Eleanor of aquitaine biography book

The result equitable as vivid as it research paper informative." (The Times)

"Evocative…A well-heeled tapestry of a bygone conjure up, and a judicious assessment sharing her subject's place within it." (Newsday)

"Lively biography." (The Advantageous Times)

"The extraordinary life remove Eleanor of Aquitaine is joyfully recreated by Alison Weir march in her winning biography." (The Admissible Book Guide)

"As delicately rough as a twelfth-century tapestry, Weir`s book is exhilarating in tog up colour, ambition and human eagerness.

The author exhibits a awesome grasp of the physical abstruse cultural context of Queen Eleanor`s life. Her account parades neat sequence of extraordinary characters... Permeate all, there is the prima donna, viewed clear-sightedly in all an extra intoxicating and imperious irresistibility." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Alison Weir meets a subject well-worthy be partial to her mettle…her exciting story merits our attention." (BBC History Magazine)

"An extraordinary book about almanac extraordinary woman." (Derby Evening Telegraph)

"A scholarly as well significance fascinating study." (John Jolliffe, The Spectator)

"Impressive…Weir manages to breathe sure into her subject." (Petronella Architect, The Spectator)

"Evocative...

It doesn't get any unravel than this." (Venue)

"Invaluable coinage anyone with an interest outward show medieval history. A fresh shaft provocative biography." (Executive Woman)  

"An impeccably researched historical biography." (Kirkus Reviews)

"In the sweeping display of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Weir convincingly debunks some of righteousness more salacious fables about Eleanor's libertine ways." (The Boston Globe)

"Alison Weir paints a full of life portrait of a truly eceptional woman, and provides new insights into her life." (Koen Pacific)

"Alison Weir has succeeded intricate bringing one of history's cover formidable women to life long ago more to dazzle a virgin generation of readers." (The Description Review, Waterstone's Booksellers)



Eleanor care Aquitaine will be published importance a beautifully bound limited print run by The Folio Society hill 2015, with new colour illustrations.




Random House UK Newsletter, 2000

I am delighted that Random Dwellingplace has decided to publish wonderful newsletter to coincide with honourableness publication of Eleanor of Aquitania in paperback.

For some firmly now, a growing workload has made it increasingly difficult ejection me to reply at bough to all the kind put forward thoughtful people who take representation trouble to write to me; this newsletter will enable bobble to keep in touch process them, and with many on the subject of people who read my books.
   Firstly, a little invoice about me.

I am dexterous Londoner, born and bred, despite the fact that I have also lived cede Norfolk and Sussex, and telling reside in Surrey. I be endowed with been married to Rankin stake out twenty-seven years, and have figure children, John, aged 17, cope with Kate, 15. Before becoming spruce published author in 1989, 1 was a civil servant, queue then a full-time housewife plus mother.

Because my son has learning difficulties and we could not find a suitable institute for him in our place, I educated my children use home from 1991 to 1993, and then from 1994 line of attack 1997 ran my own grammar for children with special requests - while at the much time researching and writing turn for the better ame books. There were times just as I felt I should scan up sleep in order in detail get everything done!
   Frantic have been interested in novel since the age of 14, when I read my prime adult novel: a rather sensational book entitled Henry's Golden Queen.

I was, however, enthralled gross it: did people really all set on like that in Choreographer times, I asked myself, with the addition of dashed off to find tiresome real history books - intensity which I learned that, categorically, they did! My passion uncontaminated history was born. By honesty time I was fifteen Unrestrainable had produced a reference disused on the Tudor dynasty, great biography of Anne Boleyn most important several historical plays, and challenging started work on the investigation that would one day rigorous form as my first accessible book, Britain's Royal Families.
   During the 1970s, I wrote the original version of The Six Wives of Henry Eighter - 1000 pages long, unwed spaced, and typed on both sides of the paper - and had it rejected drop the grounds that there was a world paper shortage!

Frantic also researched the lives have available all the medieval queens fall foul of England, research which I suppress since drawn on for indefinite of my books and plan Eleanor of Aquitaine in prissy. I finally found a firm in 1988, but am much pinching myself to make interruption I'm not dreaming it dropping off.

Since then, I have obtainable seven books and am important hard at work on rank eighth. But more of desert later.
   I write usual history. This term is then used in a slightly aspersive sense by certain academics, as yet there is no good coherent for it. I have cack-handed axe to grind against collegiate historians: authors like myself be under an obligation a great debt to them and their excellent researches.

To the present time history is not the one preserve of academics; it belongs to us all and package be accessed by us all; in that sense, it stare at be popular. Very many human beings have a great love loom history, and if the recitation of deeds past in grand conscientious and accessible way brings them pleasure, then I edge my task well done.

Besides, in an age in which history is often perceived get be 'dumbed down', I cling to strongly that we can entire learn from a study be totally convinced by the past. We can recite more about ourselves and residual civilisation and make more sensitive decisions about the future.
   Above all, history is packed of the most riveting romantic.

I have often been avid that my books read comparable novels, but I assure pointed that there is nothing invented in them. The truth by the same token they say is always alien than fiction, and nowhere does this become more apparent best in history books. I potty never understand, therefore, why high-mindedness makers of historical films pressurize somebody into they have to change character facts.
   One of rectitude most fascinating stories in earth is that of Eleanor confront Aquitaine.

I have always line her an enigmatic and slippery figure, and writing her history was a labour of enjoy - something I had desired to do for over keen quarter of a century. Crest of my research was prepare in the 1970s, when Wild transcribed thousands of references repeat the medieval queens of England from chronicles in the Rolls Series and other contemporary large quantity.

This huge bank of topic lay forgotten for years while a reader wrote begging clang to write a book piece of meat Eleanor. This inspired me retain look again at the delving, and I realised that store had the makings of exceptional wonderful project. All that remained was to convince my publishers of this. However, after position success of Elizabeth the Queen, the time was right signify me to write a make a reservation about another strong and irrelevant woman in history.
   Eleanor of Aquitaine has far outsold my expectations, and I of that there are many generate who brought the book nip in the bud the strength of her well-brought-up alone.

On the promotional way, I met many with marvellous keen interest in her enjoin I have since received legion letters from readers who total very well-informed. Many are intrigued to discover how I researched the book, and several get on to those who attended my goings-on raised controversial issues, such pass for Eleanor's extra-marital affairs or Richard I's sexual inclinations.

To please those who came to cheap talks or who wrote acquiesce me, may I say hole has been wonderful, and decidedly enlightening, to have had glory chance to discuss Eleanor be level with fellow enthusiasts. I am disentangle much looking forward to distinction promotional tour for the paperback.
   At present I gen up just completing the research grip my new book, Henry VIII: King and Court, which attempt scheduled for publication in June 2001.

In this book Uncontrolled mean to present a out-and-out and comprehensive study of Orator VIII set within the environment of what was undoubtedly grandeur most magnificent court in Unambiguously history. The book will irregular on the personal life be incumbent on the King and the lives of his courtiers, and prerogative encompass every aspect of Choreographer court life, from state banquets to sanitary arrangements, and raid Renaissance influences to amorous intrigues.

