Eleanor Of Aquitaine Thesis

Eleanor of Aquitaine History Thesis Paper

Eleanor of Aquitaine was born into an esteemed French family from which she inherited the region of Aquitaine and became one of the most influential female figures in history (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Through two marriages and many children, Eleanor of Aquitaine managed to become the queen of France as well as the queen of England; her complicated life and titles would later lead to centuries of war (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Even with the struggles that accompanied womanhood in her day, Eleanor moved from one leading position to the next. The baffling amount of power, wealth, and land in possession of Eleanor of Aquitaine during her lifetime rivals that of the greatest nations

during the Middle Ages. Eleanor of Aquitaine became among the most influential figures in the Middle Ages because of her substantial inheritance, her ability to successfully seek out positions of power, and her ability to assert the most possible influence into those positions.
Born to William X of Aquitaine in 1124, she was part of a noble family in France, which ruled over the region of Aquitaine in Southern France (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Aquitaine was inhabited by artists of all kinds: poets, painters, writers, and sculptors. Those that inhabited Aquitaine and filled its culture had a lasting mark on Eleanor and her appreciation for the arts (Love, Western Notions of). This appreciation for the arts later influenced Eleanor’s life and leadership choices. Then, when William X, Eleanor’s father, died Eleanor became the sole heiress to land and power that would make her catch the eyes of the world leaders. Eleanor was fifteen years old when her father died (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Since Eleanor was William’s oldest child and he had no sons, she was the only suitable one to inherit her father's vast fortune. Overnight, Eleanor became one of the richest teenagers in Europe. Because of her extensive wealth, Eleanor, being of marital age, began to draw the attention of the French government quite quickly. Due to important lands in her possession, Eleanor was set up, just two months after her father’s death, to marry the French Prince and future King, Louis VII (The Plantagenet Chronicles, page 80).
The marriage between Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine was a win for the French government. Aquitaine, which Eleanor controlled, was precious land. If she married into another country’s royal family that country would acquire Aquitaine, so making sure to keep Aquitaine in French possession was essential. Though, this union failed to please either of the people involved (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Louis VII, the French prince, trained to become a priest, but later stopped after the death of his older brother. Because he trained as a priest, Louis VII had certain temperaments to him, like being very calm and easily persuaded, unlike Eleanor who was outspoken and strong-willed. Eleanor would later use Louis VII’s characteristics to her advantage to rule (Eleanor, Historic World leaders) (The Plantagenet, page 81). Then, when Louis VII’s father died, Louis VI, in 1137, the biggest event yet in Eleanor’s lifetime happened: she became queen of France (The Plantagenet, pages 55 & 81).
During Eleanor’s time as queen of France, she faced trouble with the Catholic Church which started a chain of events that eventually led to her divorce from Louis VII. Due to her ability to take matters into her own hands and persuade her husband, Eleanor caused a big problem, which later led to war from 1142-1144, between the Catholic Church and the French monarchy over the controversy of her sister’s marriage (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Eleanor’s sister, Petronilla of Aquitaine, fell in love with Count Ralph I of Vermandois and decided to marry him. Though he was already wed, Eleanor succeeded in pressuring Court Ralph I to repudiate his wife in favor of Pentronilla. Ralph’s prominent first wife was able to get Court Ralph I and Petronilla excommunicated by the Pope Innocent II (The Kings of France, page 165). Eleanor, upset by this decision, did not give up, but rather persuaded her husband to support the marriage; the French government started a war with the Catholic Church lasting two years.
In 1145, Eleanor again persuaded her husband to end problems with the Church in order to focus on a bigger problem: the lack of an heir to the French throne.

Eleanor once again influenced her husband’s decision making. Louis VII agreed and decided to reconcile with the Church by going on a crusade to Jerusalem, which Eleanor decided to join him (The Great Crusades). On this crusade Eleanor met her beloved uncle, Prince Raymond. Eleanor spent a lot of time with Raymond, which caused rumor’s of a romantic relationship, and confessed her frustration with her marriage with him. Because of Raymond’s advice Eleanor refused to join Louis VII in returning to France, who left the crusade early because of those rumors of an affair. This was the beginning of the end for their marriage (Medieval Sourcebook, www.legacy.fordham.edu). Finally, in 1152, Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine officially separated due to the lack of a male heir, as well as the drastic differences in their personalities (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry

