Eleanor of Aquitaine: A LifeIn this beautifully written biography, Alison Weir paints a vibrant portrait of a truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world. Renowned in her time for being the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. At a time when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor managed to defy convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. 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 woman—and the queen—in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable personality but a magnificent past era. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 14
Page 165
... Rosamund's acquaintance . According to Giraldus Cambrensis , Rosamund was very young when her affair with the King began , and he confirms that it lasted for some years , at least until 1174 , when it was publicly acknowledged , and ...
... Rosamund's acquaintance . According to Giraldus Cambrensis , Rosamund was very young when her affair with the King began , and he confirms that it lasted for some years , at least until 1174 , when it was publicly acknowledged , and ...
Page 166
... Rosamund . To this fair wench the King made at Woodstock a chamber of wonder craft , won- derly made by Daedalus ' work , lest the Queen should find and take Rosamund . " 29 This is the first reference to Henry building a bower and ...
... Rosamund . To this fair wench the King made at Woodstock a chamber of wonder craft , won- derly made by Daedalus ' work , lest the Queen should find and take Rosamund . " 29 This is the first reference to Henry building a bower and ...
Page 219
... Rosamund was " poisoned by Queen Eleanor , " who dis- covered her hiding place at Woodstock when she found " a clue of thread or silk " from Rosamund's sewing casket , learned the secret of the labyrinth , " and so dealt with her that ...
... Rosamund was " poisoned by Queen Eleanor , " who dis- covered her hiding place at Woodstock when she found " a clue of thread or silk " from Rosamund's sewing casket , learned the secret of the labyrinth , " and so dealt with her that ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abbey Abbot Alys Angevin Archbishop army Arthur barons Becket Berengaria Bernard Bishop Blois Bordeaux Brittany brother Canterbury castle Cathedral Champagne Chinon Christmas chroniclers Church Count of Anjou court crown crusade daughter death domains Duchess duchy Duke of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine Emperor English father Fontevrault French Geoffrey Giraldus Cambrensis heir Henry and Eleanor Henry II Henry's homage honour Hugh husband Jerusalem Joanna John King and Queen King Louis King of England King of France King's kingdom knights London Longchamp Lord Henry Louis and Eleanor Louis's Lusignan March marriage married Matilda mother Norman Normandy overlord palace Paris peace Philip Pipe Rolls Poitevin Poitiers Poitou Pope princes Queen Eleanor Ralph of Diceto Raoul Raymond reign remained Richard Rolls Series Rosamund Rouen royal sent sons Suger Theobald took Toulouse trans troubadour twelfth century vassals vols Walter Map wife William of Newburgh William of Tyre Winchester Young King