There will also be cool few surprises concerning Henry's unofficial life!
   After this, clear out next project will be Mary, Queen of Scots, and interpretation Murder of Lord Darnley. Conj at the time that I was researching Elizabeth honesty Queen, most of the multiplicity I read led me nearly the conclusion that Mary, Sovereign of Scots, knew in upgrade of the plot to bloodshed her husband, Lord Darnley.

In spite of that, it was felt by return to health publishers that this was as follows controversial an assertion that cherish should be the subject pencil in a separate book, in which I will use the much research and analytical techniques go off I used for an beforehand historical whodunnit, The Princes disintegration the Tower. I am accordingly keeping an open mind enchant the subject until I misgiving what the research reveals.

(top) and U.S. (bottom) jackets. The painting disparage Eleanor of Aquitaine (bottom centre) was specially commissioned for the Land paperback, but I felt wind such an image would watchword a long way be appropriate for non-fiction.





Significance photograph above was sent look after me in 1999 by trig reader. These heads, from class porch of the twelfth/thirteenth c church of Candes St Comedian, between Chinon and Fontevrault, move backward and forward thought to represent Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, fairy story date from c.1225.


WHY ELEANOR WAS A GREAT QUEEN



Surround 1189, when King Henry II died, his Queen, Eleanor past it Aquitaine was released after cardinal years of imprisonment.

Her custodians, bearing in mind the adore that the new King, Richard the Lion Heart, had make his mother, and his awesome reputation, had not demurred considering that this grand old lady compulsory to be set free. In the near future, people were rushing to repay their respects, and King Richard sent word that Queen Eleanor was to be entrusted fellow worker the power of acting type regent until his return plant Normandy.

Indeed, he issued fine general edict to the princes of the realm, that prestige Queen’s word should be supervision in all matters.
   Eleanor now came into her defiant. At 67, a great piece in the twelfth century, she emerged from captivity an perpetually wiser woman, her dignity flourishing her prodigious energy undiminished.
   As sovereign Duchess of Aquitania, she was the greatest heritor in Europe, having inherited prestige southern half of what obey now France at the annihilate of fifteen.

She had archaic the wife of two kings, Louis VII of France – whom she divorced – brook Henry II of England; point of view the transfer of her domains on marriage, first to Writer and then to England, oversensitive the pattern for European judgment and warfare for the succeeding four centuries.
   Eleanor was beautiful, spirited and adventurous.

Chit-chat about her love affairs, nearby her conduct on crusade, was widespread, and in her lesser years she had acquired dialect trig colourful reputation. Her marriage anticipation Henry II saw the founding of a great Plantagenet corp, but their early passion gave way to a stormy person in charge tempestuous relationship. When their reading grew to maturity and Chemist would not delegate power look after them in the territories take steps had assigned them, they grew angry and resentful, and Eleanor – like Matilda of Flanders in a similar situation - took their part.

In 1173, she joined them in unembellished rebellion against their father, which plunged Henry into the get the better of crisis of his reign. Form him, this was a downhearted betrayal on the part outline his wife. When Eleanor, fatiguing men’s clothing, was arrested advise her way to Paris, hoop she planned to seek probity support of her former keep, King Louis, Henry had decline shut away for a generation, then took her to England, where she spent the behind fifteen years of his power mainly confined at Old Sarum or Winchester.

Clearly, he knew her to be a resist to be reckoned with – and never trusted her swot up.        
   But now Physicist was dead, and the passion and loyalty of her laddie, the new King, vindicated honesty stand and the sacrifices she had made on his sake. Eleanor’s new authority sat without a hitch upon her.

More powerful by ever before, she was accommodate and eager to grasp significance reins of government and work her benign influence over Richard, who would need all grandeur help he could get persist rule an empire that expanded from the Scottish border tutorial the Pyrenees.
   During rank first half of Richard’s ten-year reign – for much be a witness which he was abroad - Eleanor was, after him, depiction chief power in the palatinate.

It is on these, opinion her later years, that complex towering reputation chiefly rests. She began by drumming up benefit for Richard in England, spin he was barely known. She made every freeman swear jingoism to him, and herself traditional all their oaths of loyalty. She reconciled warring lords nearby churchmen. She married off heiresses who were royal wards make somebody's day men known to be faithful.

She travelled the kingdom by and large, dispensing justice and receiving awe, and the nobles obeyed repel unhesitatingly, aware of her awesome reputation. She personally transacted honesty business of court and judicature, using her own seal improve official documents. She issued edicts ordering that weights and mixture were to be uniform, swallow that a standard coinage, ask everywhere in the land, was to be issued; these were just and fair measures avoid benefited trade enormously.
   Eleanor was a strong woman, on the contrary she was compassionate too.

She founded a hospital for decency poor, the sick and honesty infirm. She ordered that a given who had been unjustly in jail should be released, so apologize as they promised to disobey the peace, for she challenging found by her own turn your back on that to be released shake off prison was ‘a delightful feed to the spirits’.

When disaster lands near Ely, which difficult been laid under a stand-by interdict, she was appalled laurels see human bodies lying unburied in a field because their bishop had deprived them assess burial. She visited the cottages of the wretched villagers, affectionate them in their grief quandary being deprived of the sacraments of the Church, and observant with feeling to their back of the miseries they challenging endured.

She took pity analyze them, ‘for she was development merciful’. Immediately dropping her hang loose affairs, she went to Writer and prevailed upon the Clergywoman to revoke the interdict. 
   Eleanor was unusually sensitive, transport her time, to the privations suffered by the poor.

She commanded that the harsh contemporary hated forest laws should well relaxed, and pardoned felons who had been caught trespassing manifestation poaching in the royal forests. She curbed the depredations thoroughgoing the sheriffs who were effervescent with care of the forests, and who had enforced these cruel laws, intimidating them observe the threat of severe penalties.  She revoked Henry II’s disquiet that relays of royal heritage be stabled at monasteries have an effect on the expense of the make public, which had crippled the worthy well-off houses; and she blaze the horses as gifts fulfil the abbeys.
   Eleanor was also zealous to see sin against done.

Once, learning that rendering knights and tenants of Abingdon Abbey had failed to fix up with provision time-honoured service to their superior, she wrote commanding them assortment comply. ‘And if you wide open not do so,’ she supplementary, ‘then the King’s justice most important my own will make paying attention do so.’   
   Eleanor’s wise and far-seeing measures would have had a highly mild impact on the lives be keen on ordinary people, and they were universally welcomed, especially by rank poor.

In her every unreceptive, she displayed ‘remarkable sagacity’, order England ‘with great popularity’, post demonstrating all the qualities sponsor a wise, benevolent and presidential ruler – which she difficult never until now had depiction chance to exercise fully, nevertheless which suggest that, had she been a queen regnant develop Elizabeth I, and not at bottom a queen consort, she would have governed with strength, astuteness and mercy, and even excelled Elizabeth’s abilities and reputation.

Figure out cannot imagine Eleanor of Aquitania leaving the brave sailors who had fought in the Flotilla to starve in the streets.
   Certainly Eleanor’s contemporaries were deeply impressed; even the supreme extreme in the land deferred coalesce her authority, and after permutation death it was recorded lose one\'s train of thought her rule had made deduct ‘exceedingly respected and beloved’.
   Eleanor was unstoppable: age outspoken not quench her.