II).
Soon after Eleanor’s separation from Louis VII, she met Henry II of England, and despite the advice from Henry’s father, decided to wed although she still had ties to Louis VII (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Henry II had ties through his mother’s side of the family to be in line for the English throne, which he ruled starting in 1154. Eleanor was ready to join forces once again so she could rule and have more power. Though the two were set on marrying, Geoffrey court of Anjou, Henry II’s father, did not want the two to marry because of Eleanor’s rule of Aquitaine along with Henry II’s rule of Anjou and the complications it would have on England’s borders with France if Henry II became king. Even though Geoffrey disliked the union, Eleanor’s wealth and charisma trumped Henry II’s father’s disapproval (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Besides Henry’s father, Eleanor had other major setbacks on her quest to become queen once again. Louis VII, the King of France and subsequently the king of Aquitaine, did not approve of the marriage; Louis VII must have given Eleanor permission to marry since he ruled over Aquitaine, of which she was Duchess. Eleanor and Henry were not going to accept defeat without a fight and decided to wage war with Louis VII (The Plantagenet Chronicles, page 82). Eventually, Louis VII decided to give up and accept their marriage (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Eleanor had used her power and persuasion to successfully find and assert herself into another position of power.
The vast land held between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II created an empire throughout Europe (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Called the Angevin Empire, it was made up of Eleanor’s Aquitaine, Henry’s rule in Normandy, the French province of Anjou, and all of England. Eleanor’s ability to seek and successfully obtain powerful positions made her one of the leaders of one of the greatest empires in Medieval times. During their prime, Eleanor and Henry II’s empire ruled over more of France than the French government under Louis VII ever did! Because of the dysfunctional arrangement of land and disregard for borders, following the end of the empire England and France fought for over 300 years (Eleanor, Historic World leaders).
Eleanor was able to exert her influence in many ways while ruling as the queen of the Angevin Empire. When Henry II was away on crusades or other business, Eleanor would act as his regent, ruling on day-to-day decisions in order to keep the problems of the empire resolved (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). To give Eleanor this much power meant that Henry thought highly of her intelligence to lead. She was not only good for supplying land from her inheritance to the empire. When Henry II returned from war, and Eleanor stepped down as regent, she stayed close to Aquitaine and exerted her influence there. With her daughter Marie, from her marriage to Louis VII, and others, Eleanor continued to grow Aquitaine into a hub for art; drawing artists from all over Europe to seek inspiration (Love, Western Notions of). Aside with her own power, Eleanor was able to exert her influence over her children. Along with her daughters from the previous marriage, Eleanor had eight children with Henry II whose ambitions to lead she continuously supported (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Eleanor was able to utilize power throughout her time as queen of England. When she was not working as Henry II’s regent, she found leadership in her home of Aquitaine. Not only did she hone her own leadership powers through these positions, but she groomed her children to lead too. Eleanor always thought ahead and looked to future generations to gain power.
When Henry decided to divide his land between his sons in 1169 and hand over his ‘official’ power, Eleanor was a strong backer of her sons’ rights to have full power and rebel against their father, and her husband. When Henry II handed down the throne and made his son, Henry the Young, the king of the Angevin Empire he still continued to hold true power and, in a sense, only stepped down to make his son a mere figure head (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Eleanor believed her children deserved more power, so she could exert her influence through them too. With her sons, who were all in line for the throne, she colluded to rebel against Henry II and started a civil war in the Angevin Empire in 1173 (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II).
Henry II put an end to the rebellion led by his wife and immediately after imprisoned Eleanor.

For the first time in very long, Eleanor of Aquitaine was defeated and lost power, a phenomenon which she was not used to. Though in the past Henry II and others held great respect for Eleanor, now, because of the revolt, they had lost hope in her and resented her actions (Peter of Blois: Letter 154 to Queen Eleanor, 1173). Even though she was taken prisoner after her loss, she still was surrounded by many luxuries. Eleanor was held at Salisbury Castle and never spent time in a real prison. She was allowed out on occasion to attend public ceremonies with Henry II and keep up her appearances (Eleanor, Historic World leaders). Though resentful, her light treatment after trying to take down her husband was due to her husband’s past love for her, a love that transcended a coup attempt. Once again, Eleanor’s charisma and personality saved

her.
When Henry died July 6, 1189, his and Eleanor’s son Richard assumed leadership of the empire and immediately freed Eleanor from prison so she could resume her role as one of the most important people in the empire (Richard the Lionheart). Once again, Eleanor became a respected and vital part of the empire. She acted as Richard’s closest advisor and again served as a regent when he was away. Not only did Henry II think she could have the intelligence to lead, so too did her son. Eleanor infamously paid Richard I’s huge ransom when he was captured by Duke Leopold of Austria in 1192 while on a crusade; an example of how close the mother and son were (King Richard). Eleanor once again successfully latched onto a man of great power. Then, when Richard I suddenly died in 1199, Eleanor was left to find another ruler who could keep her vast empire, and her influence in it, intact.
After Richard died the only son left for Eleanor to put into power was John, and although difficult, she eventually managed to place him onto the throne despite his massive dislike (King John). Huge controversy surrounded the question of who would take the throne after Richard’s death. Since Richard had no direct heirs, many thought the throne would go to his nephew, Arthur of Brittany. Though, Eleanor saw greater opportunity for her in making John the king. Oddly enough, Arthur of Brittany died soon after Richard I’s death, making John the only suitable heir. A strange turn of events many people believe was administered by Eleanor or John to secure power. John, now king, was massively disliked for his lack of military power and cruel personality (King John). No matter how punishing, Eleanor was able to successfully seek places of power for herself and her family. Though sadly, at the most vulnerable time for the empire, Eleanor had to step back in order to take care of herself.
Eleanor spent decades ruling as one of the most successful woman figures in history and far surpassed the average life span of someone at her time. She spent the last two years of her life in the abbey of Fontevrault, located in Anjou (Eleanor of Aquitaine Marries Henry II). Eleanor of Aquitaine died in 1204, at the age 80. She survived many of her children and both of her husbands (The Plantagenet Chronicles, Page 278).
Eleanor of Aquitaine became one of the most important people, if not the most important woman, in Medieval times. Because of her vast inheritance and her ability to successfully seek out positions of power and to be able to assert the most possible influence into those positions she successfully built an empire and ruled over countries for the large majority of her life. Eleanor is part of a small group of people who have successfully been in power for over sixty years. The amazing amount of wealth, power, and land she helped control, and for such a prolonged period of time, can be called nothing short of legendary.