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Eleanor of Aquitaine, as It Was Said: Truth and Tales about the Medieval Queen
A reparative reading of stories about medieval queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Much of what we know about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and then Queen of England, we know from recorded rumor—gossip often qualified by the curious phrase “it was said,” or the love songs, ballads, and romances that gossip inspired. While we can mine these stories for evidence about the historical Eleanor, Karen Sullivan invites us to consider, instead, what even the most fantastical of these tales reveals about this queen and life as a twelfth-century noblewoman. She reads the Middle Ages, not to impose our current conceptual categories on its culture, but to expose the conceptual categories medieval women used to make sense of their lives. Along the way, Sullivan paints a fresh portrait of this singular medieval queen and the women who shared her world.
Much of what we know about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and then Queen of England, we know from recorded rumor—gossip often qualified by the curious phrase “it was said,” or the love songs, ballads, and romances that gossip inspired. While we can mine these stories for evidence about the historical Eleanor, Karen Sullivan invites us to consider, instead, what even the most fantastical of these tales reveals about this queen and life as a twelfth-century noblewoman. She reads the Middle Ages, not to impose our current conceptual categories on its culture, but to expose the conceptual categories medieval women used to make sense of their lives. Along the way, Sullivan paints a fresh portrait of this singular medieval queen and the women who shared her world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2026
203 pages before notes. Some facts, some myths, and some bald faced lies. I loved this read.
There are rare souls that are "Titans" of history.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of my favorites.
A young Heiress at 15, a Crusader, Brilliant and beautiful Reign Royale,
Queen Mother, Prisoner, and finally, the Lioness in Winter.
What a resume!
We still know too little about her personal life.
Her birth is estimated at 1124.
It was routine in these times that wealthy land owning women would be kidnapped and brutally forced into a marriage to take their wealth.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was the eldest child of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aenor de Châtellerault.
She was named after her mother, but the name was changed from Aliénor to Eléanor in the northern Langue d'oïl.
Eleanor was highly educated and became the heiress to Aquitaine, the largest and wealthiest province of France.
Eleanor of Aquitaine's father, William X, Duke of Aquitaine, knew he was dying.
He fell ill with suspected food poisoning while on a pilgrimage and made preparations for his death, including arrangements for his 15-year-old daughter to marry Louis VII of France.
Louis VII of France was raised for an ecclesiastical career, but this was interrupted when his older brother's death made him heir to the throne.
He was known for his devout and very mild mannered nature.
Upon meeting him, Eleanor was not impressed. Louis would have been 17 or 18 at this time. Eleanor is believed to have remarked he was "more monk than a man." He apparently put her feet to sleep.
Louis VII went on the 2nd Crusade, and Eleanor went with him to participate in the siege of Damascus.
It was a failure.
Their marriage lasted 15 years. Eleanor had two daughters with Louis. Endless fighting and Louis accusations of infidelity.
Her petition for an annulment was finally granted on the grounds of consanguinity (being too closely related by blood).
Eleanor met Henry, Duke of Normandy, when he visited Paris in 1151 with his father, Geoffrey Plantagenet, to negotiate a peace agreement with King Louis VII of France.
Eleanor was still married to King Louis VII at this time.
After her marriage to Louis was annulled in 1152, Eleanor and Henry Duke of Normandy quickly arranged their marriage, likely having met and planned their union during this 1151 Paris visit.
Eleanor was 30 at this time. Henry would have been about 18 or 19 years old.
Two Titans of history equal in wealth, lands, and ambition. Both still flames with the passion of youth.
Henry II, became King of England on October 25, 1154, following the death of King Stephen, to whom he had been named as successor in the Treaty of Wallingford.
He was crowned alongside his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, on December 19, 1154, at Westminster Abbey.
King Henry and Eleanor had 5 sons and three daughters.
Three of Eleanors sons were kings. Two survived to be crowned.
Richard I the Lion Heart and the last John "Lackland"
The relationship between Eleanor and Henry had the turbulence of two tornados. Henry was a serial womanizer.
Eleanor would not be unusually interested until Henry placed his respect for the fair Rosamund above Eleanor.
At this point, Eleanor was on her final menopausal pregnancy with John.
When the opportunity came, she supported her sons in a revolt against Henry in 1173-74.
It failed. He forgave his son's but not Eleanor.
He put her under house arrest for nearly 16 years until he died in 1189.
Richard became King and released his mother.
Eleanor served as regent during Richard's extended absences from England, initially for the Third Crusade and later for the defense of his French territories.
Richard I, on his return from the Third Crusade, was captured in 1193 by Leopold V, Duke of Austria.
He was later handed over to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, who demanded an enormous ransom.
Eleanor raised the huge ransom of 150,000 silver marks (a colossal sum) to secure the release of her son, Richard from captivity in 1194.
