---
title: Eleanor of Aquitaine
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10194/eleanor-of-aquitaine/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2022-08-17
---

# Eleanor of Aquitaine

_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_

## Image File

[![Eleanor of Aquitaine](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/10194.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/10194.jpg)

## Image Caption

Effigy of [Eleanor of Aquitaine](https://www.worldhistory.org/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine/), Fontevraud Abbey, France. 
Eleanor of Aquitaine (l. c. 1122-1204) was one of the most powerful political figures – male or female – in the Middle Ages as a whole. She was the wife of Louis VII of France (r. 1137-1180) from 1137 until the marriage's annulment in 1152 when she married [Henry II of England](https://www.worldhistory.org/Henry_II_of_England/) (r. 1154-1189). Eleanor took part in the [Second Crusade](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Crusade/) along with her ladies-in-waiting, managed her own estates and finances, and was an important patron of the arts, especially of romantic [literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/literature/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Cartwright, M. (2019, March 15). Eleanor of Aquitaine. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10194/eleanor-of-aquitaine/>
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Eleanor of Aquitaine." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 15, 2019. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10194/eleanor-of-aquitaine/>.
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Eleanor of Aquitaine." *World History Encyclopedia*, 15 Mar 2019, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10194/eleanor-of-aquitaine/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 15 March 2019. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.