Historical Nonfiction

Eleanor of Aquitaine was the only woman to be queen of both England and France. Here are some other cool facts about this medieval ruler.

• She married the King of France, Louis VII. Unfortunately, he was more interested in being a monk than a husband, and they divorced.
• Eleanor quickly married the younger, soon-to-be King of England, Henry of Anjou.
• They had eight children, two of whom became kings of England.
• When her sons revolted against their father, Eleanor sided with the sons. They lost, and she was imprisoned at a convent.
• Eleanor didn’t care; she created a court for herself there and was largely responsible for the “courtly love” fad that inspired the legend of Guinevere and Lancelot.
• When her husband died, her son Richard I, aka the Lionhearted, freed her. She continued to be influential in politics throughout both her sons and her grandson’s reigns.