Eleanor of Aquitaine: A LifeRenowned 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. In this beautifully written biography, Alison Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman, and provides new insights into her intimate world. 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. |
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Page 22
... Louis was at his hunting lodge at Béthizy , north of Paris , when he learned of Duke William's death and received his last requests . He was so ecstatic at the prospect of marrying his son to Eleanor of Aquitaine , and thereby acquiring ...
... Louis was at his hunting lodge at Béthizy , north of Paris , when he learned of Duke William's death and received his last requests . He was so ecstatic at the prospect of marrying his son to Eleanor of Aquitaine , and thereby acquiring ...
Page 32
A Life Alison Weir. The headstrong Eleanor thought it was equally natural for Louis to seek advice from her . What she lacked in judgement she more than compensated for in enthusiasm and impetuosity , and many older peo- ple at court ...
A Life Alison Weir. The headstrong Eleanor thought it was equally natural for Louis to seek advice from her . What she lacked in judgement she more than compensated for in enthusiasm and impetuosity , and many older peo- ple at court ...
Page 42
A Life Alison Weir. visited Louis at Corbeil and harangued him in person before his court . After Bernard had left , Louis was visibly shaken and once more over- whelmed by guilt . The horror he had felt at Vitry returned in full force ...
A Life Alison Weir. visited Louis at Corbeil and harangued him in person before his court . After Bernard had left , Louis was visibly shaken and once more over- whelmed by guilt . The horror he had felt at Vitry returned in full force ...
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abbey Abbot Alys Angevin Archbishop army Arthur barons Becket Berengaria Bernard Bishop Blois Bordeaux Brittany brother castle Cathedral Chinon Christmas chroniclers Chronique Church court crown crusade daughter death domains Duchess duchy Duke of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine Emperor English father Fontevrault French Geoffrey Gervase of Canterbury Giraldus Cambrensis Guillaume le Maréchale heir Henry and Eleanor Henry's honour Hugh husband Ibid Isabella Jerusalem Joanna John's King Louis King of England King of France King's kingdom knights L'Histoire de Guillaume London Longchamp Louis's Lusignan marriage married Matilda mother Norman Normandy overlord palace Paris peace Philip Pipe Rolls Poitevin Poitiers Poitou Pope Queen Eleanor Ralph of Coggeshall Ralph of Diceto Raoul Raymond reign Richard of Devizes Robert of Torigni Roger of Hoveden Roger of Wendover Rosamund Rouen royal sent sons Suger Theobald took Toulouse troubadours twelfth century vassals Walter Map wife William of Newburgh Winchester Young King