Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine was born around 1124 as the eldest child of Duke William X of Aquitaine and Aénor de Châtellerault. She became the Duchess of Aquitaine in 1137 after her father's death. That same year, she married Louis, the son of King Louis VI of France, and became the Queen of France.

As Queen of France, Eleanor accompanied Louis VII on the Second Crusade to the Holy Land. Their marriage was annulled in 1152 due to consanguinity and the lack of a male heir, although their daughters were declared legitimate. Eleanor's lands were restored to her, and she soon married Henry, Duke of Normandy.

In 1154, Eleanor became Queen of England when Henry ascended the English throne as King Henry II. The couple had five sons and three daughters, but their relationship became strained over time. Eleanor supported her sons in a revolt against Henry in 1173, leading to her imprisonment until Henry's death in 1189.

After Henry II's death, Eleanor acted as regent during her son Richard I's absences from England and France. She secured the succession of her younger son John after Richard's death in 1199. Eleanor continued to be involved in political affairs until her death.

Eleanor's beauty was praised by contemporary sources, although descriptions of her appearance are largely rhetorical and based on hearsay. She was admired for her charm and noble countenance, with troubadours extolling her virtues. Some chroniclers expressed negative views about women in power, hinting at darker attributes.

Eleanor's life inspired numerous legends and myths, with her being both criticized and romanticized over the centuries. Her descendants included several monarchs and rulers across Europe. Her life has been the subject of both scholarly research and fictionalized accounts.

Eleanor died on 1 April 1204 at Fontevraud Abbey, where she was buried. Her son John succeeded her as the ruler of her domains.