Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine's life spans most of the 12th century, which was when the Middle Ages were at their pinnacle. During this time kings were too weak to defend their kingdoms and their people sought refuge and protection from a strong leader. This brought about the feudal system and affected Eleanor by the fact that her father was a duke of an extremely powerful and immense fiefdom that was called Aquitaine in France. After her father's death, Eleanor inherited Aquitaine and became one of the most significant leaders that were involved in all the great events of her era. She was also a key figure in endless quarrels between the French and English kings and was arguably the most powerful women of High Medieval Europe. Although her outspoken nature made enemies among conservatives, her beliefs were far ahead of her time and won much respect for women. Eleanor of Aquitaine was an incredibly influential character in the Middle Ages by controlling much political power through her husbands, impacting and enlarging the menial roles of women in society, and introducing troubadour music to the whole of France. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived between 1122 and 1204, which was during the very peak of the Middle Ages. Her father
William's travels through Aquitaine were always accompanied by Eleanor to prepare her for her future role as duchess. When they reached Antioch Eleanor's uncle, Raymond of Ponitiers, entertained the French and German troops, all the while paying special attention to his niece. When Eleanor decided to take part in the 2nd Crusade, not only did she and her company of 300 women entourage the military, they also dressed in armor, which symbolizes their strength and courage on the battlefield, qualities women were not supposed to have. Troubadours, musicians, scholars, and storytellers were welcomed at her court and were often a recollection of her childhood. Throughout this time, Eleanor was still an active participant in the affairs of both England and France and had a hand in influencing the literary movement of Courtly Love. Eleanor grew up with a lifelong love of music and literature, which was credited in whole to William, who not only introduced Eleanor to music and literature, but carefully educated and created an excellent student of her. She controlled all of Aquitaine and much of France and English during her two marriages. "Eleanor had grown weary of Henry's numerous sexual alliances and she was certainly fed up with his attempts to control her patrimony of Aquitaine and Poitiers" (Wikipedia). "She had always known that she would be married off to some proud nobleman, more eager for her land than for herself," according to Polly Schoyer Brooks (Brooks). Although Louis eventually decided to ignore his wife's opinions and views, she was not one to be quieted. The three sons were able to escape, but Eleanor was captured and imprisoned for 16 years for treason. Eleanor was now the Queen of England, although she returned to France in 1168 to pursue her duties as a ruling duchess and wielded the power of a feudal lord and accepted the responsibilities that came along with it. Eleanor was also alive to see her youngest son John inherit the throne after Richard's death. Throughout this, the two of them had been living in the royal palace, but Eleanor soon expressed the desire to return to Aquitaine to govern her own duchy, although Louis' councilor detested female influence in governmental matters. Eleanor became even more distressed when hearing of the death of her uncle by the Muslim invaders.
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