History UsefulNotes / EleanorofAquitaine

Eleanor lived into her eighties (a rarity for anyone in the Middle Ages), outlasting all but two of her children. She finally retired to the abbey of Fontevrault, where she died and now lies alongside Henry and Richard.

!!Tropes associated with Eleonor of Aquitaine:

* BalanceOfPower: Aquitaine was rich and a large territory. After she left France to marry the king of England, it fell into English hands, which greatly affected the balance of power in France. Parts of the duchy (specifically Gascony/the Gironde) remained in English hands until near the end of the Hundred Years War. This always gave England an interest in the region and caused endless problems for France. (It also created the [[UsefulNotes/NationalDrinks enduring English love of Bordeaux wine]], which turned out to be a boon to French exports once the territorial matter was definitively settled in France's favour).
* BettyAndVeronica: Louis VII is Betty and Henry II more of a Veronica.
* BlueBlood: Was herself of high nobility, but married two kings and all subsequent monarchs of England descended from Eleonor.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Her sons loved rebelling against their father and each other.
* CoolOldLady: Often portrayed as such in works set during her later years. She traveled across the Pyrenees at the age of seventy-eight to fetch her granddaughter Blanche, who would marry the future Louis VIII.
* CourtlyLove: A frequent theme in troubadour culture, and one which her grandfather converted to after writing more bawdy verses in his younger years.
* CultureClash: Eleanor was from the very sophisticated and art-loving Aquitaine. Her grandfather was the famous troubadour duke William IX. The more business-like French court did not know what to make of her. There was an even bigger difference with the English. Like many queens of England who hailed from southern France or Spain, she influenced the culture there.
* DysfunctionalFamily: Her grandfather William IX divorced and then married another wife. When he then set up his mistress at court, wife number two went to a convent where she befriended wife number 1, who then set out to avenge wife number 2 when she died and remaining a thorn in William's side. That's just the portion that deals with her grandparents. It went FromBadToWorse as we reach her generation and then that of her children, culminating in the likely murder of her grandson Arthur by her son John, as they fought over the succession.
* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Averted. She supported her sister Petronilla who also had a less than conventional marital track record. Petronilla also stayed with Eleanor during her imprisonment.
* HeirClubForMen: Averted with Aquitaine, which she ruled in her own right. In France, this was probably one of the main contributors to her divorce from her first husband-- fifteen years of marriage and they only had two daughters to show for it. Eleanor went on to have five sons with her second husband, while it took Louis two more wives to just to get one.
* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: Averted. She was known to have been very beautiful and charming in reality.
* HotterAndSexier: Compared to most French and English queens before her, she was definitely this.
* IdiotBall: Louis VII letting Eleanor go, also meant he let the Aquitaine fall into his biggest rival's hands. When her second marriage turned sour as well, Henry did not make the same mistake and imprisoned her instead of letting her leave.
* ItRunsInTheFamily: Like Eleanor and Henry, their children and grandchildren tended to be colourful characters.
** Her granddaughter Blanche (from her second marriage) also became the Queen of France. Blanche ruled as regent and successfully saved her young son Louis IX from a rebellion.
** Her granddaughter Berengaria ruled as regent for her younger brother Henry I, King of Castile, and upon his death, she inherited the throne; while Berengaria abdicated in her son's favor, she remained a close advisor and even ruled on his behalf sometimes.
** Eleanor's maternal grandmother was Dangereuse de l'Isle Bouchard. That name should tell you all.
** She herself went on crusade, and so did her son Richard Lionheart. Her grandson Richard of Cornwall went as well and had some successes through diplomacy instead of fighting.
** Averted with her daughter Eleanor, who had a happy marriage with the king of Castile and a stable family life. The younger Eleanor was very politically influential, though.
* MamaBear: When Richard was captured on his way back from the Holy Land, she did everything to have him released, including raising an enormous ransom and fulminating against the Pope when he didn't do enough for her taste.
* MommasBoy: Richard Lionheart, of all people. The first thing he did after becoming king was release his mother from captivity. He also left her to rule England while he went on crusade.
* ParentalFavoritism: Was known for liking Richard best.
* RenaissanceMan: Though living centuries before 'the' Renaissance, the twelfth century was considered to have had a renaissance too. The Southern French culture she brought up north to the French and English courts contributed to this as well. She was also widely travelled, having been to the Holy Land on crusade amongst other locations.
* ScrewTheRulesImFamous: Though a favorite subject of gossip, even in church chronicles, Eleanor was respected as well. Not following rules and clashing with popes was a thing in her family.
* TheTourney: Her eldest son, the Young King, was known to have travelled going on tourneys for years.
* UnwantedSpouse: Though Louis VII was very impressed and influenced by Eleanor at the beginning of their marriage, they both became this for each other. Even the Pope's attempt at marriage counselling could not save the marriage in the end.
* WomanScorned: Proud and beautiful Eleanor did not take Henry's infidelities well. According to legend, she found one of Henry's lovers in a labyrinth and killed her.

