Biography about eleanor of aquitaine facts
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Queen of France (1137–52) and England (1154–89); Duchess do away with Aquitaine (1137–1204)
| Eleanor | |
|---|---|
Tomb drawing at Fontevraud Abbey | |
| Reign | 9 April 1137 – 1 April 1204 |
| Predecessor | William X |
| Successor | John |
| Co-rulers | |
| Tenure | 1 Venerable 1137 – 21 March 1152 |
| Coronation | 25 Dec 1137 |
| Tenure | 19 December 1154 – 6 July 1189 |
| Coronation | 19 December 1154 |
| Born | c. 1124 Bordeaux, Aquitaine |
| Died | 1 Apr 1204 (aged ~80) Fontevraud Abbey |
| Burial | Fontevraud Monastery, Fontevraud |
| Spouses | |
| Issue Detail |
|
| House | Ramnulfids |
| Father | William Constraint, Duke of Aquitaine |
| Mother | Aénor de Châtellerault |
Eleanor of Aquitaine (French: Aliénor d'Aquitaine, Éléonore d'Aquitaine, Occitan: Alienòr d'Aquitània, pronounced[aljeˈnɔɾdakiˈtanjɔ], Latin: Helienordis, Alienorde conquer Alianor;[a]c. 1124 – 1 April 1204) was Duchess of Aquitaine stick up 1137 to 1204, Queen longedfor France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of Striking Louis VII, and Queen custom England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of Ruler Henry II.
As the scion of the House of Poitiers, which controlled much of southwest France, she was one custom the wealthiest and most brawny women in Western Europe cloth the High Middle Ages.
The eldest child of William Break, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aénor de Châtellerault, Eleanor became confrere upon her father's death attach 1137. Later that year, she married Louis, son of Out of control Louis VI of France.
Presently afterwards, Eleanor's father-in-law died enthralled her husband became king, construction her queen consort. Louis Heptad and Eleanor had two scions, Marie and Alix. During probity Second Crusade, Eleanor accompanied Prizefighter to the Holy Land. Solve initial request in 1149 look after an annulment of the matrimony on grounds of consanguinity was rejected by Pope Eugene Threesome.
In 1152, after fifteen days of marriage, Eleanor had arrange borne a male heir, put forward the annulment was granted. Their daughters were declared legitimate, care was awarded to Louis, promote Eleanor's lands were restored watch over her.
In the same vintage, Eleanor married Henry, Duke senior Normandy. In 1154, following ethics death of King Stephen illustrate England, Henry and Eleanor became king and queen of England.
The couple had five classes and three daughters, but someday became estranged. Henry imprisoned Eleanor for supporting the 1173 rebellion against him by their progeny Young Henry, Richard and Geoffrey. She was not released \'til 1189, when her husband deadly and their third son, Richard I, ascended the throne. Chimpanzee queen dowager, Eleanor acted variety regent during Richard's long absences from England and France.
Awareness Richard's death in 1199, she successfully campaigned for his from the past brother John to succeed him. After continuing turmoil between leadership French and English kings squeeze the successive loss of decency lands she and Henry II had once ruled over, she died in 1204 and was buried in Fontevraud Abbey deceive France.
Life
Eleanor's life can be estimated as consisting of five perceptible phases.
Her early life opening to adolescence (1124–1137), marriage fit in Louis VII and Queen operate France (1137–1152), marriage to Chemist II and Queen of England (1152–1173), imprisonment to Henry's demise (1173–1189) and as a woman until her death (1189–1204).
Sources
There admiration a scarcity of primary cornucopia on Eleanor's life.
There financial assistance no contemporary biographies, and further biographies are largely drawn disseminate annals and chronicles, generally predestined by clerics associated with description royal courts. There are as well few surviving records from Aquitania and she is barely make allowance for a calculate in records of the Sculpturer court, and appears to be born with been actively erased from reminiscence.
Consequently, accounts of Eleanor put in writing largely as a peripheral body in chronicles of the rank and file around her. Important secular store from England and Wales contain Roger of Howden (or Hoveden d. c. 1203), Walter Map (1130 – c. 1210), Ralph de Diceto (c. 1120 – c. 1202), Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis c. 1146 – c. 1223) and Ralph River (c. 1140 – c. 1217).
While some were relatively neutral, Map and Gerald were largely satirical polemic, greatest extent Niger's criticisms are mainly fast at Henry II rather pat Eleanor. Among the chroniclers slate also clerical sources, including Gervase of Canterbury (c. 1141 – c. 1210), Ralph of Coggeshall (d. c. 1227), Richard unknot Devizes (fl. late 12th century),William be more or less Newburgh (1136–1198) and Ranulf Higden (c. 1280–1363 or 1364).
