leanor of Aquitaine was the wife of the English King Henry II. Initially she had married the French king Louis VII. The marriage was arranged, as many noble marriages were in medieval times, to forge a relationship between France and Aquitaine. When Louis went on crusade in 1147 Eleanor went with him. In Antioch, in 1148, Eleanor met and had an affair with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers. After the crusade Louis wanted his marriage to Eleanor ended, but he was advised not to end the marriage by his advisor the Abbot Suger, who thought the divorce would damage relationships with Aquitaine. When Abbot Suger died in 1152 Louis had the marriage annulled. It was not long before Eleanor was remarried to the heir of the English throne, Henry of Anjou, the future King Henry II of England. The couple had several children including two future kings of England, King Richard and King John, but the marriage was eventful resulting in Henry and Eleanor splitting up with their sons taking differenrt sides. Eleanor died in 1204 and is buried at Fontevrault Abbey.Biography
Biography
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Eleanor (of Aquitaine)
| Born | 1122 | Born At | |
| Died | 1204 | Buried At | Fontevraud Abbey |
| Born | 1122 / |
| Died | 1204 / Fontevraud Abbey |
leanor of Aquitaine was the wife of the English King Henry II. Initially she had married the French king Louis VII. The marriage was arranged, as many noble marriages were in medieval times, to forge a relationship between France and Aquitaine. When Louis went on crusade in 1147 Eleanor went with him. In Antioch, in 1148, Eleanor met and had an affair with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers. After the crusade Louis wanted his marriage to Eleanor ended, but he was advised not to end the marriage by his advisor the Abbot Suger, who thought the divorce would damage relationships with Aquitaine. When Abbot Suger died in 1152 Louis had the marriage annulled. It was not long before Eleanor was remarried to the heir of the English throne, Henry of Anjou, the future King Henry II of England. The couple had several children including two future kings of England, King Richard and King John, but the marriage was eventful resulting in Henry and Eleanor splitting up with their sons taking differenrt sides. Eleanor died in 1204 and is buried at Fontevrault Abbey.Related Episodes
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Children
Family Tree Details
Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
+Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
| = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
| = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
+Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189) (b.1133 - d.1189)
= William (b.1153 - d.1156)
= Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
| +Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
= Matilda (of England) (b.1156 - d.1189)
| +Henry (Duke of Saxony)
| = Otto (IV, Roman Emperor) (b.1182 - d.1218)
= Richard (I, King of England 1189-1199) (b.1157 - d.1199)
| +Berengaria (of Navarre, Queen of England) (b.1165? - d.1230)
= Geoffrey (Duke of Brittany) (b.1158 - d.1186)
| +Constance (of Brittany) ( - d.1202)
| = Eleanor (Fair Maid of Brittany) ( - d.1241)
| = Arthur (of Brittany) (b.1187 - d.1203)
= Eleanor (of England) (b.1162 - d.1214)
| +Alfonso (VIII, King of Castile) (b.1155 - d.1214)
| = Blanche (of Castile) (b.1188 - d.1252)
| +Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
| = Louis (IX, King of France, St. Louis) (b.1215 - d.1270)
= Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199)
| +William (II, King of Sicily) (b.1153 - d.1189)
| +Raymond (VI, Count of Toulouse)
| = Raymond (VII, Count of Toulouse)
= John (King of England 1199-1216) (b.1167 - d.1216)
+Isabella of Gloucester ( - d.1217)
+Isabella (of Angouleme) (b.1186? - d.1246)
| = Henry (III, King of England 1216-1272) (b.1207 - d.1272)
| | +Eleanor (of Provence) (b.1223? - d.1291)
| | = Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307) (b.1239 - d.1307)
| | = Edmund (Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster) (b.1245 - d.1296)
| | = Margaret (of England) ( - d.1275)
| | = Beatrice ( - d.1275)
| = Richard (Earl of Cornwall) (b.1209 - d.1272)
| = Joan (of England, Queen of Scotland) (b.1210 - d.1238)
| | +Alexander (II, King of Scotland 1198-1249) (b.1198 - d.1249)
| = Isabelle (b.1214 - d.1241)
| = Eleanor (Daughter of King John) (b.1215 - d.1275)
| +Marshal, William (the younger)
| +Montfort, Simon de (b.1208? - d.1265)
| = Montfort, Henry de ( - d.1265)
+Illegitimate (King John)
= Joan (Lady of Wales)