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* BalanceOfPower: Aquitaine was rich and a large territory. After she left France to marry the king of England, it fell into English hands, which greatly affected the balance of power in France. Parts of the duchy (specifically the Gironde) remained in English hands until near the end of the Hundred Years War. This always gave England an interest in the region and caused endless problems for France. (It also created the [[UsefulNotes/NationalDrinks enduring English love of Bordeaux wine]], which turned out to be a boon to French exports once the territorial matter was definitively settled in France's favour).

* BalanceOfPower: Aquitaine was rich and a large territory. After she left France to marry the king of England, it fell into English hands, which greatly affected the balance of power in France. Parts of the duchy (specifically the Gironde, hence the [[UsefulNotes/NationalDrinks enduring English love of Bordeaux wine]]) remained in English hands until near the end of the Hundred Years War. This always gave England an interest in the region and caused endless problems for France.

* BalanceOfPower: Aquitaine was rich and a large territory. After she left France to marry the king of England, it fell into English hands, which greatly affected the balance of power in France. Parts of the duchy remained in English hands until near the end of the Hundred Years War. This always gave England an interest in the region and caused endless problems for France.

* CoolOldLady: Often portrayed as such. The also travels across the Pyrenees as the age of eighty to fetch her granddaughter Blanche, who would marry the future Louis VIII.

** Her wish to rule, while being a woman, was most strongly echoed in her granddaughter Blanche of Castile. She ruled France as regent and successfully saved her young son Louis IX from a rebellion. This while Blanche's sister Berengaria acted as regent and also briefly ruled Castile in her own right.

** Averted with her daugher Eleanor, who had a happy marriage with the king of Castile and a stable family life. The younger Eleanor was very politically influential, though.

* MommasBoy: Richard Lionheart, of all people. The first thing he did after becoming king was releasing his mother from captivity. He also left her to rule England while he went on crusade.

* BalanceOfPower: Aquitaine was rich and a large territory. After she left France to marry the king of England, it fell into English hands, which great affected the balance of power in France. Parts of the duchy remained in English hands until near the end of the Hundred Years War. This always gave England an interest in the region and caused endless problems for France.

Shortly afterward, Eleanor married [[UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond Henry Plantagenet]], Duke of Anjou and Normandy who later succeeded to the throne of England as King Henry II. Eleanor added her territories--Aquitaine, Poitou, and Gascony--to Henry's, and the subsequent Angevin Empire extended from the Pyrenees mountains to the southern border of Scotland. Their marriage produced five sons and three daughters, but by 1167 Eleanor and Henry were living separate lives, with Eleanor ruling her own territories. In 1173, she supported her sons in a rebellion against Henry, which failed and caused Eleanor to spend the next 16 years as a political prisoner of her husband.

Shortly afterward, Eleanor married [[UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond one Henry Plantagenet]], Duke of Anjou and Normandy who later succeeded to the throne of England as King Henry II. Eleanor added her territories--Aquitaine, Poitou, and Gascony--to Henry's, and the subsequent Angevin Empire extended from the Pyrenees mountains to the southern border of Scotland. Their marriage produced five sons and three daughters, but by 1167 Eleanor and Henry were living separate lives, with Eleanor ruling her own territories. In 1173, she supported her sons in a rebellion against Henry, which failed and caused Eleanor to spend the next 16 years as a political prisoner of her husband.

When John succeeded Richard, it was ''his'' turn to ask Eleanor for help, as her grandson Arthur of Brittany now had designs on the throne. Oh yeah, and she also found time to marry off her granddaughter, Blanche of Castile, to the king of France. Blanche would prove to be a badass queen in her own right, ruling as regent for her son, King Louis IX (aka St. Louis).

Eleanor (or Aliénor) of Aquitaine (1122-1204) was one of the most influential and flamboyant women of the HighMiddleAges. As duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she became the wealthiest heiress in Europe, and at fifteen she was married to King Louis VII of France. She accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade, which proved to be a fiasco. The royal couple drifted apart, and upon their return to Europe, the marriage was annulled.

Shortly afterward, Eleanor married [[UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond one Henry Plantagenet]], who succeeded to the throne of England as King Henry II. Eleanor added her territories--Aquitaine and Poitiers--to Henry's kingdom, and the subsequent Angevin Empire extended from the Pyrenees mountains to the southern border of Scotland. The marriage produced five sons and three daughters, but by 1167, Eleanor and Henry were living separate lives, with Eleanor ruling her French territories. In 1173, she supported her sons in a rebellion against Henry, which failed and caused Eleanor to spend spend the next 16 years as a captive of her husband.

Upon Henry's death in 1189, Eleanor's favorite son, [[UsefulNotes/RichardTheLionheart Richard]], became King of England and released his mother. Eleanor acted as regent while Richard was away on the Third Crusade--and given that he barely spent any time in England, Eleanor was the real ruler of the country during his 10-year reign. And all the while, she had to keep her youngest son, [[UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland John]], from grabbing territory (fun fact: John had been Henry II's favorite).

