Like all folk lore I am sure that it has some basis in fact, but may have become embellished over the centuries. The territorial dispute went on for centuries, and was exacerbated by the conduct of Eleanor of Aquitaine when she brought Aquitaine to England as her dowry. She was quite a lady.
She was previously married to the King of France...accompanied him on the Crusades...and had an affair with one of the French nobles. When her husband found out about it he prevailed upon the Pope for an annulment. That was a relatively mild penalty since he could have had her put to death for treason (not unlike Henry VIII of a later time). She added insult to injury when she subsequently married the English King, Henry II. It was a loveless and tumultuous marriage of convenience because Henry wanted possession of Aquitaine. Not only did her conduct fuel hatred between the two kings, but also resulted in much scheming and infighting among her three sons: Richard, John and Geoffrey for succession to the English throne.
She was also reputed to have been involved in an affair with Thomas Becket (later Archbishop of Canterbury) after she married Henry. Henry subsequently had her interned in a convent, and he had Becket executed (some say murdered) over a dispute between the Church and the State policy.
to post a reply:
login - or -
register