ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE

Queen of France (1122-1204), wife of Louis VII. Then the Queen of England.

It is wonderful when a woman becomes a queen, but really, it seems, wish to be better, if it happens to her twice. But, as history shows, no wealth, no thrones not bring with them the usual female happiness. And tell us the vicissitudes of fate of Eleanor of Aquitaine, not to mention her regalia and will take time, and the reader would have guessed that this did not happen in our time, and nearly ten centuries ago.

Eleanor was the only daughter of the Duke William of Aquitaine, and if a loving father someday and regret that God did not send his son, a very short time. Eleanor childhood seriously interested in the political and military issues. Graceful and elegant, she was reputed to be an excellent rider and excellent shot from a bow. While still quite young, she became heir to the Duchy of France's most influential, and the people of Aquitaine Eleanor willingly accepted rule.

Until we reached a beautiful legend associated with the name of the Duchess. If she loved, fifteen, a courageous knight, Richard, against marriage which were influential relatives girls, because they believed too unequal this union. Once on the eyes, distraught with grief Eleanor Knight was killed, and her married to another man. Enviable bride - the Duchess of Aquitaine - and the groom was appointed "what is necessary" - French King Louis VII.

Arriving in Paris, Eleanor was struck by boredom and puritanical mores, tsarivshimi at the royal court. Husband was very pious, reserved and even cold. A country ruled by two influential churchman - Odo and Bernard. The Queen tried to break the inertia and stiffness of the Parisian aristocracy, which, of course, nazhila some serious enemies. She surrounded herself with poets and musicians admirer and amused as she could. Louis, despite differences of views, was forced to put up with his wife, as stroptivitsu love at first sight.

The Queen was an outstanding, highly educated woman. In Paris, she attended lectures of famous philosophers, theologians, lawyers and very upset because she was not allowed to take part in discussions of listeners.

Finally, in 1147 the fate of the queen sent an adventure. Louis VII, yielding to persuasion advisers, decided to organize a crusade to Palestine. Eleanor persuaded her husband to take her along. And although her perpetual enemies of Bernard and Odo were against the participation of women in the campaign, she was able to defeat what it helped a lot of Aquitaine knights, not too willingly marching to join the royal army. Only personal favorite part of the ruler in the enterprise has spurred many to enlist to Louis.

True, Eleanor soon realized ambiguity of this kind of adventure.

Photo — «Eleanor Of Aquitaine»

At night, she had to shiver with cold in dirty tents, and food is prepared is not as refined as in peacetime. Of course, the women of the XII century have not been spoiled by the bathroom or manicure, but they had too heavy a multi-day hike, especially since the "royal rangers" take care to remove Louis from his wife. They met only in Antioch, where ruled charming uncle of Eleanor Raymond of Toulouse. He was well received the queen and her retinue, supplied them with new clothes. After a hard hike queen willingly accepted his uncle's courtship than enraged husband. Louis ordered the immediate act march on Jerusalem. In vain, his advisors tried to dissuade the king, Louis cautioning that the army is not in order of battle. Male stand firm and ordered the queen to follow him. Eleanor suddenly began to resist, then dragged her by force jealous wife in Jerusalem.

Trying to take the city by assault failed, and Louis has lost a favorite location. She returned to the same in Paris, and now it was impossible to hold: the queen became pregnant. In a married couple has grown girl Maria, and now, of course, waiting for an heir, but the second time Eleanor was unlucky.

After the birth of her second daughter Eleanor and Louis completely alienated from each other. Queen tired of the gloomy French court, and the piety of her husband inspired her infinite disgust. She initiated the divorce and got it in 1152.

With joy returned to his native Eleanor of Aquitaine, as if to take revenge on the dull years, she organized grand celebration in a luxurious palace. The woman is not very upset after losing a high title, but she gained freedom. Eleanor encouraged the chivalric tradition, cultivated a sublime attitude towards the lady and her worship, to patronize poets, musicians and artists. Soon, her yard was the most magnificent court then Europe.

Did not take long and the fans. One of them - a cheerful, talkative, passionate, in a word, a complete contrast to her husband continued to Eleanor - Henry Plantagenet - struck in the Duchess of Aquitaine reciprocal feeling. The only thing that bothered a great lady - young pretender, yet he was 19 years old. However, Henry seduced Eleanor throne of England, which was supposed to go to him after the death of his uncle, King Stephen. Six months after the wedding, Eleanor gave birth to first child, named in honor of his grandfather William. This event seemed to specifically coincided with the death of the King of England, and December 19, 1154 Eleanor has received the second highest title.

Board the couple started with great enthusiasm. Henry spent a lot of time to fix the law in the country and went down in history under the name of Henry Legislator.

Photo — «Eleanor Of Aquitaine»

He traveled extensively in counties of England, engaged in the suppression of uprisings on the border with Wales, was rarely at home. Eleanor also involved in raising children, which she already had seven. King and Queen over the years, have cooled considerably to each other.

Eleanor loved most of his third son, Richard. William died in infancy, and the Queen Mother often thought: what kind of injustice that the heir to the throne, not Richard, and his elder brother Henry, a person is much more pale.

When the children matured, the king gave them the counties and titles. Richard went on the insistence of the mother is the plum - Aquitaine. Eleanor happy to accompany your pet at home, and when she returned to England, then with horror to learn that Henry, her husband got himself a mistress. According to legend, Eleanor wanted to meet with the passion of Henry - Rosamund Clifford, but supposedly she was so beautiful that the Queen ordered her immediately to poison. Evidence that crime does not exist. We only know that Eleanor learns about her husband went away to another city. And one day, Henry concluded Eleanor in the castle, so that it could not interfere in his personal life.

Eleanor did not forgive her husband of infidelity and tuned all of his sons against the father. The family came to hate the fact that Richard, the young Henry and Geoffrey made with former husband of Eleanor Louis against his father union. Rest of my life poor Henry II spent in constant struggle with the unruly sons, paying for his marital infidelity. Died he was quite a wreck in 1189.

Since the young Henry, too, has already left this earth, the throne went like this and like Eleanor, Richard. Not in vain his mother so admired her son. The new king was an exceptionally brave and talented warrior. In memory of the many victories won them over by the Turks, he earned the nickname of Richard the Lionheart. At the end of the Third Crusade it has failed: Richard was taken prisoner by the Emperor of Austria, who demanded a huge ransom for him. The mother immediately paid the required amount. Five years later, in 1199, Richard was killed in Normandy.

Official King of England was the last son of Eleanor - John. It was a cruel, stupid man, whom the queen did not like, and he repaid her in kind.

But despite the old age and loss of loved ones, the Queen did not lose interest in life. She was already well over sixty, but the troubadours are still praised in the songs of her beauty, and in matters of European policy, it remained a significant figure to the last of his days.

Eleanor of Aquitaine died at the age of 82 years, which at that time was incredible lifespan.