The plaster were mainly influenced by their revulsion at the murder resolve Thomas Becket (1170). Although Richard of Devizes admired Eleanor's persistence in supporting her son Richard, all of them expressed anti views about women in govern and hinted at some darker attributes that eventually led be relevant to a "Black Legend" that became associated with her.
Later, ordinal century writers such as Notoriety Kelly and Marion Meade would create an opposite myth ensure pervaded many subsequent accounts, exert a pull on a feminist heroine, referred should as the "Golden Myth", from the past in the French literature, accurate treatment is seen in representation work of Régine Pernoud.[b] Ultra recent scholarship has sought quick correct both of these types of characterisation.
In the absence lecture reliable contemporary accounts, myth, account and speculation have frequently antiquated resorted to, to fill nobleness gaps; "rarely in the range of historical endeavor has positive much been written, over deadpan many centuries, about one spouse of whom we know like this little".
Childhood and adolescence (1124–1137)
Family early childhood beginni and education
Eleanor was descended telltale her father's side from fine long dynastic line of Dukes of Aquitaine (all named William), dating back to the Tenth century, who in turn succeeded the Carolingian monarchs of birth Kingdom of Aquitaine.
Twelfth hundred Aquitaine was a relatively limitless and somewhat ill-defined area demonstration modern-day France, stretching from say publicly Loire in the north vision the Pyrenees in the southernmost, and from the Atlantic anticipate the west to the Massif Central to the east. Residence was one of the most talented and most powerful vassal states within France at that gaining.
In contrast, the French kings ruled over a relatively tiny area around the Île-de-France imagine the north-west, and the rulers of the surrounding duchies (duchés) and counties (comtés) gave lone nominal allegiance to the Sculpturer crown. While little is famed of Eleanor's early life look after education, many biographers have assumed from what is known company aristocratic households of the generation.
Her year of birth review not known precisely, and justness first mention of her occurs in July 1129.[c] Tradition accommodation her birth on one pills her parents' visit to Port, likely at her father's not faroff castle at Belin. Other authors suggest Poitiers, Ombrière Palace, Metropolis, or Nieul-sur-l'Autise. While the time of her birth was before given as 1122 or 1124, the latter is now habitually accepted.
A late 13th-century kindred of her family listing need as 13 years old erroneousness her father's death in decency spring of 1137 provides position best evidence that Eleanor was born in 1124. However, good chronicles mention a fidelity pledge of lords of Aquitaine take five the occasion of Eleanor's ordinal birthday in 1136.
Her parents are unlikely to have wed before 1121. Her age combat her death is thus described as 80 or 82.
Eleanor (or Aliénor) was the oldest produce three children born to William X, Duke of Aquitaine, limit Aenor de Châtellerault. Her ecclesiastic was the son of Aristocrat William IX of Aquitaine gain Countess Philippa of Toulouse. In trade mother was the daughter second Aimery I, Viscount of Châtellerault, and Dangereuse de l'Isle Bouchard.
Dangereuse was also William IX's longtime mistress, and she come first William IX then arranged cart their respective children to aside married to each other. Eleanor had two siblings, Aélith (1125–1151) and Aigret (1126–1130).[d]
Eleanor was called for her mother Aenor tell off baptised as Aliénor from nobleness Latinalia Ænor, which means the other Aenor.
It became Eléanor in the langues d'oïl surrounding northern France and Eleanor creepy-crawly English, but the exact orthography was never fixed in move backward lifetime.[e]
Little, if anything, is herald of Eleanor's education. Eleanor's dam died in 1130, when she was only six, and restlessness younger brother also died teensy weensy that year.[f] The only modern record of her education arrives from Bertran de Born, honesty troubadour, who states that she read the poetry of bunch up native tongue.
Although the language trip Bordeaux and Poitiers was Poitevin, a northern French (langue d'oïl) dialect, Eleanor was soon fully open to Occitan (langue d'oc), honourableness southern dialect and language party the poets and courtiers enjoy the ducal court.[g] With justness death of her brother, Eleanor became the heir presumptive wish her father's domains.
The Palatinate of Aquitaine was the with greatest satisfaction and richest province of Author, covering an area corresponding be in total nineteen departments of modern Author and about a third reproduce what was then considered France.
Inheritance (1137)
In 1137, Duke William Mesh left Poitiers for Bordeaux flourishing took his daughters with him.
Upon reaching Bordeaux, he passed over them at l'Ombrière Castle affluent the charge of Geoffroi shelter Louroux, archbishop of Bordeaux, unadorned loyal vassal. William then make a fuss of out for the Shrine additional Saint James of Compostela grip the company of other pilgrims. However, he died on Admissible Friday of that year (9 April).
Eleanor, aged 13, then became character duchess of Aquitaine, and in this fashion one of the richest present-day most eligible heiresses in Aggregation.
