Eleanor of Aquitaine
Alienor d'Aquitaine
Duchess of Aquitaine · Queen of France · Queen of England
1122 – 1204
Biography
One of the most powerful women in twelfth-century Europe. Heiress to Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen of France through her first marriage to Louis VII and queen of England through her second to Henry II. After Henry imprisoned her for backing their sons' revolt, she outlived him and served as regent for Richard I during his crusade and captivity.
Events
Two months after Eleanor's annulment from Louis VII of France, she married Henry, Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou, in Poitiers on 18 May 1152. The match brought her vast duchy under Henry's control and, when he became king of England two years later, created the Angevin Empire — a French king's vassal who now controlled more of France than the king himself.
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