11 Intriguing Details About Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine stood as one of the most influential women in the 12th century. She governed vast territories, ascended to the throne as Queen of France and later England, and was the mother of Richard the Lionheart, one of England's most celebrated kings. Although her life story is shrouded in myths and uncertainties—even her birth date and location remain unclear—her enduring legacy and impact are undeniable. Discover 11 fascinating facts about Eleanor of Aquitaine.

1. In her youth, Eleanor of Aquitaine was considered the most sought-after unmarried woman in Europe.

Born around 1122 or 1124, likely in what is now southern France, Eleanor was named after her mother, Aénor de Châtellerault, the Duchess. As the oldest of three siblings, her father, William X, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou, ruled over one of the largest landholdings in France. From a young age, she was likely educated in Latin, philosophy, and equestrian skills. Following the death of her younger brother in 1130, Eleanor inherited an immense fortune of land and authority.

When William X passed away in 1137 during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the teenage Eleanor unexpectedly became the Duchess of Aquitaine, inheriting immense wealth and becoming a highly desirable match. There was no time for her to grieve. Upon hearing of her father’s death, her marriage to Louis VII, the son of the French king, was swiftly arranged. The king sent 500 men to escort Eleanor to Paris for the wedding. Shortly after their summer nuptials, the king fell ill and died. By year’s end, Louis VII ascended the throne, and Eleanor was crowned Queen of France.

2. Her beauty was widely praised, yet her physical appearance remains unknown.

Numerous contemporary accounts extol Eleanor’s beauty. The medieval French poet Bernard de Ventadour described her as "gracious, lovely, and full of charm," while Matthew Paris noted her "admirable beauty." However, despite these accolades, no one documented her specific features. Her hair color, eye color, height, and facial characteristics remain a mystery. The only surviving depiction linked to her is the effigy on her tomb, though its accuracy in representing her true appearance is uncertain.

3. She actively participated in the Crusades.

When Louis VII heeded the pope’s call for a Second Crusade to protect Jerusalem from Muslim forces, Eleanor chose not to remain in France. Between 1147 and 1149, she accompanied her husband’s entourage to Constantinople and later to Jerusalem. (Legend claims she brought 300 ladies-in-waiting dressed as Amazons, but these stories have been discredited.)

Sadly, this journey was far from a romantic escapade for the royal pair. Louis and his strong-willed queen were ill-suited, and their tensions reached a breaking point at the court of her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers, in Antioch. Whispers of an inappropriate relationship between Eleanor of Aquitaine and her uncle, whose opulent court captivated her, tarnished her reputation. She further stirred controversy by boldly backing her uncle’s crusade strategy, which involved attacking Aleppo, while Louis insisted on heading to Jerusalem. Eventually, Louis compelled Eleanor to continue the journey with him.

In the end, the Second Crusade proved to be a failure, marked by the catastrophic Siege of Damascus in 1148, resulting in a Muslim triumph. Louis VII and the crusader forces were forced to retreat.

4. Her first marriage ended in annulment.

The royal union did not endure much longer, strained further by Eleanor’s inability to produce a male heir. The marriage was officially annulled in 1152. (The annulment was granted due to consanguinity—their close familial ties.) Eleanor retained her lands and found herself single once more, though not for long. That same May, she wed Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy. Two years later, they were crowned King and Queen of England.

5. She wielded significant power as Queen of England.

As Queen of England, Eleanor displayed the same determination she had shown as Queen of France. She refused to remain idle and instead traveled extensively to safeguard the kingdom, which Henry was in the process of unifying. Her presence reinforced the monarchy across its diverse territories. During Henry’s absences, she oversaw both governmental and church matters. Unlike her uneventful marriage to Louis VII, which produced only two daughters, her union with Henry solidified her standing with eight children—five sons and three daughters.

6. Her separation from Henry was notoriously tumultuous.

Over time, Eleanor and Henry’s relationship deteriorated due to his infidelity and frequent travels. They parted ways in 1167, and Eleanor relocated to her estates in Poitiers. The physical distance did little to mend their rift. When their sons rebelled against Henry in 1173, Eleanor decisively sided with her children. The rebellion’s failure led to dire consequences for her, as Henry took her captive.

7. She endured more than a decade of confinement.

After supporting her sons’ uprising, Eleanor was apprehended while trying to reach safety in France. She spent 15 to 16 years under house arrest in various English castles, largely removed from the nation’s affairs (though rumors suggested she played a role in the death of Rosamund, Henry’s favored mistress). On special occasions such as Christmas, Henry permitted her to appear in public, but otherwise, she remained isolated and powerless. It wasn’t until 1189, after Henry’s death, that she regained her freedom.

8. Her greatest influence emerged during her widowhood.

After Henry’s death, her son Richard ascended the throne and released her from confinement. Far from retiring, Eleanor immersed herself in preparing for her son’s coronation, who would later be celebrated as Richard the Lionheart. Before his crowning, she traveled extensively across his realm to build alliances and cultivate support. When Richard embarked on the Third Crusade, Eleanor assumed the role of regent, countering the ambitions of her son John. She even secured Richard’s release after his capture by the duke of Austria and the Holy Roman Emperor, journeying personally to bring him back to England.

Richard’s death in 1199 led to John’s succession. Despite being in her seventies, Eleanor remained dedicated to maintaining the kingdom’s stability. She traveled to Spain to orchestrate a strategic marriage between her granddaughter Blanche of Castile and the French throne’s heir. Additionally, she provided vital support to John during a rebellion led by her grandson Arthur.

9. A vase from her possession still exists today.

Among the many treasures and royal artifacts she possessed, only one item linked to Eleanor of Aquitaine remains today. She inherited a stunning rock crystal vase from her grandfather, William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, who likely received it as a gift from Imad al-dawla, the ruler of Saragossa. In 1137, she presented it as a wedding gift to her future husband, Louis VII. Later, the king’s advisor, Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis, persuaded Louis to donate it to the abbey’s treasury, ensuring it stayed within French royal hands after their short-lived marriage. Today, visitors to the Louvre in Paris can admire this rare piece, still referred to as the “Eleanor” vase despite its long history of ownership.

10. Her influence endures in popular culture.

Eleanor of Aquitaine remains a prominent figure in modern culture. Portrayed as everything from a seductress to a warrior, a devoted mother, and a formidable queen, her character has been reimagined across various mediums. In Shakespeare's 16th-century play The Life and Death of King John, she is depicted as an elderly yet astute and occasionally alluring figure. She also appears in adaptations of Robin Hood (2010) and the Ivanhoe series. Katharine Hepburn brought fiery intensity to the role of Eleanor in the 1968 film The Lion in Winter, based on James Goldman’s play. Additionally, she is honored in Judy Chicago’s feminist art installation The Dinner Party, now housed at the Brooklyn Museum, where a place is set for her.

11. While her remains are lost, her tomb still stands.

Eleanor, having survived all her husbands and most of her children, spent her final years at Fontevraud Abbey in France. She passed away there in 1204 in her eighties. Her 13th-century effigy tomb remains intact, showing her lying on a bed, wearing a crown and holding a devotional book. Interestingly, her effigy appears to disregard the figures of her husband Henry II and son Richard the Lionheart positioned beside her.

Her remains were originally buried in the abbey’s crypt. However, during the French Revolution, like many churches, the abbey was deconsecrated. The bones from the crypt were removed, scattered, and have never been found since.