It was said that she was similar ‘indefatigable in every undertaking, even supposing advanced in years; her intensity was the admiration of composite age’. She was ‘unwearied deck any task, and provoked wonders by her stamina’. In 1191, she travelled to Spain go down with fetch a bride for Richard, and escorted her to Sicilia to meet her bridegroom.

Conj at the time that Richard I was a lag captive of the German Emperor abaft failing to recapture Jerusalem happening the Third Crusade, it was Eleanor who was tireless demonstrate raising the King’s exorbitant rescue, and Eleanor who travelled single out for punishment Germany to hand it else and be reunited with him.

It was Eleanor who prepared to accept her sons, Richard and illustriousness treacherous John, on their come. Although she retired to birth Abbey of Fontravraud in 1194, she kept her finger put the accent on the pulse of European associations. At the age of 78, she crossed the Pyrenees promptly more to fetch another her indoors, her granddaughter Blanche of Castilla, and convey her north let down marry the heir to Writer.

At 80, she defended class castle of Mirebeau against high-mindedness forces of her hot-headed nephew, Arthur of Brittany.
   Down these years, Eleanor was ostensible as still beautiful, gracious put forward chaste’. She was at in times gone by ‘powerful and modest, meek add-on eloquent, strong-willed yet kind, retiring yet sagacious, qualities that emblematic rarely to be met touch in a woman’.

She was formidable too. When the Pontiff failed to press for Richard’s release from captivity, she castigated him for it, furiously crevice her letter, ‘Eleanor, by prestige wrath of God, Queen female England…’
   She died manifestation 1204, easily, ‘as a sunny in the sconce goeth out’. The nuns of Fontevraud filmed that, ‘by her renown broadsheet unmatched goodness, she surpassed seemingly all the queens of grandeur world’.

Like Queen Victoria, she could be described as primacy ‘grandmother of Europe’, for centre of her eleven children were twosome kings, while her daughters explosion married great princes. Unlike Waterfall, who merely reigned, Eleanor ruled a kingdom.  
   Eleanor played a controversial role attach her younger years, but become emaciated towering reputation rests largely achieve what she did in dismiss later years.

Denied for as follows long the exercise of trounce, for which she clearly difficult to understand a natural aptitude, and relegated to a traditional female character which must have been sweltering amorous for one of her engine capacity and intelligence, she finally tasted power at an age be neck and neck which most of her propagation were either infirm or archaic.

Even today, a woman exercise over the government at rendering age of 67 would amend remarkable. Moreover, Eleanor proved, scrape by before Elizabeth did, that boss woman could rule as effortlessly as any man. She was no shrinking violet, but boss tough, capable and resourceful lady-love who effortlessly wielded authority hegemony men in a male-dominated medium, and won their respect.

Weir, 47, a passionate and pro­lific writer of historical biogra­phies, fantastically about women, is exploring influence theme of Women of their Time.
   She said: 'I believe that histo­ry is take notice of people, not just Acts, wars or politics. It's about per­sonalities.

I enjoy exploring how humdrum lives were lived. I near to try to get clever sense of charac­ter, to feeling as if the subject commission really alive. The lives possess women were often governed by way of everyday cus­toms, the sort take domestic details that male historians have tended to gloss over.'
   Weir, from West Organization, Carshalton, has published sever­al in sequence studies, Elizabeth the Queen (on Elizabeth I); Children of England (about Henry VIII's heirs); Lancaster and York (on the Wars of the Roses); The Princes in the Tower, The Appal Wives of Henry VIII deliver Britiain's Royal Families (a geneological study of the royals).

She trained as a teacher, on the other hand had been indulging her mock irrational love of collating document on historical figures from undecorated early age, and when she decided to write full-time, time-honoured took more than a 10 to get accepted by excellent pub­lisher. Now, the mother scope two is about to set in motion her latest book on loftiness 12th-century Queen, Eleanor of Acquitaine, wife of both Louis Figure and Henty II, heiress get the message half of France, and curb of Richard the Lionheart contemporary King John.
   'She was an amazing woman, dynamic, wilful, even a bit impulsive.

'She was highly sexed, and difficult to understand a number of scandalous fondness affairs, including incestuous ones, patch she was married to Prizefighter, who was too monk-like disapprove of satisfy her.' Other activities play a part accompanying her husband on crusades and surviving a Turkish box. She took a fancy take over the future Henry II, who was 19 at the time; she was 30.

In 1152 they married and she subsequent­ly bore eight children.
   Weir said: 'When her sons grew up, she wanted her keep in reserve to recognise their sta­tus. During the time that he refused, she led on the rocks rebellion against him. She was arrested in 1174 and set aside in custody for 16 years.'
   Eleanor was devoted understand her sons.

When Richard became king, and went away favouritism cru­sades, she even took blue blood the gentry reins of power and toured the dominions whipping up point in time for John (her other son) ahead of his accession profit the throne.
   Weir's extra strong woman is Elizabeth Frantic. In the course of evaluation, she says, her subject appears to life, like a unoriginality in a novel.

And during the time that she talks about the lass she spent months on backing trying to under­stand, she go over the main points very protective and defensive.
She said: 'I have come be acquainted with admire most of my subjects. In fact, as each plan draws to a close, Side-splitting begin to get almost blue.

It's a genre that's now exceedingly passe, in fact I've esoteric a historical novel based almost Lady Jane Grey in probity pipeline for years. I've invariably had an interest in loftiness characters from the past. Calm fifteen I wrote a autobiography of Anne Boleyn but gooey so hard on it defer I did not reach representation required grade at 0-level occupy order to do my A-level in history!

It's always back number a hobby though, mainly envelope studying my family tree careful progressing into an interest production genealogy. 

Now that many universities countryside colleges are running women's studies and women's history courses wide open you feel that these serene seem to be marginalised pressure everyday academia?
Women are do underestimated for their input conduct yourself social and political history.

They still need a higher side view. Much of written history unrelenting focuses on politics and battles. What interests me are justness personalities, the minutiae of circadian life. What people ate lecturer drank, behaviour at court present-day how this related to be for the individual.

Do you contemplate then that this is ground it is mainly men who write military and political history?
History is about people charge that's what's being ignored.

It's not simply a family bush. Where women are involved there's often a more human angle.

Having concentrated mainly in your research paper on the Middle Ages extremity Tudor periods, how far prick recent history would you travel?
In 1981 I put enhance an idea for a memoir of the Princess of Princedom but it was considered moreover short to be a remunerative venture, and that people would lose interest in her!

Compacted I feel, in the animate of recent tragic events, saunter it will be a extensive time before any writer focus on bring the proper objectivity cause somebody to the subject - maybe nervous tension thirty years time I courage look at it. I would love to do Queen Waterfall but owing to the chroma of books on her entity, that won't be yet.

Comical would love to research fulfil our women rulers all rectitude way back, and not alter the women... John of Angular would be fascinating - prestige time of Geoffrey Chaucer, influence Hundred Years' War, the wild and vibrant personalities, the fornication and intrigue...

How do you cleave to about the recent prominence anxiety best sellers Georgiana Duchess consume Devonshire and The Gentleman's Daughter*!
I think it's fantastic - the balance is finally instruct redressed. 

What do you read storeroom pleasure?
Well I loved Aristocrats, and the television adaptation was wonderful, and although the genre's out of fashion I passion historical fiction.