+Iorwerth, Llywelyn ap (The Great) (b.1172 - d.1240)
Mistresses are shown in italic
+Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
| = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
| = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
+Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189) (b.1133 - d.1189)
= William (b.1153 - d.1156)
= Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
| +Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
= Matilda (of England) (b.1156 - d.1189)
| +Henry (Duke of Saxony)
| = Otto (IV, Roman Emperor) (b.1182 - d.1218)
= Richard (I, King of England 1189-1199) (b.1157 - d.1199)
| +Berengaria (of Navarre, Queen of England) (b.1165? - d.1230)
= Geoffrey (Duke of Brittany) (b.1158 - d.1186)
| +Constance (of Brittany) ( - d.1202)
| = Eleanor (Fair Maid of Brittany) ( - d.1241)
| = Arthur (of Brittany) (b.1187 - d.1203)
= Eleanor (of England) (b.1162 - d.1214)
| +Alfonso (VIII, King of Castile) (b.1155 - d.1214)
| = Blanche (of Castile) (b.1188 - d.1252)
| +Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
| = Louis (IX, King of France, St. Louis) (b.1215 - d.1270)
= Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199)
| +William (II, King of Sicily) (b.1153 - d.1189)
| +Raymond (VI, Count of Toulouse)
| = Raymond (VII, Count of Toulouse)
= John (King of England 1199-1216) (b.1167 - d.1216)
+Isabella of Gloucester ( - d.1217)
+Isabella (of Angouleme) (b.1186? - d.1246)
| = Henry (III, King of England 1216-1272) (b.1207 - d.1272)
| | +Eleanor (of Provence) (b.1223? - d.1291)
| | = Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307) (b.1239 - d.1307)
| | = Edmund (Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster) (b.1245 - d.1296)
| | = Margaret (of England) ( - d.1275)
| | = Beatrice ( - d.1275)
| = Richard (Earl of Cornwall) (b.1209 - d.1272)
| = Joan (of England, Queen of Scotland) (b.1210 - d.1238)
| | +Alexander (II, King of Scotland 1198-1249) (b.1198 - d.1249)
| = Isabelle (b.1214 - d.1241)
| = Eleanor (Daughter of King John) (b.1215 - d.1275)
| +Marshal, William (the younger)
| +Montfort, Simon de (b.1208? - d.1265)
| = Montfort, Henry de ( - d.1265)
+Illegitimate (King John)
= Joan (Lady of Wales)
+Iorwerth, Llywelyn ap (The Great) (b.1172 - d.1240)
Mistresses are shown in italic
Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
+Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
| = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
| = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
+Henry (II, King of England 1154-1189) (b.1133 - d.1189)
= William (b.1153 - d.1156)
= Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
| +Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
= Matilda (of England) (b.1156 - d.1189)
| +Henry (Duke of Saxony)
| = Otto (IV, Roman Emperor) (b.1182 - d.1218)
= Richard (I, King of England 1189-1199) (b.1157 - d.1199)
| +Berengaria (of Navarre, Queen of England) (b.1165? - d.1230)
= Geoffrey (Duke of Brittany) (b.1158 - d.1186)
| +Constance (of Brittany) ( - d.1202)
| = Eleanor (Fair Maid of Brittany) ( - d.1241)
| = Arthur (of Brittany) (b.1187 - d.1203)
= Eleanor (of England) (b.1162 - d.1214)
| +Alfonso (VIII, King of Castile) (b.1155 - d.1214)
| = Blanche (of Castile) (b.1188 - d.1252)
| +Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
| = Louis (IX, King of France, St. Louis) (b.1215 - d.1270)
= Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199)
| +William (II, King of Sicily) (b.1153 - d.1189)
| +Raymond (VI, Count of Toulouse)
| = Raymond (VII, Count of Toulouse)
= John (King of England 1199-1216) (b.1167 - d.1216)
+Isabella of Gloucester ( - d.1217)
+Isabella (of Angouleme) (b.1186? - d.1246)
| = Henry (III, King of England 1216-1272) (b.1207 - d.1272)
| | +Eleanor (of Provence) (b.1223? - d.1291)
| | = Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307) (b.1239 - d.1307)
| | = Edmund (Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster) (b.1245 - d.1296)
| | = Margaret (of England) ( - d.1275)
| | = Beatrice ( - d.1275)
| = Richard (Earl of Cornwall) (b.1209 - d.1272)
| = Joan (of England, Queen of Scotland) (b.1210 - d.1238)
| | +Alexander (II, King of Scotland 1198-1249) (b.1198 - d.1249)
| = Isabelle (b.1214 - d.1241)
| = Eleanor (Daughter of King John) (b.1215 - d.1275)
| +Marshal, William (the younger)
| +Montfort, Simon de (b.1208? - d.1265)
| = Montfort, Henry de ( - d.1265)
+Illegitimate (King John)
= Joan (Lady of Wales)
+Iorwerth, Llywelyn ap (The Great) (b.1172 - d.1240)
Mistresses are shown in italic
See Also
People
Places
Other
Timeline
1146 (Age: 24yrs)
Mar 31
St. Bernard's sermon at Vézelay so moved Eleanor of Aquitaine that she vowed to go on Crusade.