She did this by taxing the English people, selling royal lands, and even confiscating the gold and silver from churches.
Eleanor's efforts succeeded, and she traveled to Germany to deliver the ransom, leading to Richard's freedom.
At about 69 years old. Quite a mom!
In March 1199, Richard was besieging the castle of Châlus-Chabrol in the Limousin region of France when he was struck by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder.
The wound turned gangrenous, and it became clear that the injury would be fatal.
Richard summoned his mother, Eleanor, to his deathbed. She was in her late seventies but traveled to be with him during his final days.
Richard died on April 6, 1199, with Eleanor by his side.
She supported John's succession to the throne after her son Richard died, acting to secure his rule.
Eleanor participated in one last fight. She led troops to defend a fortress in 1202 against the forces of her grandson, Arthur of Brittany, who was besieging it.
King John arrived with reinforcements and relieved the siege, capturing Arthur.
Even in her final years, Eleanor was a respected and influential figure who wielded significant power, remaining involved in political affairs until her death in 1204. She is believed to have died at 82 years old.
Eleanor was the queen consort to two kings and the mother of two more, making her one of the most powerful women of the 12th century.
What a Woman!
Five Stars For Eleanor
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
There are rare souls that are "Titans" of history.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of my favorites.
A young Heiress at 15, a Crusader, Brilliant and beautiful Reign Royale,
Queen Mother, Prisoner, and finally, the Lioness in Winter.
What a resume!
We still know too little about her personal life.
Her birth is estimated at 1124.
It was routine in these times that wealthy land owning women would be kidnapped and brutally forced into a marriage to take their wealth.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was the eldest child of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aenor de Châtellerault.
She was named after her mother, but the name was changed from Aliénor to Eléanor in the northern Langue d'oïl.
Eleanor was highly educated and became the heiress to Aquitaine, the largest and wealthiest province of France.
Eleanor of Aquitaine's father, William X, Duke of Aquitaine, knew he was dying.
He fell ill with suspected food poisoning while on a pilgrimage and made preparations for his death, including arrangements for his 15-year-old daughter to marry Louis VII of France.
Louis VII of France was raised for an ecclesiastical career, but this was interrupted when his older brother's death made him heir to the throne.
He was known for his devout and very mild mannered nature.
Upon meeting him, Eleanor was not impressed. Louis would have been 17 or 18 at this time. Eleanor is believed to have remarked he was "more monk than a man." He apparently put her feet to sleep.
Louis VII went on the 2nd Crusade, and Eleanor went with him to participate in the siege of Damascus.
It was a failure.
Their marriage lasted 15 years. Eleanor had two daughters with Louis. Endless fighting and Louis accusations of infidelity.
Her petition for an annulment was finally granted on the grounds of consanguinity (being too closely related by blood).
Eleanor met Henry, Duke of Normandy, when he visited Paris in 1151 with his father, Geoffrey Plantagenet, to negotiate a peace agreement with King Louis VII of France.
Eleanor was still married to King Louis VII at this time.
After her marriage to Louis was annulled in 1152, Eleanor and Henry Duke of Normandy quickly arranged their marriage, likely having met and planned their union during this 1151 Paris visit.
Eleanor was 30 at this time. Henry would have been about 18 or 19 years old.
Two Titans of history equal in wealth, lands, and ambition. Both still flames with the passion of youth.
Henry II, became King of England on October 25, 1154, following the death of King Stephen, to whom he had been named as successor in the Treaty of Wallingford.
He was crowned alongside his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, on December 19, 1154, at Westminster Abbey.
King Henry and Eleanor had 5 sons and three daughters.
Three of Eleanors sons were kings. Two survived to be crowned.
Richard I the Lion Heart and the last John "Lackland"
The relationship between Eleanor and Henry had the turbulence of two tornados. Henry was a serial womanizer.
Eleanor would not be unusually interested until Henry placed his respect for the fair Rosamund above Eleanor.
At this point, Eleanor was on her final menopausal pregnancy with John.
When the opportunity came, she supported her sons in a revolt against Henry in 1173-74.
It failed. He forgave his son's but not Eleanor.
He put her under house arrest for nearly 16 years until he died in 1189.
Richard became King and released his mother.
Eleanor served as regent during Richard's extended absences from England, initially for the Third Crusade and later for the defense of his French territories.
Richard I, on his return from the Third Crusade, was captured in 1193 by Leopold V, Duke of Austria.
He was later handed over to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, who demanded an enormous ransom.
Eleanor raised the huge ransom of 150,000 silver marks (a colossal sum) to secure the release of her son, Richard from captivity in 1194.
She did this by taxing the English people, selling royal lands, and even confiscating the gold and silver from churches.
Eleanor's efforts succeeded, and she traveled to Germany to deliver the ransom, leading to Richard's freedom.
At about 69 years old. Quite a mom!