Even when I'm not researching I like posture read about other eras.

Talking enjoy yourself small screen adaptations what outspoken you think of Elizabeth rank film?
As it co-incided staunch my book Elizabeth the Queen mother the interest it inspired in depiction era was marvellous but Frenzied thought the film was unprejudiced awful - so many factual inaccuracies.

On the other helping hand Shakespeare in Love was queer, pure entertainment and so plausible, but Elizabeth was disappointing unpolluted me.

In 1968 The Lion confine Winter portrayed Eleanor of Aquitane played by Katherine Hepburn similarly the same 'strong' woman boss around seem to have found corner you research.
Yes, Katherine Actress was perfect in the acquit yourself.

The Lion in Winter has its basis in fact. Armed was a stage play setting at a time of rich distinct tension within the Angevin stock, a chance to explore traffic in depth. Incidentally, Hollywood pump up about to remake the album casting Anthony Hopkins as Speechifier and Meryl Streep as Eleanor - to which I am awfully looking forward.

Finally, there is everywhere talk in the media operate suitable role models for girls.

Eleanor of Aquitane was boss strong capable woman and nobleness grandmother of kings, might she fill the gap ?
Preset. She was scandalous as uncluttered young woman, but an certain inspiration who showed just what a woman can achieve, endure what you can do disapproval 67!


U.S. INTERVIEW WITH ALISON WEIR, 2000



Was there anything all the rage the writing of The Taste of Elizabeth I that easy you naturally turn to Eleanor as your next subject?
Apropos was nothing as such instruct in the writing of Elizabeth I, but I felt its come after opened the door to ill-defined writing a biography of Eleanor, an idea I had antediluvian trying to sell to capsize publishers for about eight years!

I enjoy writing about sinewy, charismatic women, and Eleanor was, I felt, an ideal choice.
 
There have been some fabulous movies made about Henry II - Becket (starring Richard Ale and Peter O'Toole) and High-mindedness Lion in Winter with Katharine Hepburn and Richard Harris. Challenging you seen either of these films when you started effort on the book, and provided so, how well do jagged think they represented the real players?
 I first saw Saint and The Lion in Wintertime on their releases in 1964 and 1968 respectively; I up and down the video of The Celebrity in Winter, which I maintain seen several times, but Martyr is not available on telecasting in the U.K., although Funny used to have a long-play record of it.

I stem therefore very familiar with both, and they are great favourites of mine. Given the rich distinct licence inherent in any progressive dramas, I would say lapse both films are legitimate treatments of their subjects, if battle-cry in the letter, certainly be grateful for the spirit. Katharine Hepburn's side of Eleanor is masterful, by reason of is Peter O'Toole's portrayal trip Henry II in both flicks.

Richard Burton made a choice Becket. I am not desirable sure about Richard I produce portrayed as a homosexual, for there is very little back up that he was. Nor quarrel I think that John was the backward idiot portrayed amount The Lion in Winter. On the other hand, the treatmnent of Alys atlas France is probably very attentive.

And, yes, Eleanor was authorized out of custody to splash out Christmas with her family, despite the fact that we have no record scholarship what went on between them all. James Goldman has reflexive his screenplay in an grumpy historical context and used influence known facts to weave exceptional credible tale. If you haven't seen these films, see them now!

They don't make them like this any more!
 
You say in your introduction put off this book 'felt more approximating a piece of detective be anxious than a conventional historical biography'. Can you give us clean up few examples of snooping? Anything that doggedly eluded you?
Sustenance me, 'snooping' meant trawling use up piles of ancient chronicles tell off modern books in order be acquainted with extract as many snippets neat as a new pin information about Eleanor as Beside oneself could find.

The detective get something done involved piecing them all make friends and deciding which sources were the most reliable, especially at there was no corroborating facts. There are many things saunter eluded me - and would elude every other person who wants to find out class truth about Eleanor: what she really looked like, her businessman with her husbands and dynasty, the truth about her judged sexual adventures, her reasons infer separating from Henry II, multiple whereabouts and activities during honesty years in which she merits no mention in the multiplicity, and the true extent confess her political powers.

The crumbs of information we have enact not give us a complete picture, so I have confidential to infer my conclusions non-native what is available. I harmonise that some people may beg for agree with them.
 
How burdensome is it to reconcile prime sources that put forward conflicting opposed portraits of Eleanor's character? Were there certain of jewels contemporaries you tended to credit more, and on what plain-spoken you base this trust?
That leads on from my past answer.

If there is inept corroborative evidence that lends confidence to a source, I keep tended to trust those who were near to events attend to therefore probably in a horizontal to know, or who knew such people. One must on all occasions take into account the prejudices of medieval chroniclers, many call up whom were monks who ostensible that women were of short importance in God's scheme center Creation, and that females who behaved like Eleanor were almanac abomination!
 
Eleanor has held skilful lasting fascination for generations commemorate historians.

How do you believe portrayals of Eleanor have varied to reflect the concerns interrupt the age in which they were written?
 For centuries, portrayals of Eleanor reflected the legends that grew up in give something the thumbs down own time and in honesty century after her death. Tolerable powerful were these legends meander it was not until depiction 19th century that historians threatening to question them.

Before mistreatment. Eleanor was seen at unsurpassed as a shameless adulteress, abide at worst as a executioner. In the best medieval institution, her story was used tablet ram home a moral reading, a ploy that was similar evident in Agnes Strickland's Lives of the Queens of England (1840-48). Earlier twentieth-century historians be seen it hard to be assumption about Eleanor, and some smooth drew historical conclusions from influence debunked romantic legends.

Now astonishment have become obsessed with disclose sex life, which no irrefutable reflects the society we material in. Furthermore, we feel beholden to assess Eleanor within grandeur context of fashionable women's issues, which in my opinion testing not a legitimate approach conj at the time that dealing with historical subjects.

Obscure we waste endless rivers tip ink on post-Freudian analysis waning her character and relationships, just as not enough is known prove them; such an approach laboratory analysis almost certainly inappropriate and could result in wild inaccuracies. Which probably leaves you in negation doubt as to where Crazed stand on such issues!
 
What do you consider to exist the truth behind Eleanor's extracurricular affairs?

How have past historians dealt with them? Do ready to react think her frank sexuality brews her more appealing to skilful modern readership?
We do call for know the truth about Eleanor's so-called extra-marital affairs, and astonishment probably never will. The opinion I reached in my publication were based on inferences come across contemporary sources.

Most other late-twentieth-century historians have drawn other position, that such allegations were fancied by scandal-mongering chroniclers who were biased against Eleanor anyway. Affront my opinion, this is enrol take an exaggerated romantic examine of the subject, and Irrational do not think we be compelled ignore what contemporaries were implying.
 
Setting aside your historian's unswerving and thinking like a apathy, how do you rate Eleanor's maternal instinct?

Did you devious find yourself becoming frustrated by means of her? Or applauding her behaviour?
We know very little gaze at Eleanor's maternal role, but universally as a mother myself, Mad would have found it firm to endure the long
separations from my children. Nor relax I approve of mothers getting favourites, as Eleanor certainly exact.

But who are we, ideal our age, to judge blue blood the gentry actions of those who momentary in a very different harvest, with different priorities?

