John and Jenny Fulton

Real International Princesses: Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, France

By Jenny Fulton

Introduction

My book, An International Princess Alphabet Primer, features princesses from countries and cultures around the world. Each character is named after a real person. These are their stories.

Because the alphabet book was written for young kids, the biographies I’m sharing are short, child-friendly, often rose-tinted summaries.

F: French Princess Eleanor

France Map Image by Welcome to all and thank you for your visit ! ツ from Pixabay and France Flag Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

French Princess Eleanor is named for Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the richest and most powerful women in the Middle Ages.

Eleanor was the mother of King Richard the Lionheart and Prince John of the Robin Hood legends. Throughout her life, she served as Queen of France and Queen of England (at different times). She was known for being an active and effective ruler, a passionate supporter of culture and the arts, and the one who developed the ideas of chivalry and courtly love. The nuns at the convent where she died described Eleanor as “beautiful and just, imposing and modest, humble and elegant, a queen who surpassed almost all the queens of the world.”

This influential woman was born in Aquitaine, France in either 1122 or 1124 (nobody knows exactly when). Her parents were the Duke and Duchess of Aquitaine. They were very rich. In fact, they owned more land than the King of France.

Eleanor studied very hard when she was young. She learned a lot about literature, philosophy, and languages. When she wasn’t studying, Eleanor’s favorite thing to do was ride her horse.

Before Eleanor turned 7, her mom and baby brother died. On April 9, 1137, when Eleanor was only 13 or 15 years old, her dad died. Everything he’d owned now belonged to her. The orphaned girl was sent to be taken care of by the King of France. Because he wanted all her land, King Louis VI quickly arranged for Eleanor to marry his 17-year-old son, Prince Louis VII.

Eleanor and Louis VII were married on July 25, 1137. A week later, on August 1, King Louis VI died. Eleanor became the Queen of France. She ruled France with Louis VII for fifteen years.

On March 21, 1152, their marriage ended, and Eleanor returned to Aquitaine. Everything she owned when her dad died still belonged to her. But this also meant a lot of powerful men wanted to marry her so they could have her riches. One man even kidnapped her. However, Eleanor escaped. She realized she wouldn’t be safe unless she chose someone else to marry. So, she asked Henry, the Duke of Normandy and heir to the throne of England, to marry her. He agreed and, on May 18, 1152, they were wed.

Two years later, Henry and Eleanor became the King and Queen of England. Eleanor ruled as queen until Henry died. Her power and influence increased after his death. Richard the Lionheart became king and left England under Eleanor’s rulership while he was away fighting in the crusades. When Richard was captured, Eleanor helped set him free. After Richard’s death, she helped her son John.

In 1202, after 65 years of helping kings rule their kingdoms, Eleanor retired to live the rest of her life in a monastery in Fontevrault, Anjou. She died on April 1, 1204.

Aquitaine Castle in France Image by Christophe DUCOURRET-GRAVEREAU from Pixabay

Other Princess Bios

Works Sited

“Eleanor of Aquitaine” BBC; 2014. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/eleanor_of_aquitaine.shtml

“Eleanor of Aquitaine” Brooklyn Museum; July 10, 2024.  https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/eleanor_of_aquitaine

“Eleanor of Aquitaine” English Heritage; July 10, 2024.  https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/eleanor-aquitaine/

History.com Editors. “Eleanor of Aquitaine” History.com; July 1, 2019. https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/eleanor-of-aquitaine

Pernoud, Regine. “Eleanor of Aquitaine: queen consort of France and England” Britannica; July 10, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eleanor-of-Aquitaine

25 comments

Leave a comment