of 1122 – 1204

• Her grandfather was William IX, a king and a ; well educated, but her childhood went from happy to sad when her parents and brother died at early ages. Her father, William X, left her to Louis VI, king of France.

• Married to Louis VII in 1137; he consulted her because she was intelligent; accompanied him on a Crusade; rumors of her marital unfaithfulness; has daughters but no sons; her patriotism was doubted because Aquitaine was separate from France; he was quiet, she fiery; marriage annulled in 1152.

• Marries II in 1152; he is eleven years younger than she; he is fiery; Plantagenet dynasty; has several sons; marriage went from happy to angry; they will live apart for months at time.

• In 1173, Eleanor’s sons will attempt to revolt and take the throne from their father; they fail, Eleanor goes to jail for 16 years; Henry II has an affair with the French princess, daughter of Eleanor’s ex-husband Louis VII of France, who is engaged to marry his son Richard the Lion-Hearted; Henry II dies in 1189, Eleanor gets out of jail.

• Eleanor’s son Richard the Lion-Hearted becomes king, but spends all his time outside of England; Eleanor rules the country in Richard’s absence – a de facto queen. Prince John, another son of Eleanor and Henry II, is also active in politics during his brother’s absence.

• Eleanor pays a ransom to free Richard when he’s taken captive; stops John from usurping the throne, and reconciles John and Richard.

• When Richard the Lion-Hearted dies, Prince John becomes ; whether Prince or King, John is a malicious, inspiring .

• During the first few decades of her life, Eleanor was known as a “wild child” who sought only power and pleasure; later in life, she worked hard to make a better life for the people who lived in her land.

• Eleanor had conversations with , a leading spiritual thinker of the time. Bernard also conversed with Hildegard of Bingen, but Eleanor and Hildegard never met.