Eleanor of Aquitaine ~ The Queen Who Taught The English How to Drink
Eleanor “the Grandmother of Europe” – one of the most remarkable aspects of her life was her longevity. At a time when most people died in their 40s and 50s, Eleanor lived to 82 years of age.
Eleanor was very attractive, because she was bold, spirited, well-read, quite modern and at the same time rebellious. She had inherited one of the largest territories in France, and one of its major exports was wine. She travelled widely and brought literature and music to the royal court of France when she married Louis the Seventh at the age of 15.
Eleanor was the daughter of William the Tenth, Duke of Aquitaine, who had no sons to inherit his vast lands and fortune. He arranged the marriage of his daughter to Louis the Seventh and she first met her future husband on the day of her wedding in 1137.
Happiness is a very modern word and concept during medieval period , at that time you didn’t marry to be happy, you just married because you wanted to assure your possessions, to keep your power. The marriage was not happy, the couple divorced, and Eleanor swiftly turned to the future heir to the crown of England, Henry Plantagenet, who had much more personality than Louis.
For many years Eleanor and Henry were very happy; Eleanor left France for Britain, giving birth to five sons and three daughters. Eleanor also brought wine to the English royal court, especially claret. In her reign more than four times the amount of wine was imported into Britain than today.
If the English drink wine, it’s thanks to Eleanor.
Back in France, she spent most of her time in Poitiers and not much in Bordeaux, though such is her fame and esteem that there are many properties which claim a connection to her. What is believed is she did promote the wines of Bordeaux.
Unfortunately, Henry the Second became jealous of his wife, and the difficulties befell her, including being imprisoned by her husband for 16 years. She also witnessed the wars between her sons, terrible for any woman. She remained powerful to the end, marrying off her grandchildren in key strategic alliances.
There are few royal families in Europe who cannot trace their roots back to this remarkable woman, the only woman who has been Queen of both France and England.