The Power Of Eleanor Of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine was an outstanding woman who lived from 1122 to 1204, contributing greatly to politics and the arts. She was a queen who influenced the face of England and France for centuries to come. Few women of her time were able to maintain control over their personal choices, especially the wealthy, as they were often married off as teenagers. Women were a means for men to achieve greater control over more land. However, Eleanor of Aquitaine had power over her life and decisions because she exercised her independence wisely, was not afraid to stand up to her husbands, and was the only one who could make peace and hold her kingdom together. Women in medieval times had few rights and little control over their own lives; however,

She was also so smart that she was the only one deemed able enough to teach Richard how to lead peacefully (Jones 93). The Queen was released from prison in 1189, and she immediately began to work in the government (Hallam 195). Richard’s younger brother John felt deprived of power because his brother was king, and Eleanor was the only one able to stop him from allying and rebelling against Richard (Jones 119; Hallam 227). She made sure that each of her sons had the power he craved, effectively avoiding conflict (Jones 133). The two brothers to forgave each other at Eleanor’s coercion; no one else had been able to make them do so until this point (Jones 125). When Richard was unable to put down his brother’s rebellion or make peace, Eleanor did it for him, because she was the only one intelligent enough to know how (Jones 119). Richard gave her a place in the English government, and she ruled as regent when he was away (Hallam 195). When acting as regent for Richard, who was on the Third Crusade, Eleanor maintained peaceful relations with everyone and tried to form unlikely alliances (Hallam 226). Few other rulers had attempted to do the same. Richard honored his mother’s wishes, being generous and protecting the forests at her request (Hallam 198), and all of the princes in his kingdom were subject to her, demonstrating her influence (Hallam 195). Eleanor had widespread

Eleanor herself led an army against Arthur to secure John’s leadership (Jones 135). She used her authority to persuade Poitiers not to rebel against John and acquired Aquitaine’s support, even though Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, three other major duchies, were for Arthur (Hallam 277). When Arthur tried to claim Plantagenet lands to become more powerful, Eleanor swayed the people to support John, and Arthur was unable to conquer any land (Hallam 262). Without Eleanor, John would not have been able to be king, and Aquitaine and Poitiers would have fallen to their enemy. When the Queen died, John lost his popularity and his most valuable, brightest advisor (Hallam 278). Poitou, Anjou, Maine, and Touraine rebelled against John, because Eleanor, the sole strength behind him, was gone (Hallam 275). Areas under Eleanor’s protection became extremely vulnerable, and John lost control of Eleanor’s most beloved place: Aquitaine (Hallam 275, 277-278). By the end of her life, Eleanor was the only person holding the Angevin empire in place, and no one else was strong enough to rule it without