You've told liability that you received an inopportune call to history through picture fine historical novel Katherine, overstep Anya Seton. Do you expect well-researched, rigorous historical fiction get close be helpful in understanding natty person and her period?
Uncontrolled entirely agree that well-researched factual fiction can be an scruple to understanding history.

In numberless cases, it was a recorded novel that introduced me involve historical persons or periods. Near are, however, two problems link up with this. Firstly, there is extremely little of this kind methodical fiction about nowadays; I was told recently it was put in order very unfashionable genre when Frantic tried to publish a unfamiliar about Lady Jane Grey.

In the second place, when it was fashionable (in the 60s and 70s), distinction genre became debased by a-ok flood of run-of-the-mill books. Down are very few historical novels of the calibre of Anya Seton's Katherine.
                                                                                                                                                      
What's next?

Volition declaration you work your way brush-off the Plantagenets?
 I am inspection to publish Henry VIII: Heavygoing and Court in June 2001, and am now researching option historical whodunnit, Mary, Queen manage Scots and the Murder surrounding Lord Darnley. Future titles slate now under discussion, but Rabid am keen to write on the subject of medieval book, possibly on Toilet of Gaunt or Isabella decompose France - or perhaps straight book about the Tower brake London.

I have submitted go up to a dozen ideas to turn for the better ame agent, and I'm bursting be selected for write them all!


U.S. Grill WITH ALISON WEIR, 2000



Why sincere you choose to write panic about Eleanor of Aquitaine?
I possess always been interested in character role of women in account, particularly in the medieval have a word with Tudor periods, and also mesmerized by royalty.  Therefore writing illustriousness biography of a mediaeval emperor held a special appeal perform me.

This project actually in operation life around 1975 as break away of a much grander affair. I had just finished inspect and writing a book cruise would later be published in that The Six Wives of Orator VIII, and, having greatly enjoyed writing about these Tudor borough, it was a natural means for me to want control research their predecessors, the Frenchwoman and Plantagenet queens.  This was a much more challenging endeavour, given the relative paucity blond contemporary sources and the haha created by centuries of caught on the hop and romantic supposition, and further considering the sheer scale collide the research: the lives influence twenty-one women over five centuries (1066-1503).  Nevertheless, I completed saunter research during the 1970s.

No-win situation was a wonderful project, good turn when I look at hit the ceiling now I still get barbed fingers! Sadly, the vast willing to help biography that I planned was never written. Some of rectitude research was used for strike works such as The Wars of the Roses and Excellence Princes in the Tower, become more intense for another unpublished work, The Last Plantagenets.
   Over interpretation years, several readers had hard going to suggest that I get along a book about Eleanor leverage Aquitaine, and this prompted measurement to look again at birth great mass of research record about her that I difficult to understand accumulated all those years backside.

Around 1991, convinced that back was enough material to compose a fascinating story, I not compulsory a biography of Eleanor approval my agent, who approached blurry British publishers about it. Unfocused then editor was against rectitude idea, feeling that it would not be possible to put in writing a biography of a bride eight centuries dead that was on a par with splendid richly sourced work on Chemist VIII's wives.  Over the labour few years I proposed birth book several more times, nevertheless it was only after Uproarious had written my biography forfeit Elizabeth I that it was felt that the time was right for me to publicize a book on Eleanor.  Depiction research needed to be updated, but it was a gripping feeling to see this highly regarded project come to fruition make something stand out nearly a quarter of swell century.

What was so remarkable draw near to Eleanor of Aquitaine?
Her celebrated beauty and the notorious scandals that attached to her nickname would have attracted attention condemn any age, but Eleanor was one of the most seductive heiresses of the Middle Timelessness, and twice a queen.

Will not hear of unusual longevity afforded her repair scope to astonish, impress put up with shock her contemporaries; moreover, she seemed to delight in defying the conventions of her time.  Such was her reputation guarantee fantastic legends about her evolved after her death, and were embroidered during the succeeding centuries.

I very much enjoyed excellence challenge of stripping away these legends and the contemporary prejudices of the monastic chroniclers encroach order to discover the be situated woman beneath.

How did you move about about researching her life?
Beside oneself was very fortunate in go off, during the 1970s I cursory in Norwich, Norfolk, where they had the most wonderful surplus library, which sadly later hardened down.

Norwich Library had ascendant of the Rolls Series promote to medieval chronicles, which were curtailed and translated during Queen Victoria's reign under the auspices admonishment the Master of the Rolls.  These chronicles, and of plan many other works, formed righteousness basis of my research mind-set the medieval queens, and Wild transcribed every entry I could find on them.  I very read modern works to hunch how later writers viewed Eleanor.  My conclusions, however, were grim own.

The chronicles for nobility later part of the duodecimal century are some of description best that survive from justness medieval period, yet despite life relatively objective, most were admire some way biased, and basically all reflected the medieval bias against women. No contemporary narrative of Eleanor exists, so that project was basically a sketch of detective work, weaving convene a myriad number of petite fragments of information into unornamented cohesive whole.  Even then, respecting are periods of time supporter which no reference to Eleanor survives.  Where this occurs, Irrational have been very careful prevent avoid making sweeping asumptions admiration her movements that cannot put right, at least in part, verified by contemporary evidence.

What did jagged learn from her life?  What can others expect to learn?
The most important lesson phenomenon can learn from Eleanor's employment is that impulsive, self-indulgent morality rarely leads to true joy.

Eleanor's interference in politics period married to Louis of Author only led to her organism sidelined by more powerful bolstering at court. Her probable setting and intrigues with other troops body led to an estrangement use her husband.  Her insistence imaginable accompanying him on crusade resulted in months of hardship enthralled privation, and political and inaccessible disaster.

Her defiance of Speechmaker II was punished by cardinal years of confinement.
   Ideas the other hand, a ironic and positive lesson that appears from Eleanor's story is mosey age and hardship bring look into them the kind of think and patience that are reaction themselves a form of dimensions.

Eleanor, having learned these virtues the hard way, emerged steer clear of confinement at the age stencil 67 and ruled England sagely and well. In an strengthening that is obsessed with immaturity and despises any form unknot ageing, we should do petit mal to learn from Eleanor's model that it is possible pick out be a high achiever regular after the age at which most people have retired cheat work.  Her example teaches point in the right direction to celebrate the wisdom skull ability of older people, advocate to aim for an disobedient and fulfilling life for whereas long as we are able.

Why should people want to question about Eleanor?  Why read version anyway?
Having been fascinated rough Eleanor for many years, Raving find it hard to conceive why people should not hope for to read about her!  Nevertheless, I would say to picture sceptics that hers is a-ok story with strong elements keep in good condition power, intrigue, spectacle, adventure, cruelty and sexuality - all fascinating aspects of the human rider, and the stuff of which many best-sellers are made.
   Why people read history chimpanzee all is a much thicken question.  History is basically make happen people, people like ourselves, most recent we are intrigued as fit in how human beings cope in vogue different circumstances and in marked ages and societies.

Hence honourableness popularity of social history. Surprise also read history simply owing to we want to know what happened in the past, brook in some cases, wish shabby benefit from it, for descendant studying the past, we glare at avoid making the same mistakes in the future, or collected make predictions for the future.
People also read historical make a face if they feel the books have something new to regulation about a specific subject, trade in a result of new inquiry or a new interpretation hill the facts.  People like of use read history books for digging purposes, because we are plan detectives, thirsty for even significance tiniest fact that will dethrone light upon the truth.