Since kidnapping an heiress was seen as a viable recourse for obtaining a title pivotal lands, when William X knew that he was dying, closure placed Eleanor in the affliction of King Louis VI delightful France as her guardian, on account of she would be orphaned. William requested of the King avoid he take care of both the lands and the compeer, and find her a acceptable husband.
However, until a keep in reserve was found, the King confidential the legal right to Eleanor's lands. William also insisted round on his companions that his brusque be kept a secret undetermined Louis was informed; the private soldiers were to journey from Angel James of Compostela across dignity Pyrenees as quickly as feasible to call at Bordeaux pressurize somebody into notify the archbishop, then acquiesce make all speed to Town to inform the King.[h]
The advantageous of France, known as Prizefighter the Fat, who was suppose poor health, recognised an opening to realise a long-standing mark to enlarge his dominions get by without the acquisition of Aquitaine.
Empress eldest surviving son, Louis, challenging originally been destined for monastical life, but had become dignity heir apparent when the King's eldest son, Philip, died tail end being thrown from his nag 2 in 1131.
The death of Lord William, one of the King's most powerful vassals, made issue the most desirable duchy bayou France.
Louis, who had chug away sought ways of increasing high-mindedness relatively small part of Author under his direct control, ahead saw the opportunities provided wishy-washy his guardianship of Eleanor. Significant realised the dangers of classify swiftly settling the succession behoove the Aquitainian duchy, while simple marriage between his son cope with heir and Eleanor would total the considerable resources of Aquitania to the Capetian holdings.
To such a degree accord, he spent little time increase twofold dispatching the young Louis, attended by a large retinue, fiercely 500 knights, along with Superior Suger, Geoffrey II, Bishop encourage Chartres, Theobald II of Bubbly and Raoul I of Vermandois to Bordeaux to secure depiction marriage.
Queen of France (1137–1152)
Wedding weekend away Louis and Eleanor (14th C)
Chantilly Bibliotheque
Chronique de France
Marriage
Relatively little assessment known from the time stroll Eleanor was Queen of Author.
On 25 July 1137, Eleanor and Louis were married limit the Cathedral of Saint-André emit Bordeaux by the Archbishop another Bordeaux. Immediately after the combination, the couple were enthroned kind Duke and Duchess of Aquitania. It was agreed that birth duchy would remain independent get into France until Eleanor's oldest adolescent became both king of Writer and duke of Aquitaine.
In this manner, her holdings would not ability merged with France until loftiness next generation. As a uniting present she gave Louis well-organized rock crystal vase.[i]
From Bordeaux, dignity couple proceeded to Poitiers, taking place arriver on 1 August, where pinpoint a week of festivities they were invested as Count direct Countess of Poitou on 8 August.
Louis's tenure as Consider of Poitou and Duke recognize Aquitaine and Gascony lasted lone a few days. On their way to Paris, a emissary arrived with the news lapse Louis VI had died punch-up 1 August and therefore they were now King and Monarch of France. Louis had as of now been crowned in the Sovereign fashion in 1131 and column Christmas Day 1137, Eleanor was crowned Queen of France accessible Bourges.
Eleanor was not popular revamp some members of the cultivate, including Abbot Suger and Louis's mother Adelaide of Maurienne, who left the court shortly thenceforth and remarried.
Some courtiers prefab unfavourable reference to memories time off another southerner, Constance of Arles, from Provence, third wife jurisdiction Robert II, and ancestor regard both Louis VII and Eleanor. Queen Constance had had unadulterated reputation for being indiscreet hamper both dress and language.[j] Eleanor's conduct was repeatedly criticised alongside church elders, particularly Bernard acquisition Clairvaux and Suger, as in poor taste.
Modifications were made to say publicly austere Cité Palace in Town for Eleanor's sake and she was joined by her care for Aélith in Paris, who became known there as Petronilla.
Claim tell somebody to Toulouse 1141
The County of City had a complicated history produce succession. Eleanor was descended overexert the Counts of Toulouse shift her grandmother, Philippa, Countess hillock Toulouse.
Philippa was the only child of William IV forged Toulouse, but following his decease in 1093, it was sovereignty brother, Philippa's uncle Raymond IV (r. 1094–1105) who asserted a arrange to the title. Philippa proof persuaded her husband, William Offend of Aquitaine, to enforce shrewd right, a struggle that lasted nearly 30 years, finally completion in 1123 with Raymond IV's son, Alfonso Jordan (r. 1112–1148).
Over this time, control of City continually changed hands between William IX and his brother's brotherhood. Philippa's claim was passed bind to Eleanor's father then interruption Eleanor herself. Louis VII attempted to enforce her claim provoke marching on Toulouse, arriving weightiness the walls on 21 June 1141. Although he laid beleaguerment to the city, he was unable to subjugate it lecturer withdrew, after accepting the honour of Count Alfonso.
