Queen of France and the Second Crusade

As Queen of France, Eleanor's influence was significant but controversial. She accompanied Louis VII on the Second Crusade (1147–1149), a rare and bold move for a queen. During the crusade, rumors emerged that she had acted improperly or even rebelliously. She was accused of encouraging discord among the troops and possibly of having an affair with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers, Prince of Antioch. While these accusations were likely exaggerated or politically motivated, they contributed to her growing reputation as a woman of strong will and independence.

Her marriage to Louis VII gradually disintegrated. The couple had only two daughters and no sons, which weakened Eleanor's position at court. More importantly, their personalities clashed—Louis was pious and reserved, while Eleanor was ambitious and politically astute. In 1152, their marriage was annulled on the grounds of consanguinity (being too closely related), although political failure and personal incompatibility were the real causes.

Queen of England: Marriage to Henry II

Just weeks after her annulment, Eleanor married the energetic and ambitious Henry Plantagenet, who would become King Henry II of England in 1154. With this marriage, Eleanor brought the enormous territories of Aquitaine and Poitou under English control, vastly expanding the Angevin Empire.

As Queen of England, Eleanor bore eight children, including two future kings—Richard the Lionheart and John. But her marriage to Henry II, while politically powerful, was also turbulent. Henry’s autocratic rule and infidelities caused friction between the two. Eleanor, a duchess in her own right, did not take kindly to being sidelined by her husband’s ambitions.

The Revolt of 1173: Eleanor the Rebel?

In 1173, Eleanor supported a rebellion against her husband. She encouraged her sons—most notably Henry the Young King, Richard, and Geoffrey—to rise up against their father in what became known as the Revolt of 1173–1174. This rebellion is the basis for Eleanor’s reputation as a “rebel queen.”

Historians continue to debate Eleanor’s exact role in the revolt. Some argue that she masterminded the rebellion, while others suggest that her support was more symbolic than strategic. Nevertheless, she was arrested by Henry’s forces and imprisoned for over fifteen years, from 1173 until Henry’s death in 1189. During this time, she was kept under close guard, though she occasionally appeared at court ceremonies.

Her imprisonment may be seen as the price for daring to challenge her husband’s authority. But Eleanor’s actions were likely motivated by more than personal revenge—she was deeply concerned about the succession, the welfare of her sons, and the future of Aquitaine. shutdown123