Eleanor lived into her eighties, which was rare for anyone in the Middle Ages. She finally retired to the abbey of Fontevrault, where she died and now lies alongside Henry and Richard.

Eleanor (or Aliénor) of Aquitaine (1122-1204) was one of the most powerful and flamboyant women of the HighMiddleAges. As duchess of Aquitaine, she became the wealthiest heiress in Europe, and at fifteen, she was married to King Louis VII of France. She accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade, which proved to be a fiasco. The royal couple drifted apart, and upon their return to Europe, the marriage was annulled.

Shortly afterward, Eleanor married [[UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond one Henry Plantagenet]], who succeeded the throne of England as King Henry II. Eleanor added her territories--Aquitaine and Poitiers--to Henry's kingdom. Together, they created the Angevin Empire. The marriage produced five sons and three daughters, but by 1167, Eleanor and Henry were living separate lives, with Eleanor ruling her French territories. In 1173, she supported her sons in a rebellion against Henry. It failed, and she spent the next 16 years as a captive of her husband.

Upon Henry's death, Eleanor's favorite son, [[UsefulNotes/RichardTheLionheart Richard]], became King of England and released his mother. Eleanor acted as regent while Richard was away on the Third Crusade--and given that he barely spent any time in England, Eleanor was the real ruler of the country during his reign. And all the while, she had to keep her younger son, [[UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland John]], from grabbing territory (fun fact: John had been Henry II's favorite).

* YourCheatingHeart: Proud and beautiful Eleanor did not take Henry's infidelities well. According to legend, she found one of Henry's lovers in a labyrinth and killed her.
** She herself was rumored to have slept with Henry's father during her first marriage, as well as with her uncle Raymond, Prince of Antioch. There were even later rumors that she tried to run off with Saladin, but he was only twelve when she was in the Holy Land.

* HeirClubForMen: Averted with Aquitaine, which she ruled in her own right.

* UnwantedSpouse: Though Louis VII was very impressed and influenced by Eleanor at the beginning of their marriage, they both became this for each other. Even the Pope's attempt at marriage counselling could not save the marriage in the end/

* RenaissanceMan: Though living centuries before 'the' Renaissance, the twelfth century was considered to have had a renaissance as well. The Southern French culture she brought up north to the French and English courts contributed to this as well. She was also widely travelled, having been to the Holy Land on crusade amongst other locations.

* YourCheatingHeart: Proud and beautiful Eleanor did not take Henry's infidelities well.

Eleanor of Aquitaine appears in:

* ColdBloodedTorture: It's rumored that her youngest son John blinded and killed his nephew Arthur.
* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: Averted. She was known to have been very beautiful and charming for real.

Shortly afterward, Eleanor married [[UsefulNotes/HenryTheSecond one Henry Plantagenet]], who succeeded the throne of England as King Henry II. Eleanor added her territories - Aquitaine and Poitiers - to Henry's kingdom. Together, they created the Angevin Empire. The marriage produced five sons and three daughters, but by 1167, Eleanor and Henry were living separate lives, with Eleanor ruling her French territories. In 1173, she supported her sons in a rebellion against Henry. It failed, and she spent the next 16 years as a captive of her husband.

Upon Henry's death, Eleanor's favorite son, [[UsefulNotes/RichardTheLionheart Richard]], became King of England and released his mother. Eleanor acted regent while Richard was away on the Third Crusade--and given that he barely spent any time in England, Eleanor was the real ruler of the country during his reign. And all the while, she had to keep her younger son, [[UsefulNotes/KingJohnOfEngland John]], from grabbing territory (fun fact: John had been Henry II's favorite).

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) was one of the most powerful and flamboyant women of the HighMiddleAges. As duchess of Aquitaine, she became the wealthiest heiress in Europe, and at fifteen, she was married to King Louis VII of France. She accompanied Louis on the Second Crusade, which proved to be a fiasco. The royal couple drifted apart, and upon their return to Europe, the marriage was annulled.

Eleanor lived into her eighties, which rare for anyone in the Middle Ages. She finally retired to the abbey of Fontevrault, where she died and now lies alongside Henry and Richard.

Eleanor lived into her eighties, which was almost unheard of for anyone in the Middle Ages. She finally retired to the abbey of Fontevraud, where she died and since lies alongside Henry and Richard.

* Eleanor of Aquitaine appears in ''[[VideoGame/Civilization Civilization VI: Gathering Storm]]'' as a playable leader for both England and France (making her the first leader in Civilization games to lead two different civilizations). Her unique ability allows her to apply loyalty pressure in foreign cities which allows the foreign cities to automatically join her empire instead of becoming a free city. Her ability is based on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtly_love love through nobility and chivalry]].

Eleanor lived into her eighties, which was almost unheard of for anyone in the Middle Ages. She finally retired to the abbey at Fontevrault, where she died and today lies alongside Henry.