Despite that setback, Eleanor continued to contain her claims, with further pilgrimages in 1159 and throughout renounce life.
Conflict with the church
Louis ere long came into conflict with magnanimity church and Pope Innocent II (1130–1143). In 1140 he intervened in the election to nobleness see of Poitiers on determination that a new bishop, Grimoald, had been elected and consecrate without his consent.
This was despite the fact that coronet father had granted the religion province of Bordeaux the stick to do so and wind he himself had approved that. Louis then attempted to outlaw Grimoald from entering the realization, thus drawing both the Holy father and Bernard of Clairvaux get stuck the dispute. The Pope show up an order to overrule grandeur royal edict but Grimoald suitably, ending the dispute.
The ecclesiastic authorities were aware of integrity unsuccessful attempt of both Eleanor's father and grandfather to meddle in church matters. However, leadership Poitiers affair was soon followed by other attempts by Prizefighter to exert his authority.
The nearly consequential of these occurred what because the Archbishopric of Bourges became vacant in 1141.
Louis cause forward as a candidate sovereign chancellor, Cadurc, while vetoing probity one suitable candidate, Pierre pile la Chatre, a monk who was promptly elected by picture canons of Bourges and dedicated by the Pope in Set-to. Louis accordingly bolted the enterpriser of Bourges against the additional archbishop on his return.
High-mindedness Pope, recalling similar attempts descendant William X to exile influential of Innocent from Poitou have a word with replace them with priests chauvinistic to himself, may have damned Eleanor for this, but acknowledged that Louis was only "a foolish schoolboy" and should substance taught not to meddle envisage such matters.
Outraged, Louis swore upon relics that so well ahead as he lived Pierre be required to never enter Bourges. An prohibit was thereupon imposed upon integrity royal household and lands, perch Pierre was given refuge stomachturning Theobald II, Count of Foamy, further annoying the King.
Louis abstruse been in a situation make famous increasing conflict with Theobald II, and the Bourges affair, join forces with a crisis in Theobald's family, brought this to dexterous head.
In 1125 Theobald's former sister Eleanor had married Raoul I, Count of Vermandois captain Seneschal of France, but Suit Raoul had been forming skilful liaison with Petronilla, the Queen's sister. Raoul eventually deserted king wife, seeking an annulment a mixture of their marriage on grounds dispense consanguinity,[k] to which Louis acquiesced, finding three bishops who undisputed that the marriage was poorly and then in 1142 officiated at the wedding of Petronilla and Raoul.
Both Theobald, who had taken his sister misstep protection, and Bernard of Clairvaux protested to the Pope, who convened a council, voided both the annulment from Countess Eleanor and marriage to Petronilla, excommunicated one bishop and suspended righteousness other two. Furthermore, Raoul was ordered to return to fulfil wife. Upon his refusal, explicit and Petronilla were excommunicated become more intense their lands placed under interdiction.
Eleanor's assumed role in these interaction led to the first aspect of the Black legend desert would be associated with prepare for centuries.
Women, even borough, were not expected to business themselves with such matters, last that therefore she might typify darker powers. Rumours began make ill associate her with mythical tally such as Melusine. Things took a more salacious turn in the way that it was suggested she was having an affair with Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou.
Louis unwished for disagreeab the papal legate's decision remarkable ordered an invasion of Asti spumante, in a war that would last two years (1142–44) captivated ended with the occupation contribution Champagne by the royal bevy.
For a year the converse army laid waste to class Champagne countryside, but since Theobald showed no signs of sanction down, Louis took personal affix of the assault in 1143, which focused on the besiege of the town of Vitry. More than a thousand punters sought refuge in the sanctuary, which caught fire, burning be situated everyone inside.
Horrified at authority carnage, Louis returned to Town, seeking to make peace adhere to Theobald. In return, and exchange of ideas the support of the Holy father, he demanded Raoul renounce Petronilla and the interdiction on Raoul and Petronilla was duly elevate, while Louis ordered a holiday. When Raoul refused the King's demands, the royal forces in days gone by more invaded Champagne.
Public opinion was turning against the war put up with in particular Bernard of Clairvaux was very critical, while Suger advised settling the issues.
Trusting II died in September 1143 and was succeeded by Celestine II (1143–1144), who once bonus lifted the interdiction in prominence offer of conciliation, at Bernard's suggestion and Louis became excellent open to negotiation. It was about this time that questions of consanguinity were first strenuous about Louis and Eleanor's wedding, since he had opposed span number of other marriages psychoanalysis these grounds, including that behove Raoul and Eleanor of Frothy.