1147 (Age: 25yrs)
King Louis VII of France and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine began their Crusade. They declared Abbot Suger regent of France,
1152 (Age: 30yrs)
The marriage of King Louis VII of France and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine was annulled. The reason for the divorce was given as consanguinity which means both Louis and Eleanor shared a common ancestor. But the marriage had never been a happy one and Eleanor had been accused of adultery while accompanying Louis on crusade to the Holy Land in 1149. ¹
Only two months after Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to Louis VII, king of France was annulled, she married Henry of Anjou - the future king of England - Henry II. ¹
1154 (Age: 32yrs)
A triumphant Henry returned to Rouen in Normandy to a warm reception from his family including Eleanor and his eight month old son William. ¹
Henry of Normandy was crowned as King Henry II of England, and Eleanor of Aquitaine was crowned Queen, at Westminster Abbey. ¹
1155 (Age: 33yrs)
Eleanor gave birth to Henry at Bermondsey Palace in London. ¹
The Palace at Westminster had been badly damaged by King Stephen's supporters at the time of the Anarchy and it had become unfit as a Royal residence. Thomas Becket was given the task of repairing the buildings and by the summer of the same year Eleanor was able to move in. ¹
1158 (Age: 36yrs)
Birth of Geoffrey Plantagenet. ¹
1162 (Age: 40yrs)
Eleanor of Aquitaine gave birth to a daughter at Rouen. The girl was named Eleanor after he mother. ¹
1165 (Age: 43yrs)
King Henry II and Eleanor's marriage is effectively ended when she moves back to Aquitaine leaving Henry to rebuild England after the civil war in King Stephen's reign. ¹
1167 (Age: 45yrs)
Prince John is born at Oxford. ¹
1202 (Age: 80yrs)
Aug 1
Arthur of Brittany and the Lusignans had laid siege to Mirabeau Castle trapping Eleanor of Aquitaine inside. King John launched a rescue mission to free her. Arthur was captured by William de Braose and was handed over to King John. Many other important knights were also captured and it was an important and famous victory for the English king. Those that were captured were treated badly by King John. He could have ransomed them for their freedom and made a lot of money, instead he kept them prisoner locked in dungeons. Some he had shipped to England and imprisoned. Arthur was sent to the dungeon in the castle at Falaise in Normandy.
1204 (Age: 82yrs)
Eleanor, Henry II's wife and John's mother died. Eleanor was buried at Fontevraud Abbey . ¹
3D Virtual Reconstructions
Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.
Page Navigation
Selection of references used:
- 1. The Plantagenet Chronicles, ISBN:1-85501-685-0
- 2. John Harvey, The Plantagenets
- 3. Mike Salter, Castles and Moated Castles of Warwickshire
- 4. Peter Potter, Data Donation
- 5. John Timbs & Alexander Gunn, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England & Wales (North), 1872
- 6. Maurice Ashley, The Life and Times of King John
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1: Location
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2: Alignment
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3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
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