Eleanor Of Aquitaine: The Power Of Churches In Europe Throughout The Middle Ages

Moments after their marriage, Louis VI died, making Eleanor the Queen of France at 15. Phillip, Louis’ older brother, was raised to be king, but died after falling from a horse in 1131. Thus, Eleanor easily influenced her husband while making decisions, and was blamed for the problems between the Church and the French monarchy

Wives of rulers or women in the royal family often convinced men in power to see things their way. Although their role was limited, women also had an important influence in the home. Most women raised children and saw to their education. Many women also

Eleanor was born in 1122 to Duke William X of Aquitaine. The holdings of her father were equal to those of the French royalty, making him one of the most

in her lifetime which helped her develop into a strong woman. She aspired to challenge

Shortly after, the king, Louis’ father became ill and passed. On Christmas Day of that same year, Louis and Eleanor were coroneted as the King and Queen of France. The first few years of their reign were a bit tumultuous. The beginning better half of the couples reign was filled with diplomatic and military blunders made by Louis who at the time was still quite young, all the while having a country to run. While all of this was stressful for Louis, Eleanor, by all accounts made an effort to be an ideal wife and stood by Louis, and consequently took a stressful toll on her as well. Over the course of the several mistakes made over the beginning of the reign, the two grew farther and farther apart until eventually being granted an annulment in 1152, on the base of consanguinity. During the brief spell of matrimony, the two bore two daughters, who were granted to Louis as a result of the annulment. Eleanor received her lands back that she had attained from her father following his

Although Richard was gone for five years, it was partly because he was captured by the Duke of Austria when he was headed back to England. His mother, Queen Eleanor had to pay for his son to come back and she escorted all the way home. During these five years his brother, John Lackland tried to take the throne. In 1199 King Richard died while he was trying to take one of his castles back. Having no wife or children, his rule was passed down to John. As John became king the rulers of France were against him so Queen Eleanor sent her granddaughter to marry the French king’s son so there would be peace. In the 1200 Queen Eleanor rode horseback at 80 years old to fetch her granddaughter, Blancher, as she crossed the Pyrenees and got her at the court of the French castle. The son of Geoffrey, Arthur of Brittany, tried to take over the crown, but Eleanor helped John to defend Anjou and Aquitaine. Two years later Arthur tried another attack, Eleanor still defeated him as she defended John. However, after all that had happened, she went to the monastery at Fonteverault to retire as she died in 1204 at 82 years old (Bailey). Queen Eleanor was known as the most powerful women at that time. Many people don’t live to be as old as she was in medieval times, she outlived a lot of important Kings and Queens (Combee and

Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most powerful women in the Middle Ages. She was the Duchess of Aquitaine. Later, she would go on to become Queen of France and later Queen of England. Eleanor was born in France. It was believed she was born in 1122. She was raised by her father, William X.After Eleanor got married to her husband, they became rulers of Aquitaine together. They ruled for a long time. Their rulership consisted of criticism and embarrassment.

The dowry she brought with her into marriage had to be returned intact if her husband repudiated her.” When Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII divorced, he did not have any authority to the duchy of Aquitaine and instead, the property remained in her possession. Eleanor used her land in order to justify her power and secure her validation in the Crusade.

King Louis VI arranged for his son Louis VII to marry Eleanor. After the King died in the same year as her father, Louis VII and Eleanor were crowned King and Queen of France. In 1145 their first daughter was born, Marie of France. King Louis was briefly involved in the first cascade, but developed guilt from it as so many people lost their lives. Because of this guilt by the 2 crusades he decided to fight among the knights. Eleanor joined her husband in leading the 2 crusade on the battlefield with her own lady squad, they were dressed as soldiers but did not fight. During this time Eleanor grew very close to her uncle Raymond of Poitiers, however Louis believed they were too close which resulted in the two arguing. Eleanor then arrived in Sicily and begged the Pope of a divorce, however, he refused and instead locked them in a room and told them to produce another child. In 1151 their second daughter was born, Alix of France, even though Eleanor loved both her children, the birth of only daughters caused even more problem in hers and Louis’ relationship as they needed a son to carry out their name. In this same year Eleanor went to the Pope again and begged for a divorce, this time to Pope granted her wish and divorced them, luckily Eleanor was able to keep all her land as well as the title, the queen of

She was also an active participant in the suffrage movement. She believed in the equal rights of women and was adamant in getting

Even with all the different events going on in her life, Eleanor was still able to play an active role as the Duchess of Aquitaine. When her marriage to Henry began to fall apart, Eleanor kept busy by contributing to the rules of “courtly love.” She also spent most of her time finding powerful men to marry her daughters. Matilda married Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria ; Eleanor married Alfonso VIII, King of Sicily, and later married Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse. Eleanor also played an active role in the lives of her sons.

Eleanor of Aquitaine’s life and marriages give insight into the process of how the nobility manipulated and ignored laws for personal gain. She was orphaned at a young age, and came under the guardianship of Louis VI, king of France. At the death of her father and the age of fifteen she became the Duchess of Aquitaine and the most sought after bride of the times. Aquitaine was a very important Duchy, and Eleanor owned it. Louis VI married her to his son soon after he became her guardian, and this marriage was made under duress.

She soon found Louis, the prince of France to marry. She was escorted out of Aquitaine and brought to France, Soon marrying Louis in July of 1137 on Christmas Day. (History.com). “When she became Queen of France she brought a new sense of style and taste to France that nobody had seen before in the capital cities.” (Hilliam 11). “While after being married to Louis he was involved in a terrible accident that ended in over one thousand people being burned to death. Her husband decided to join a crusade to try and save his soul from the terrible thing he was a part of. Eleanor joined him and brought many women to help nurse the soldiers. Some thought that it may have been a bad idea because there would be nobody to watch over France. If something did happen to the king there would be noone to take his spot as king because Eleanor had only had two daughters with King Louis.” (Hilliam

In fact, the reformation oppressed women socially and religiously. Men also suffered some setbacks as well, but this paper will focus on the setbacks of women. Before the reformation, women had basically three options for a “career.” They could marry and become a housewife, become a nun, or work a prostitute.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversy surrounding the church, the institutions it established cleared a path for a new way of thinking, shaping society in an enduring way.