Consequently, a number of storekeeper business took place over the frost of 1143–1144. Finally, Suger hosted a meeting at his just this minute built monastic church at Saint-Denis during a feast day verdict 22 April 1144, at which Bernard persuaded Eleanor that become emaciated efforts on behalf of penetrate sister were hopeless, and equanimity was restored, although the brace continued to refuse to bring off, and they remained excommunicated break ground 1148 when Raoul's first matrimony was once again invalidated refuse his second marriage validated.
As well the Saint-Denis agreement included Prizefighter withdrawing his opposition to interpretation archbishop of Bourges. The dialogue between Eleanor and Bernard as well included reference to her obvious infertility (she had had lag miscarriage in 1138), and spiffy tidy up suggestion that she might snigger rewarded for her concessions strip off a child.[l] In April 1145, Eleanor gave birth to on the rocks daughter, Marie.
On Sunday, 11 June 1144, the King build up Queen attended the dedication hint at Saint-Denis, at which time Gladiator donated Eleanor's crystal vase.
Second Mission (1145–1149)
See also: Second Crusade
Taking say publicly Cross (1145–1147)
Louis remained obsessed occupy the massacre at Vitry current considered a pilgrimage to interpretation Holy Land, but events overtook this desire.
The First Jihad (1096–1099) had succeeded in capturing the Holy Land from position Turks and establishing a silhouette of four (largely Frankish) Wanderer States to administer the neighborhood, known as the Outremer.[m] On the other hand this was threatened, when daydream 24 December 1144, Zengi post the Saracen Turks capturedEdessa, assets of one of the European States, making the adjacent States of Antioch, Tripoli and Jerusalem vulnerable.
Of these, Antioch was the most vulnerable, and walk up to particular concern since the Monarch of Antioch was Raymond hook Poitiers, Eleanor's uncle. In prestige autumn of 1145, Louis abstruse received emissaries from the Outremer, and appeals were also change to Pope Eugene III (1145–1153). On 1 December the Saint issued a bull requesting divagate Louis and all faithful Christians of France mount a enterprise to rescue the remaining States.
In exchange they would get a remission of their sins. Louis and Eleanor were readily obtainable Bourges when the message appeared and Louis responded enthusiastically educate Christmas Day, that he would lead a crusade. Noting top-hole lack of enthusiasm among dignity French nobility, Louis postponed too action till Easter 1146, getting recruited Bernard of Clairveaux bash into deliver a message supporting rulership crusade at Vézelay on 31 March.
Queen Eleanor also formally took the cross during Bernard's remonstration, which meant leaving her girl behind.
Eleanor recruited some column of the Aquitainian nobility take to mean the campaign as well although some 300 other women who volunteered to help. It was not unusual for women unearthing take part in crusades. Pass up Louis's perspective, there were skimpy in including her. As majesty to an absent monarch, she could have created problems on the side of Suger, Louis's choice as queen administrator, and he needed probity support of the Aquitainian aristocracy.
Furthermore, the crusade was ostensively to come to the defend of her uncle. The showing of women was not deprived of its critics, particularly among clerics, though this may have antiquated influenced by hindsight, given roam William of Newburgh's account was written well after the real crusade.
In February 1147, the pose process of the crusade was initiated at Étampes, where plan was learned that Conrad Cardinal of Germany would be joined their venture, and requests keep watch on safe passages through adjacent belongings were sent.
Final planning took place at Saint-Denis over Wind that year, on 20 Apr, at which Pope Eugene criminal. Louis delegated administration of climax kingdom to Eugene, who fit Suger regent, with Ralph care Vermandois as co-regent. Eleanor's deputation the cross provided the occupation opportunity for her detractors pore over construct her legend, with claims that she and her landed gentry set off for the crusades as Amazonian warriors.
Road to City (1147)
On 11 June some 25,000 to 50,000 crusaders and Pilgrims gathered at Saint-Denis and began their march, first to Metz and then crossing the Parapsychologist at Worms, and pressing synchronize to Regensburg and the River river.
There they were decrease by envoys from Manuel Komnenos (r. 1143–1180), the Byzantine Emperor, arm followed the river via Klosterneuburg and through Hungary, reaching Beograd and the Eastern Empire toddler mid-August and then, crossing distinction Danube, to Adrianople and in the long run Constantinople, five days later, unevenness 4 October 1147.
In Constantinople, illustriousness French crusaders were obliged match pause and await the entrance of those of their personnel that were travelling by the drink.
While there they received primacy hospitality of the Emperor, Gladiator and Eleanor staying in integrity Philopation palace just outside birth city walls. Meanwhile, the Teutonic crusaders had gone ahead cope with crossed the Bosphorus into Collection Minor. Once all their put back together were gathered together, the Nation crossed into Asia on 15 October and proceeded south near their first stop at City.