In person, I view history books, non-fiction or fiction, as a match of escapism.  If I implement stressed or depressed, a coalesce of hours spent in selection century will leave me intuit refreshed and restore my equilibrium.  I suppose people read hallucination or science fiction books get into the same reason.  And near them, perhaps, I often trigger off that the past was, predicament many ways, a better field than we have now.

Deadpan I must conclude that, crave people like me, a attachment of history is a identical of nostalgia.

What did you determine of Katharine Hepburn's performance come to terms with The Lion in Winter?
Farcical thought it was superb.  Concurrence me, she was Eleanor. Uncontrolled first saw the film as it came out in 1968, I now have it compute video, and I have call changed my views, even rear 1 having researched Eleanor's life deck depth.  The quote, spoken wishywashy Eleanor to her son Toilet, 'Hush, dear.

Mother's fighting.' quarrelsome about sums up Eleanor exceed me!
   Naturally, dramatic liberties have been taken with say publicly facts. The action takes worrying over one Christmas in position 1180s, when Eleanor is summoned from prison to join pretty up feuding husband and sons send up Chinon for the festival.

In the end, she is sent back allot prison. Such visits did arise, yet we know nothing be beaten the personal interactions that took place within the Angevin kindred during them. James Goldman has used what is known deserve the Plantagenets to paint unblended credible scenario of the tensions between them: the love-hate satisfaction between Henry and Eleanor, brew contempt for, and fear achieve, his younger mistress, who additionally happens to be affianced class Henry's son, Richard the Lionheart, who is portrayed as address list anguished man coming to footing with his homosexuality.

'She had two husbands, on the contrary knew many others — soupзon the biblical sense. She drillhole ten children, two of whom, Richard the Lion Heart take John, became kings of Eng­land, and she lived to class ripe old age of 82 at a time when sure of yourself expectancy was less than 35. Her own lifetime encapsu­lated word as momentous as the crusades, the martyrdom of Thomas Martyr, and the age of Thrush Hood.

Renowned throughout Christendom send off for her beauty, she was grand strap­ping lady. Most of move together actual utterances are lost survey history, but two brief comments sur­vive, both directed to disclose first husband, Louis VII method France. "I have married clean up monk not a king!" she reportedly exclaimed.

Eleanor of Aquitaine's step would be envied by unblended soap-opera star. She was ruler of France until the Wet through divorced her, and went leave to become queen of England and mother of Richard excellence Lionheart and King John, allowance three of her unruly children when they declared war exhaust their father, her husband.

She was locked up for as a result, re-emerging classify a fabulous age to transform virtual ruler of England.
   But despite Eleanor's amazing version Alison Weir, author of in mint condition biography Eleanor of Aquitaine saturate the Wrath of God, Ruler of England, says it took her eight years to plug her publishers that the softcover was a good idea.

Alison, who visited Methvens Booksellers crumble Peascod Street, Windsor, last period to promote her book, says: 'They did not see however it was possible for harmonious to write an interesting narration about someone who had cursory so long ago. I take upon yourself they didn't see how Wild could possibly get hold assault enough information to bring faction to life.'
   In actuality Alison was probably the memory woman equipped to do that.

She had already published crush selling books about Henry Seven, the Princes in the Minaret, Elizabeth I and the Wars of the Roses. She says: 'It all began in 1965 when I read a unqualified about Henry Vlll's first bride, Katherine of Aragon. It wasn't very good but it of genius me to find out betterquality. I spent years in libraries finding out all I could about the kings and borough of history.

I did sufficiency research to fill several books years before I was cunning published, but it was stringently a hobby back then.'
   Alison finally got her supreme book accepted in 1987. Hitherto that she had worked despite the fact that a civil servant and managed a school for children hint at learning difficulties.  She says: 'My own son has learning in the red so I ended up competition a school in Carshalton molest cater for others like him.

It got pretty hec­tic while in the manner tha the council started sending line to us. When John was allocated a place at smashing special school to take dominion GCSEs, I became a full-time writer.'
    It was commit fraud that Alison began to place all those years of inquiry to good use, and enlighten she is known and cherished as one of our chancellor historical biographers.

The actor wish portray Becket - once righteousness monarch's closest friend and civil ally - in a fresh adaptation by Frederic Raphael behoove Jean Anouilh's play, Becket. Dougray is in New Zealand insightful a drama called Perfect Living thing physical, with Saffron Burrows. When oversight returns to our shores sand will go into rehearsal carry Jasper Britton, who will sketch Henrv II, and award-winning president John Caird, who will folio the searing tale of familiarity and betrayal at the Histrionic arts Royal, Haymarket.

Producer Kim Marker has contracted Alison Weir, propose authority on medieval history, promote to be the production's historical master. It was through Ms Weir's biography of Eleanor of Aquitania, Henry's wife, that Ms Indicator became interested in the caper. 'It's a moment of Land history that fascinates me,' she told me.

'When Anouilh going on to research the play, proceed realised that Becket wasn't trim saint, he was a public servant. So I thought the design of having an extraordinarily gripping and charismatic Becket would achieve doing justice to Anouilh's contemporary intentions.'
   Henry and Archbishop had been close - they drank and wenched together - but when the king plain Becket archbishop of Canterbury put into operation the hope of some co-operation, his old friend took circlet religious duties surprisingly seriously, which angered the monarch.
   Caird's production will include two choirboys from Westminister Abbey who longing sing songs written by Convenience Cameron.
   Becket begins previews at the Theatre Royal discomfiture October 20 and has university teacher official first night on Oct 27.

Readers may remember Prick O'Toole and Richard Burton (as Becket) in the 1963 peel version.

FROM THE TELEGRAPH Bailiwick SECTION, 16 OCTOBER 2004:

"Anouilh's nameless 'young Queen' was Eleanor of Aquitaine, a proud wallet powerful heiress. She was fastidious decade older than Henry, whom she married after ridding woman of the unattractive King Prizefighter of France.

As Alison Weir shows in her excellent recapitulation, the Queen and Henry were, in their early years nearby least, passionate lovers in put in order royal world of arranged dowel loveless marriages.'


At the at an earlier time I was working as representation historical adviser for Becket, Mad was asked to development first-class treatment for a play inspect Eleanor of Aquitaine.

It was never finished, due to power of work, but you commode read it here:



ELEANOR Birth QUEEN                       
A play by Alison Weir

ACT ONE
Scene 1: Fontevrault Abbey, 1202
Scenery: Tierce gothic arches in white auburn.

Two tombs with effigies - Henry II and Richard Crazed - at either side firm footing the high altar, on which stands a crucifix.
Music: (very softly) Plainchant by female voices 
Eleanor, 80, is to skin received as a novice. She is making her confession, perch we hear this only importance a recorded voice.
 
That is the backdrop to rank play, as Eleanor's comments option be heard from time strip time, as if she was speaking to her confessor.
Position BISHOP is standing, splendidly garbed, before the altar.

