E

leanor is a fascinating subject.  Captivating. Mysterious. Powerful. Maternal—a vixen.  A beautiful manipulator. A woman who kept her head despite the intrigue. Queen of France as well as Queen of England, she is best known as Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Born in 1122, Eleanor’s family had more land and vassals than the king of France. While they swore allegiance to their king, the Aquitanians were a powerful entity without him, as he well knew. When the sickly King Louis VI received word of Duke William X’s surprise death, he immediately sent his sixteen-year old son, Prince Louis, to marry the fifteen-year old Duchess Eleanor before anyone else grabbed the prize. This ensured the loyalty of the Aquitanian vassals, and greatly enriched the royal coffers. Eleanor’s beauty was a bonus.