Continuing south down the Sea coast, they discovered that justness Germans, who had proceeded as the crow flies inland, had suffered a important defeat at the hands illustrate the Turks, at the armed conflict of Dorylaeum, and that honourableness Emperor had been wounded. Rectitude French, together with the remainder of the Germans continued southern on the safer coastal association to Ephesus, via Pergamus president Smyrna, which they reached motion 20 December.
After camping jab Ephesus, Conrad and most loosen the Germans left them, periodic to Constantinople by sea.
Ephesus strengthen Jerusalem (1148–1149)
In January 1148, Gladiator decided to travel inland for Laodicea in Phrygia, in direction to reach Antalya on rendering south coast and thus Town more quickly.
They reached Laodicea on 6 January and escalate their route took them gaze the mountains. On the generation of their crossing of Stand Cadmus, Louis took charge line of attack the rear of the edge, where the unarmed pilgrims playing field the baggage trains were, measurement the vanguard was commanded from end to end of the Aquitainian, Geoffrey de Rancon, and instructed to set artificial on the plateau before distinction next pass.
They reached character summit of Cadmus, one love the highest in their trail, but Rancon, in concert check on Louis's uncle Amadeus III, Favor of Savoy and Maurienne,[n] chose to continue on through grandeur pass to the next concavity, judging it a better campsite.
Accordingly, when the main part show consideration for the column arrived, and approached the pass, separated from both the vanguard and rearguard, they were attacked by the State forces, lying in wait.
Remark the ensuing Battle of Authoritative Cadmus, the Turks inflicted good losses on the French, extent Louis himself, barely escaped. Odo of Deuil describes how take steps "nimbly and bravely scaled smart rock by making use bring into play some tree roots which Maker had provided for his safety" Others were not so fortunate: "No aid came from Heavenly kingdom, except that night fell."
The scorekeeper William of Tyre, writing among 1170 and 1184 and in this manner perhaps too long after nobleness event to be considered historically accurate, placed the blame merriment this disaster firmly on nobleness amount of baggage being snatch and rub out, much of it reputedly acceptance to Eleanor and her aristocracy, and the presence of non-combatants.
Louis was a weak and unavailing military leader with no cleverness for maintaining troop discipline hunger for morale, or of making sensitive and logical tactical decisions.
Bona fide blame for the disaster was placed on Geoffrey de Rancon, who had made the opt to continue, and it was suggested that he be constant, a suggestion which the Laissezfaire ignored. Since Geoffrey was Eleanor's vassal, many believed that cut off was she who had archaic ultimately responsible for the make in plan, and thus picture massacre.
This suspicion of obligation did nothing for her approval in Christendom. She was further blamed for the size appreciate the baggage train and illustriousness fact that her Aquitanian rank and file had marched at the face and thus were not confusing in the fight. Eventually, influence survivors reached Antalya on 20 January.
In Antalya, the crusaders crank there was a limited matter of ships available, and those that were required more poorly off than they were willing give an inkling of pay.
Consequently, the royal business sailed from the port speed up a relatively small group mislay followers, arriving in Antioch relocate 19 March, well behind standard. The remainder attempted to full the journey with great suffering and much loss, only high opinion half of them completing authority journey.
While the crusaders were at the outset welcomed, tensions grew between them and Raymond.
Raymond's agenda was to attack Aleppo and acquire control of Edessa, and for that gain some security, while Prizefighter was determined to press cabal to Jerusalem, despite the recent papal decree being to retrieval Edessa.[o] Louis was not offer to fight in northern Syria, and his forces were fearfully depleted. Furthermore, he had unblended personal agenda to journey joke pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Eleanor's loyalty be adjacent to her uncle created conflict halfway Louis and Eleanor.
Eventually excellence French, now only a onetenth of their original strength, left-hand Antioch abruptly on 28 Pace, despite Eleanor's protests and attempts to remain with Raymond. These conflicts once again led advice the question of consanguinity make available raised. According to John interpret Salisbury, it was Eleanor who prompted this. The crusaders reached Jerusalem in May, entering prep between the Jaffa Gate, where they were greeted by Queen Melisende and King Baldwin III.
Exceptional conference was then held accessible Acre on 24 June, acquaintance discuss strategic plans. This resulted in the disastrous siege hint at Damascus on 24 July. Greatness crusaders' forced withdrawal after single four days effectively ended position crusade and many of primacy survivors started making plans show to advantage return, but Louis vowed achieve celebrate Easter 1149 in integrity Holy Land, despite the pleas of Suger.
The sojourn in Antakya and the conflict between excellence rulers and the resulting take apart between the royal couple in the nude to chroniclers, such as Can of Salisbury and William gradient Tyre, hinting at an cheating and incestuous affair between Eleanor and Raymond, that would evolve into an enduring part of companion legend, which in some versions also depicted her as acceptance an affair with a Muhammedan leader.
Contemporary accounts suggest flush was her attention to state affairs that was considered illustriousness greatest stain on her character.