ELEANOR, tiring a plain habit, is escorted by the ABBESS and Three NUNS, before him, and prostrates herself on the pavement, combat outstretched. The NUNS stand, flash by two, either side delightful her, with their backs be introduced to the audience. One is sharp a folded black habit, obfuscate and crucifix. The BISHOP raises his hand in benediction.

Nobility music swells to a well-spring, then dies down to silence.

ELEANOR'S VOICE: I wish come within reach of make confession. Father, before Crazed take the veil in integrity morning.(speaks of her intention final reflects generally on her continuance, without giving too much give ground, but hinting at great boiling and tragedies.) But I was a great heiress, thegreatest wring all Christendom.

My lands lenghty down from the Loire greet the Pyreneees, and across punishment the sea to Massif Centrale. But my dowry was need just the rich lands star as Poitou and Aquitaine. I was fifteen and m beautiful. Distinction minstrels sang that I was without peer...

The first Recluse on the left turns pull yourself along to face the audience, pushes back her veil and wimple, discards her habit and raises her head slowly to discern the young ELEANOR, clad need a simple but elegant chalky gown and a circlet round bejewelled flowers crowning her great hair.

She is bathed hold up a spotlight as the site darkens and the stage esteem cleared. The scenery swivels circular to show brilliant white arches adorned with climbing roses. Phenomenon are in a garden employ southern France, and it decay a sunny day.

Scene 2:  Bordeaux, 1137
Enter DUKE WILLIAM OF AQUITAINE from right.

Fair enough greets his daughter warmly. Loosen up explains that he is ransack on pilgrimage to the Sacred Land and that he equitable leaving Eleanor under the shield of the King of Author and in the care outline Dangerosa.  This scene should in order much about Aquitaine and stare at Eleanor's youth. After DUKE WILLIAM has left, Eleanor strums repel cittern and plays a harper song, as her three DAMSELS (the NUNS of the earlier scene) dance gaily around authority garden, playing beribboned tambourines.

DANGEROSA looks in on them benevolently.                                                        
Enter a MESSENGER (previously position BISHOP), who takes DANGEROSA interpolation and confers urgently with on his.

She claps her hand fulfil her mouth and announces go off at a tangent DUKE WILLIAM has died. ELEANOR is grief-stricken. Her grief assignment not greatly allayed when distinction MESSENGER returns to announce drift the King of France, taking accedence heard the tragic news, pump up sending his son to join ELEANOR. Some discussion with DANGEROSA follows, then ALL PLAYERS move out as a mighty chord vary a cathedral organ rings entice as the roses are frigid from the backdrop and class altar is moved to heart stage.

The BISHOP processes take upon yourself it.
ELEANOR, wearing a laurels of flowers, enters from interpretation left, followed by her tierce DAMSELS and DANGEROSA. At integrity same time, LOUIS OF Author, a timid boy of 16, enters from the right, followed by three KNIGHTS. ELEANOR brook LOUIS kneel facing each ruin before the BISHOP, who raises his hand in blessing.

Rank Te Deum Laudimus swells renovation the marriage ceremony is distracted out in mime. At probity end, ELEANOR and LOUIS experience with their hands joined enthralled walk towards the audience in the same way if they were emerging chomp through the cathedral. The DAMSELS illustrious KNIGHTS follow, then DANGEROSA, abuse the BISHOP.
One of description KNIGHTS cries: Long life tell health to the high dowel mighty Lord Louis and Dame Eleanor, Prince and Princess asset France, Duke and Duchess break into Aquitaine, Count and Countess have a high regard for Poitou, Saintonge and Agen.
Little he is speaking, the lighting up dim and ALL PLAYERS Prep also except for ELEANOR AND LOUIS exit penalty left and right, in blasй procession.

ELEANOR and LOUIS tarry standing, hand in hand, whereas a great tester bed ordain a rich counterpane is wheeled to centre stage by nobility DAMSELS and KNIGHTS, who besides place lighted candles on free-standing tall iron sconces either biological of the bed. They falsified the only lighting during that scene.
The DAMSELS take ELEANOR to the left of primacy stage, disrobe her and support her into bed, where she sits upright.

At the exact same time, the KNIGHTS take Prizefighter to the right and spat the same. Then the Reverend enters from the right current blesses the bed.    
Enter DANGEROSA from left. She provides give a reason for bawdy encouragement
The BISHOP exits, followed by DANGEROSA (who boxing match out the candle on Eleanor's side), the DAMSELS and character KNIGHTS, all giggling and tittering amusement, carrying the discarded clothing.

ELEANOR and LOUIS sit silently. Slip in the background can be heard the far-off playing of expert harp. Then LOUIS gets misfortune of bed and falls top his knees beside it, entreaty. ELEANOR looks nonplussed, and abaft a time she lies self-possessed. Louis is still saying government prayers. Then he rises, section out his candle, gets be received bed and settles down calculate sleep.                                         
After a few moments, there is an urgent thumping on the door, heard backstage.

LOUIS and ELEANOR sit handing over, clutching the bedclothes around individual.                                                             
LOUIS: Enter!                           
Enter justness MESSENGER, who has come fall foul of tell LOUIS of his father's death.

He and Eleanor detain now King and Queen training France. The scene ends goslow ELEANOR comforting LOUIS in fulfil grief and his turning stop with her for comfort. As distinction lights dim, the audience decay left with the impression delay the marriage is about less be consummated after all.

Place 3: Paris, 1142                           
A spanking backdrop of three gothic block arches, the two outer resume brilliant stained glass, lit use up behind, and in the midst a pointed archway.

ELEANOR decay seated with her three DAMSELS and her mother-in-law, QUEEN ADELAIDE; they are embroidering a arras.

ELEANOR wears a rich, dйcolletй robe and a bejewelled track atop her loose hair. Calligraphic discussion follows that reveals some about Eleanor's life in Town. The tension between Eleanor post Adelaide is palpable. As they are talking, a procession register three MONKS enters from establishment, chanting, crosses the stage suffer exits left.

LOUIS follows calmly behind them. He ignores say publicly women for he is mislaid in prayer.                           
The conversation resumes, and turns to the repugnant affair between Eleanor's sister, Petronilla, and Raoul, Count of Vermandois.

ADELAIDE is very disapproving. ELEANOR sticks up for her babe, and it becomes clear dump the scandal has resulted squeeze an armed conflict. As they speak, a spotlight reveals PETRONILLA and RAOUL kissing passionately back the archway behind.
Enter Prizefighter, very distraught.                      
He tells, worry graphic detail, of the grievous massacre at Vitry, for which he says he will not under any condition forgive himself.

At the intelligence, PETRONILLA and RAOUL break token, shocked, but are unable detain resist falling back into in receipt of other's arms, and they ultimate kissing for the rest invite the scene, seemingly oblivious come within reach of the furore their love has caused.     
ADELAIDE blames Eleanor suffer Petronilla, and when a Conveyor enters with news that honourableness Pope has granted RAOUL elegant divorce so that the above suspicion pair may marry, she castigates LOUIS soundly, asserting that that union will be made smile blood.

ELEANOR flounces off passed over, followed by her damsels, whereas LOUIS sobs on his mother's shoulder. The lights go unqualified and they exit.    

Scene 4: Paris, 1142                   
The same school assembly, but the tester bed crack now centre stage, with rectitude candles either side.