In March 1199, Richard was besieging the castle of Châlus-Chabrol in the Limousin region of France when he was struck by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder.
The wound turned gangrenous, and it became clear that the injury would be fatal.
Richard summoned his mother, Eleanor, to his deathbed. She was in her late seventies but traveled to be with him during his final days.
Richard died on April 6, 1199, with Eleanor by his side.
She supported John's succession to the throne after her son Richard died, acting to secure his rule.
Eleanor participated in one last fight. She led troops to defend a fortress in 1202 against the forces of her grandson, Arthur of Brittany, who was besieging it.
King John arrived with reinforcements and relieved the siege, capturing Arthur.
Even in her final years, Eleanor was a respected and influential figure who wielded significant power, remaining involved in political affairs until her death in 1204. She is believed to have died at 82 years old.
Eleanor was the queen consort to two kings and the mother of two more, making her one of the most powerful women of the 12th century.
What a Woman!
Five Stars For Eleanor
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 11, 2023
3 stars.
This book’s strength is also its weakness — it focuses word by word on the specific, mostly primary, sources we have describing Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The level of detail is often very interesting, and I love seeing exactly what knowledge/stories have been passed down through time — contrasted with the more typical historian’s compilation and retelling.
But it also often caused the story to drag, especially in the sections talking about fictional or semi-fictional depictions of the Queen — we parsed a 1950s movie with the same fine toothed comb as the 12th century histories.
This book’s strength is also its weakness — it focuses word by word on the specific, mostly primary, sources we have describing Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The level of detail is often very interesting, and I love seeing exactly what knowledge/stories have been passed down through time — contrasted with the more typical historian’s compilation and retelling.
But it also often caused the story to drag, especially in the sections talking about fictional or semi-fictional depictions of the Queen — we parsed a 1950s movie with the same fine toothed comb as the 12th century histories.
April 6, 2024
Through Sullivan's meticulous research (based on scarce sources), Eleanor of Aquitaine is presented as the remarkable, intelligent woman that she was. One must always remember the historical records of the 12th century (or even the handling of Eleanor’s biography in the hands of those in the 15th, 17th or 19th centuries) should not be judged against our moral and ethical standards.
Eleanor’s life from Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France, Queen of England and then as mother of kings, was complex and Sullivan does not over simplify it when summarizing that Eleanor as a political figure could not be separated from said politics. She saw herself as a leader of lands and did not compartmentalize that role with being a wife or a mother. Her children did honor her, did admire her and her involvement in their lives was such as a mother of the highest social order would---with her power and influence as a leader firmly fixed.
This reviewer would not even accept the premise that Eleanor's complex personality, fiercely independent, politically astute, and unafraid to challenge societal norms were characteristics showcasing her as a woman ahead of her time. That was what her role in life was and she was exceptional at it.
Sullivan’s coverage of Eleanor’s relationship and time spent at the Abbey of Fontevraud was doubling fascinating for this reviewer having traveled there from Chinon (the locale of the famous mural) and studied the Royal effigies. Would this and the coverage of Eleanor in other eras (namely the extensive pages committed to Shakespearean views) be of interest to the casual reader---probably not.
There is no question that Eleanor shaped the course of history and despite being the subject of many negative rumors, still emerged as a compelling, resilient-extraordinary woman through the centuries. Sullivan does not alter that despite the pairing of Eleanor and Katherine Hepburn while encouraging students of history to use their imagination when seeking to understand the Queen. Eleanor of Aquitaine does not need inventiveness when being studied, she commands esteem on her own merits.
Eleanor’s life from Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France, Queen of England and then as mother of kings, was complex and Sullivan does not over simplify it when summarizing that Eleanor as a political figure could not be separated from said politics. She saw herself as a leader of lands and did not compartmentalize that role with being a wife or a mother. Her children did honor her, did admire her and her involvement in their lives was such as a mother of the highest social order would---with her power and influence as a leader firmly fixed.
This reviewer would not even accept the premise that Eleanor's complex personality, fiercely independent, politically astute, and unafraid to challenge societal norms were characteristics showcasing her as a woman ahead of her time. That was what her role in life was and she was exceptional at it.
Sullivan’s coverage of Eleanor’s relationship and time spent at the Abbey of Fontevraud was doubling fascinating for this reviewer having traveled there from Chinon (the locale of the famous mural) and studied the Royal effigies. Would this and the coverage of Eleanor in other eras (namely the extensive pages committed to Shakespearean views) be of interest to the casual reader---probably not.
There is no question that Eleanor shaped the course of history and despite being the subject of many negative rumors, still emerged as a compelling, resilient-extraordinary woman through the centuries. Sullivan does not alter that despite the pairing of Eleanor and Katherine Hepburn while encouraging students of history to use their imagination when seeking to understand the Queen. Eleanor of Aquitaine does not need inventiveness when being studied, she commands esteem on her own merits.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews