They say rosamund clifford was henry s true love but who really knows. Laying next to the tomb effigy of king henry ii in frances fontevraud abbey is a curious coffin chiseled in the shape of a young woman in repose. See more ideas about eleanor of aquitaine, plantagenet and british history. The medieval and postmedieval image of eleanor of aquitaine, he works to destroy the myths that surround the life of eleanor. Learn more about eleanor of aquitaine in this article. When eleanors father bequeathed his lands, a clause stated that they would not become the property of france until eleanors son became king. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. From 1185, eleanor became more active in the ruling of aquitaine. She was patron of literary figures such as wace, benoit.
She had a younger sister called petronilla of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative, weir captures the womanand the queenin all her glory. While their effigies show them in the royal regalia of the kingdoms she helped them run, she lies in repose reading a book. At one time there were fifteen plantagenet tombs only four remain. But henry and eleanor had been to all intents and purposes estranged since the birth of john in 1167, and her actions are always geared towards her. He was the first plantagenet king, the founder of englands most successful and longest ruling dynasty. Jean plaidys novel the courts of love, fifth in the queens of england series, is a. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen consort of both louis vii of france 1752 and henry ii of england 11521204 and mother of richard i the lionheart and john of england. As the heir of the house of poitiers, rulers in southwestern france, she was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western europe during the high middle ages. However, henry and eleanor eventually became estranged.
It completed the story of eleanors life from her incarceration in sarum by her husband henry ii as punishment for, as he saw it, inciting their sons to rebel against him, and the end of her life in 1203. Richard had quarelled with his father but repented on his. Such an interesting marriage id love to know how theyd feel about being next to each other for eternity. The daughters of henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine makes a contribution to popular fields for investigation by medievalists today.
It completed the story of eleanors life from her incarceration in sarum by her husband henry ii as punishment for, as he saw it, inciting their sons to. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine 24 books. Media in category tomb of eleanor of aquitaine the following 33 files are in this category, out of 33 total. Lionheart and henry iirepresent the kings as deceased and lying in state. She was married for almost 15 years aug 1, 17 march 21, 1152 to louis vii of france before marrying henry, duke of normandy, who would later become henry ii of england. A closeup of the tomb of queen eleanor of aquitaine, reading for all. Tombs of eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii of england in the church at fontevraud abbey. Eleanor of aquitaine simple english wikipedia, the free. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Tombs of henry ii, king of england reigned 115489 and his wife eleanor of aquitaine. See the complete henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. May 21, 2020 effigy of eleanor of aquitaine about 120410. Eleanor,of aquitaine, queen, consort of henry ii, king of england,1122.
These people that we only know from history and a tomb effigy in fontevraud. Proud daughter of a distinguished french dynasty, she married the king of france, louis vii, then the king of england, henry ii, and gave birth to two sons who rose to take the english thronerichard the lionheart and john. May 6, 2017 eleanor and the people and places in her remarkable life. Marriage of eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii naked history. However, they divorced in march 1152,1 and in may of the same year she married henry of anjou the future henry ii of england. May 14, 2017 i had to make this longer video of henry and eleanor. The second and third books follow the years of their marriage and their children as they become adults. Once the lust and desire faded away for henry and eleanor, the power.
The abbey was originally the site of the graves of king henry ii of england, his wife eleanor of aquitaine, their son king richard i of england, their daughter joan, their grandson raymond vii of toulouse, and isabella of angouleme, wife of henry and eleanors son king john. Tombs of henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine at fontevraud cathedral. Tombs of eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii at fontevraud. The abbey of fontevraud, burial place of the plantagegnates angevins. Like many concepts in the book world, series is a somewhat fluid and. However, there is no remaining corporal presence of henry, eleanor. Eleanor of aquitaine became the queen of both france and england, the wife of two kings, and later the mother of two kings. Duchess and heiress of aquitaine and gascogne, countess of poitou. Born in the 12th century, she married louis vii of france, divorced him and married henry ii king of england. Henry had a copy of the dial made for eleanor that was inlaid with diamonds and engraved with the words carpe diem or. Everything you know about eleanor of aquitaine is wrong. May 18, 20 the royal tombs of eleanor of aquitaine reading a book and henry ii, and richard the lionheart and isabelle of angouleme at fontevraud abbey, france. The abbey was originally the site of the graves of king henry ii of england, his wife eleanor of aquitaine, their son king richard i of england, their daughter joan, their grandson raymond vii of toulouse, and isabella of angouleme, wife of henry and eleanor s son king john. Laying next to the tomb effigy of king henry ii in frances fontevraud abbey is a.
The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3 ebook. Her effigy is one of a number of those of kings and queens from the plantagenet dynasty at the abbey. Frustrated with her husband in england, eleanor returned to her castle in presentday france to escape the boredom and problems of his rainy, feudal kingdom. Constructed in the thirteenth century, and ravaged by time and revolution, her painted effigy depicts her reading a book, reflecting her love of learning. Oct 08, 2018 located at fontevraud abbey in anjou, the royal tombs of king henry ii, eleanor of aquitaine, king richard i, and isabelle of angouleme lie in the western bay of the abbey churchs nave.
Eleanor of aquitaine s life a few tidbits about eleanor. Henryeleanortomb henry ii of england wikipedia plantagenet. Oct 23, 2016 everything you know about eleanor of aquitaine is wrong. May 18, 2017 eleanor of aquitaine was, without doubt, one of the most important royal figures in the medieval west.
Much earlier scholarly literature was preoccupied with her personal life, casting her as the unfaithful wife of her first husband, louis vii of france, or the jealous and scheming wife of her second, henry ii of england. Tomb of richard i the lionheart reigned 118999 tombs of isabelle, wife of king john i left and richard i the lionheart reigned 118999. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 17 1152 and. Married to the king henry ii of england and mother to ten children, eleanor was an anomaly in her age. Henry ii died in 1189 and richard, thought to be eleanors favorite among her sons, became king.
Deconstructing the story of eleanor of aquitaine the. Jul 29, 2011 tombs of eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii at fontevraud abbey. Her tomb still rests there, in between those of henry ii and richard i. Eleanor of aquitaine alison weir this book is dedicated with heartfelt thanks to my agent, julian alexander and to jill black who has edited so many of my books. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable. Tomb of eleanor of aquitaine fontevraud abbey, france. Henry ii and his queen eleanor of aquitaine were both benefactors. Henry ii died in 1189 and richard, thought to be eleanor s favorite among her sons, became king. The royal tombs of eleanor of aquitaine reading a book and henry ii, and richard the lionheart and isabelle of angouleme at fontevraud abbey, france.
Tomb of eleanor of aquitaine d1204 at fontevraud abbey in france. Eleanor was first married to louis vii of france, and had two daughters by him. Eleanor of aquitaine was, without doubt, one of the most important royal figures in the medieval west. Fontevraud abbey fontevraudlabbaye, france atlas obscura. Henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine series by sharon kay penman. In the twelfth century there was no concept of nationhood or patriotism, and subjects owed loyalty to their ruler, rather than the state. Eventually, maudes son becomes henry ii and marries eleanor of aquitaine, the greatest heiress of the day and former queen of france. Sep 18, 2012 tomb of henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine, fontevraud abbey, france.
Church of fontevraud abbey eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii effigies2. Almost 900 years ago, in 1152, eleanor of aquitaine gave a sundial like this one to king henry ii of england so that henry would know when to return from the hunt for their love trysts. Apr 01, 2018 eleanor of aquitaines life a few tidbits about eleanor. The life and legacy of medieval europes most famous queen attempts to provide an unbiased look at eleanors life by exploring the achievements and trials of the duchessqueen and deconstructing the black legends and other compelling tales that continue to envelop her to this day. Oct 02, 2015 eleanor was even more closely related to henry. Tomb of henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine, fontevraud abbey, france. Because original sources are so scarce, the book is necessarily more a synthesis of recent scholarly writings than a work of archival research. Heiress to vast lands, wife to two kings, and mother to five monarchs, she ruled with energy. Henry had a copy of the dial made for eleanor that was inlaid with diamonds and engraved with the words carpe diem.
Henry ii became king of england in 1154 after 20 years of civil war. Enameled stone effigy of eleanor of aquitane from her tomb in the. From 11891204 eleanor of aquitaine also was active as a ruler in poitou and gascony. Eleanor of aquitaine has to be on your list, perhaps in the first or second postion.
The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3. Devils crown henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine youtube. She was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12thcentury europe. The henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine book series by sharon kay penman includes books when christ and his saints slept, time and chance, and devils brood. I had to make this longer video of henry and eleanor. Eleanor of aquitaines life a few tidbits about eleanor. Evans, lecturer in medieval history at central michigan university. She brought the province of aquitaine to england when she married henry ii of england. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Eleanor of aquitaine died in 1204 and was buried at fontevrault, the mausoleum of the early plantagenets, by her husband, henry ii and her best loved son, richard. Queen eleanor of aquitaine inherited the duchy of aquitaine from her father in 17. Eleanor of aquitaine audiobook by charles river editors. Today a stone effigy of the queen lies in the nave of the abbey church at fontevraud.
The last book in elizabeth chadwicks eleanor of aquitaine trilogy seemed to be a long time coming but was well worth waiting for. Opulent aquitaine eleanor of aquitaine was born into a europe dominated by feudalism. Sarcophagi of king henry ii of england and eleanor of aquataine, at fontevraud. Henry was 56 when he died, and eleanor, 11 years older than him, was 82 when she died 15 years later. However, there is no remaining corporal presence of henry, eleanor, richard, or the others on the site. As eleanor traveled to poitiers, two lords theobald v, count of blois, and geoffrey, count of nantes brother of henry ii, duke of normandy tried to kidnap and marry her to claim her. The life and legacy of medieval europes most famous queen.
He had married eleanor of aquitaine, a feisty, formidable and powerful woman ten years his elder. Burial place of raymond vii of toulouse, henry ii king. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 171152 and. Eleanor of aquitaines extraordinary life seems more likely to be found in the pages of fiction. My great grandmother, eleanor of aquitaine and my great grandfather, henry ii of england. The powerful territories of aquitaine reverted to its duchess and she happily left for her castle of poitiers. As queen of france, she participated in the unsuccessful second crusade. Ironically, this only happened after eleanor had married henry ii and so aquitaine came under the jurisdiction of england rather than france. Eleanor, queen to king henry ii of england, spent her last years at fontevrault abbey and was buried there next to her husband in 1204. Eleanor of aquitaine made fontevraud abbey her place of residence following the deaths of her husband, king henry ii, and son, the legendary king richard the lionheart, and all three were buried. One the great rulers, diplomats, and minds of history. Richard i, king of england, duke of aquitaine, count of poitou, son of henry ii and eleanor. They say rosamund clifford was henrys true love but who really knows. The marriage of eleanor of aquitaine to henry of anjou and henrys subsequent succession to the throne of england created the angevin empire.
Tomb of henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine, fontevraud abbey. Heiress to vast lands, wife to two kings, and mother to. An unusual phenomenon in northern europe, the tombs are among the first fullysculptural, lifesized effigies. In 1152, eleanor of aquitaine gave a sundial like this one to king henry ii of england so that henry would know when to return from the hunt for their love trysts. See more ideas about eleanor of aquitaine, aquitaine, eleanor. As eleanor traveled to poitiers, two lords theobald v, count of blois, and geoffrey, count of nantes, brother of henry ii, duke of normandy tried to kidnap and marry her to claim her lands. The king makers daughter the story of anne neville book demo. Eleanor of aquitaine, duchess of aquitaine, wife of henry ii, queen of england and sometime queen of france.
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