
Less than 5 weeks after her annulment, she swiftly married Henry of Anjou, a claimant to the throne of England through his mother Matilda, who as a woman was unable to keep the throne of England to herself. While Eleanor would have had more control over her lands had she remained single, her person was at risk. Given that one simply could kidnap a woman and force her to marry you, Eleanor felt that her marriage to Henry would guarantee her safety.
Long story short, she gave birth to 4 sons, all of whom were constantly fighting for the throne. Uprisings were held against their father, Eleanor supported her sons (possibly because of her husband trying to replace her with a mistress, Rosamund Clifford*). During Henry's liaison with Rosamund, he was trying to pressure Eleanor with an annulment knowing full well that she'd have to release her lands to him, as he would likely force her into a convent. She used her gifts of williness to keep him at bay.
She was kept as a prisoner for many years due to her support, and while Henry would grant her leave for special holidays, she was moved around from castle to castle under rigorous surveillance. Henry died in 1189 and she was released from prison soon after, her favourite son, Richard I the Lionheart was the new King. He had no interest in remaining in England and follow the rigorous schedules of pomp and ceremony, he wanted a Crusade. He spent very little time in England during his reign of 10 years. Richard was captured, it was his MOTHER that arranged his ransom.
Richard was succeeded by his brother, John, which caused a bit of a dynastic crisis because John's older brother Geoffrey had a son, Arthur, who technically had a better claim to the throne than John. However, Arthur's mother was intensely disliked by the English. Arthur beseiged his grandmothers home and she was kept hostage until John ended it and kept his throne. Arthur fell into obscurity and disappeared.
After these incidents, Eleanor retreated to her favourite convent of Fontevrault, where she died at a remarkably old age.
* It is highly unlikely that Eleanor poisoned Rosamund.
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