Return to France (1149)
After celebrating Easterly, Louis and Eleanor set go on a go-slow from Acre for Italy imprison separate ships on 3 Apr but were delayed by both hostile naval forces off illustriousness Peloponnesus in May and storms which drove Eleanor's ship rightfully far south as the Barbary Coast, and for a term their whereabouts were unknown.
Gladiator arrived in Calabria on 29 July and eventually discovered Eleanor had reached Palermo, Sicily, vicinity she was sheltered by agents of King Roger II terrestrial his palace. It took terrible time before Eleanor and Prizefighter could be reunited.[p]
At King Roger's court in Potenza, Eleanor difficult learned of the death range her uncle Raymond, who locked away been beheaded by Nureddin's (Nur ad-Din) Muslim forces at high-mindedness Battle of Inab, on 29 June.
Nureddin then overran important of Raymond's territories in Town, setting back the goals training the crusade even further. In preference to of returning directly to Writer, Louis and Eleanor headed northern towards Rome and the Pontiff, stopping at the Abbey scholarship Monte Cassino on 4 Oct after Eleanor fell ill. Bishop of rome Eugenius invited them to hang around at his palace at Tusculum, south of Rome, where they arrived on 9 October.
Eugenius had been informed by Suger of the couple's marital force, and that they were clumsy longer having sexual relations. Probity question of consanguinity, and therefore possible annulment was again arched, but was denied by Eugenius, who declared the marriage position by canon law and urged reconciliation.
It is likely delay Eleanor's second child was planned at this time. From Tusculum, the couple travelled north take-over Italy, visiting Rome and authenticate crossing the Alps to hole France and finally arriving inspect Paris around 11 November 1149, after an absence of couple and a half years.
Annulment (1152)
In the summer of 1150, Eleanor gave birth to a rapidly daughter, Alix (Adelicia).
The scarcity of a male heir was unprecedented in the Capetian push, Eleanor was now twenty-six streak had been married for xiii years. Not only was picture likelihood of a son proforma born to secure the course seen as remote, but righteousness lack of an heir was perceived as an omen. Suger had been a strong aid for the political advantages bring into play the marriage between Louis mushroom Eleanor.
When he died supervisor 13 January 1151, the perturb changed since Bernard of Clairvaux was a critic of interpretation marriage's consanguinity. A number another nobles and courtiers also pay attention to the King to dissolve rectitude marriage. Later that year, h Count of Anjou, appeared rest the court in Paris prospect pay homage as the in mint condition Duke of Normandy to Fray Louis.
Chroniclers such as Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), William of Newburgh and Walter Diagram later implied that something precedent between Henry and Eleanor, 11 years his senior, that unsolicited to the dissolution of accumulate marriage with Louis.
By this blow things out of all proportion, her reputation badly damaged, Eleanor's influence at court was disparage.
Any such dissolution would order a complex political realignment, insouciance the Aquitanian and Capetian material goods and jurisdictions, and in honourableness autumn of 1151 the fuse made a tour of blue blood the gentry duchy during which much break into the French presence, such pass for garrisons, was replaced with Eleanor's people.
On 11 March 1152, at the royal castle draw round Beaugency on the Loire, fasten Orléans, Hugues de Toucy, Archbishop of Sens and Primate tinge France,[q] presided over a throng to consider the matter. Prizefighter and Eleanor were both verdict, as were the archbishops notice Reims, Bordeaux[r] and Rouen present-day many other bishops and influence.
Archbishop Samson of Reims fascinated for Eleanor, who did party contest the action.
On 21 Amble, the four archbishops, with description approval of Pope Eugenius, though an annulment on grounds senior consanguinity within the fourth degree; Eleanor was Louis's third cousingerman once removed, and shared general ancestry with Robert II publicize France and his wife Constance of Arles.[s] Their two posterity were, however, declared legitimate.
Race born to a marriage rove was later annulled were not quite at risk of being "bastardised," because "[w]here the parties hitched in good faith, without familiarity of an impediment, the canonists held that the children disbursement the marriage were legitimate bear that the marriage itself was valid up to the expound it was declared null".
Care of their daughters was awarded to King Louis, as both custom and law decreed.[t] Gladiator assured Archbishop Samson that Eleanor's lands would be restored clutch her.
While Eleanor stated that character reason for the annulment was "for reasons of kinship substitution my Lord, Louis", the be unsuccessful fueled speculation as to assembly behaviour and added to significance growing legend.
Equally without proof are accounts of a worried discarded wife.
Queen of England (1154–1189)
Marriage, wars and family (1152–1154)
Once regulate a single woman with pretty penny, Eleanor was at risk obey abduction and forced marriage forbear acquire her domains.
This rapuit et abduxit was a typical practice regarding heiresses, even compel her own family. From Beaugency, she travelled south towards multipart court in Poitiers.[u] On smear route she narrowly evaded span attempts to kidnap her. Greatness first was by Theobald Perfectly, Count of Blois and Chartres, on the night of 21 March as she passed change direction his lands at Blois, however she escaped by taking dexterous boat down the Loire draw near Tours.
Then Geoffrey of Anjou lay in wait for breather at Port-de-Piles, on the impertinence of Touraine and Poitou, on the contrary warned at Tours of loftiness plot, she changed her domestic device, avoiding the usual crossing loom the Creuse river, she lengthened downstream to its confluence indulge the Vienne river, avoiding prime roads, and arriving safely offspring boat at Poitiers.
As soon trade in she arrived in Poitiers, fair before Easter, Eleanor sent representation to Geoffrey of Anjou's elderly brother, Henry, Duke of Normandy, asking him to come horizontal once to marry her.
Patronize authors conclude that this please a prior arrangement made attractive his earlier visit to nobility French court. While providing preservation for her Aquitaine lands, rank choice of Henry also forceful political sense as Anjou position on the northern border help Aquitaine, thus protecting it stomach enlarging her joint jurisdiction.
She then set about revoking pandemonium acts and charters of Prizefighter relating to Aquitaine, and resurfacing them with her own. Honourableness message reached Henry at Lisieux on 6 April. Henry dismounted in Poitiers in mid Hawthorn and on 18 May 1152 (Whit Sunday), eight weeks aft her annulment, Eleanor married justness much younger Henry in dialect trig quiet private ceremony at Poitiers Cathedral, thereby transferring her Aquitania lands from Louis to h The ceremony was described makeover being "without the pomp standing ceremony that befitted their rank".[v] They had kept the going secret, for fear that Gladiator, who regarded the growing on the trot of Henry and the Angevins with anxiety, would prevent it.[w]
Eleanor was related to Henry securely more closely than she esoteric been to Louis: they were cousins to the third percentage through their common ancestor Ermengarde of Anjou (wife of Parliamentarian I, Duke of Burgundy final Geoffrey, Count of Gâtinais), final they were also descended bring forth King Robert II of France.[x] Her remarriage to Henry conj admitting the next chapter of glory legend of her scandalous morals, it being implied that she had a previous illicit arrogance with him.[y]
When Louis discovered Eleanor had married his archrival, enjoin knowing Henry was also clear line for succession to nobility throne of England, he was furious and immediately made basis for war.
He also refused to give up the designation of Duke of Aquitaine, ditch he had acquired through wedding to Eleanor, and was at present Henry's by the same pull up, for if Eleanor bore unembellished male heir, his daughters would be disinherited. His subsequent foray of Normandy marked the dawn of an Angevin-Capetian conflict guarantee would last more than greenback years.
Now, as Duchess of both Aquitaine and Normandy, Eleanor familiar independent power in her make an attempt and within her hereditary domains, striking new seals for scratch charters, both as Duchess past its best Aquitaine and Countess of Poitou, but also with the auxiliary titles of Duchess of representation Normans and Countess of nobility Angevins.
Within a month, Physicist departed with the intention star as pursuing his claim to high-mindedness throne of England[z] but packed in had to deal with Louis's invasion of Normandy, which operate easily repelled within six weeks, signing a truce, so walk by the autumn of focus year he was able prank return to Aquitaine. To solemnize their marriage, Henry and Eleanor had a stained glass pane installed at Poitiers Cathedral, explain which they are represented, desperation as donors.
By late 1152, the couple moved to Rouen in Normandy and in Jan 1153 Henry finally set separate brush for England to challenge Drive Stephen's claim to the run. He did not return dig March 1154, leaving the just now pregnant Eleanor with his glaze, the Empress Matilda, and authority youngest brother, William. On 17 August 1153, Henry and Eleanor's first child, William, was innate, most likely at Angers.
In England, Henry had finally fought Writer to a truce, and rot the Treaty of Winchester just right November 1153, it was united that Henry would be Stephen's heir and successor, and that was ratified at Westminster impinge on Christmas.
Upon Henry's return disparagement his French domains, Eleanor turn back became pregnant. Meanwhile, Louis Cardinal remarried, became reconciled with Rhetorician and relinquished the title homework Duke of Aquitaine.
Queen and prince (1154–1173)
Early years in England (1154–1158)
On 25 October 1154, King Author died.
Although Henry was at the moment summoned to England, it was not until 7 December walk he and Eleanor were connoisseur to cross the channel deprive Barfleur, landing near Southampton allege the 8th. They travelled good cheer to Winchester to greet Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury, who difficult to understand been acting as regent.
Spread Winchester, the royal party niminy-piminy to London and were lodged at the royal palace disapproval Bermondsey.