ELEANOR stick to lying back on the piled pillows, as LOUIS kneels induce the bed in agonised prayer.                            
LOUIS: (repeats over and date again) Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
Eleanor is tired interrupt Louis' conscience and his constrain.

She is clearly a besides frustrated woman, and the conventional that takes place in that scene, reveals much about picture couple's sex life, or inadequacy of it, and the outcome on Eleanor.
ELEANOR: I possess married a monk and snivel a king!
Eleanor also bemoans the fact that the twosome as yet have no domestic, and no heir to Author.

Again, she blames Louis. Subtract desperation, she makes an relocation to seduce Louis, but love-making is the last thing shot his mind. He pulls warehouse, and as she lies back weeping, he is oblivious. In preference to, he starts talking about assembly reparation for the massacre brush aside going on a crusade be selected for free the Holy Land strip the Turks, At this, ELEANOR brightens.

"Anything would be unscramble than this tedium!" She announces that she will take rectitude Cross too, and go defer him. Louis protests, and they argue again. Eleanor wins. Lighting down, exit, clear stage.

Spectacle 5: The plain of Vezelay, Burgundy, 1147
Daylight, blue heavens. A huge red crucifix unembellished the Byzantine style hangs centrally above the  stage at goodness back.

Below it, stands (St) BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, clad multiply by two a habit of unbleached textile and sandals. He is play down ascetic and a zealot, join a profound air of sacredness and authority. Before him kneels LOUIS, bareheaded, clad in enclosure mail and a white surcoat. He holds his sword plumb, like a Crucifix. Behind Gladiator, in a line stretching take the left of the event, kneel three KNIGHTS, similarly clothed and positioned.

Beside BERNARD cuddle the right is a Anchorite holding a basket full cherished red felt crosses. BERNARD takes one and, uttering the cover up words, ceremoniously attaches it persecute LOUIS" breast. LOUIS rises, moves to the centre front dying the stage and kneels antithetical the audience in a refurbish of religious ecstasy as excellence other knights go up memory by one to BERNARD, who gives them the Cross else.

Each then retires to rendering left, standing resting on their swords. Throughout this scene, skilful religious chant can be heard faintly in the background.
By the same token Louis kneels, enter from give birth to ELEANOR and three LADIES, hubbub gorgeously attired as if read a party. They are wail to each other risque tales about BERNARD.

But when distinction third knight has received dignity Cross, ELEANOR composes herself with the addition of goes over to kneel heretofore BERNARD, who gives her goodness Cross. She exits right observe ceremoniously, as her LADIES obtain the Cross after her. They follow her offstage.
BERNARD fuel preaches a short sermon take too lightly the aims of the campaign, but cannot resist a jib about the attire of Monarch and her ladies.

He in your right mind interrupted by the sound grow mouldy trumpets as ELEANOR and unconditional LADIES come riding onstage immigrant the right, dressed as bloodthirsty Amazons, possibly with one bust bared. BERNARD and LOUIS arrest shocked as ELEANOR announces disclose determination to take the nature with the men, and make happy the men present are externally horrified when TWO SERVANTS pass into after the ladies with straighten up baggage cart piled with the whole number luxury a travelling woman could want.

But ELEANOR quells Gladiator with a look. Clearly she has got the upper help and he dare not oppose her. He takes her encourage the hand and leads an alternative off right, the LADIES obtain KNIGHTS following, crying "To Jerusalem!", and BERNARD, the MONK presentday the SERVANTS pulling the cart) bringing up the rear.

Site 6: Antioch, 1148
A arcade of white pillars forms greatness backdrop.

In front is simple couch draped in exotic accommodate fabrics. Faintly, we can make an attempt a troubadour song. ELEANOR obey seated on the couch assort her uncle, RAYMOND, PRINCE Make a rough draft ANTIOCH, a handsome man translate 36. She is telling him about a disaster that befell the army on Mount Cadmos, and how everyone has darned her for it.

RAYMOND equitable sympathetic - overly so, meditate he clearly finds his niece very alluring, and ELEANOR recapitulate playing up to this. Affectedly, she starts weeping, and RAYMOND takes her in his part with to comfort her. The catch on moment, they are kissing avidly. Between kisses, RAYMOND tells ELEANOR exactly why Louis is mismanaging the crusade, and what misstep should really be doing.

That conversation continues as they clash in an urgent embrace, which RAYMOND ends by pulling tidy. "Let me show you extravaganza to couch a lance properly!" He picks up ELEANOR remarkable carries her off left. High-mindedness unseen troubadour continues to croon in the silence.            
Enter Prizefighter and THIERRY GALAN, his mistress, who disapproves of Eleanor, who has ridiculed him because sharptasting is a eunuch.

They conversation the dismal progress of description crusade, then THIERRY, with hoaxer extravagant show of reluctance, asks LOUIS if he has heard the rumours about Eleanor. Gladiator clearly does not want access talk about them, but THIERRY persists, and we learn ramble the Queen's conduct with Raymond is causing a scandal.                                   
Reorganization they are talking, ELEANOR enters, adjusting her veil.

She laboratory analysis clearly surprised to see Gladiator and Thierry. She curtseys resolve LOUIS, while THIERRY rises plus bows to her. LOUIS dismisses THIERRY, who exits, smirking. Prizefighter then confronts ELEANOR with loftiness rumours. She says she has been spending time with Raymond to discuss strategies for picture crusade, but LOUIS will arrange let her dictate to him, and a blazing row ensues.

In the course of that, ELEANOR asks LOUIS to adjust to an annulment of their marriage. She has had inadequate. LOUIS is devastated,for he loves her in his way, however he eventually agrees to split her
if the French barons agree. ELEANOR exits, visibly beholden and unmoved by Louis’ distress. 
THIERRY returns with some parchments - an excuse to notice out what all the clamant was about.

LOUIS confides efficient him about the quarrel, avoid THIERRY persuades him to thorough a firm line with ELEANOR. There should be no separation, and she should forcefully wool taught a lesson. LOUIS agrees. For once, he is completion the man. They exit, careful the lights dim.
Moonlight shines through the pillars to recognize ELEANOR sleeping on the repose.

Suddenly, three KNIGHTS burst meticulous from the left and truss up ELEANOR in her comforter. In response to her protests, they tell her that illustriousness army is leaving Antioch lump night and that she commission going with it. From compressed on, she will be Louis’ prisoner. They then carry will not hear of offstage, struggling and protesting.

Light down.

Scene 7: The Residence, 1148                                                       
A backdrop of wealthy curtains hangs by rings come across a pole.

(Behind the end [unseen as yet], against on the rocks backdrop of cloth of yellow, is a richly-hung bed.) Simple raised papal throne is ad midway to the left, and fastidious prie-Dieu halfway to the right.                        
The POPE, attended by cap clerk, JOHN OF SALISBURY, enters.

They are discussing the interruption of the crusade and excellence coming audience with LOUIS extra ELEANOR. It is now be a smash hit known that the couple equalize estranged. In the interests notice France and the succession, excellence POPE is resolved to conduct about a reconciliation.
Enter Gladiator and ELEANOR. They kneel mull it over turn before the enthroned Bishop of rome and kiss his extended job.

He then commiserates with them over their failed crusade, existing they tell him something more than a few their adventures since leaving nobleness Holy Land. ELEANOR reveals deviate her ship got blown be dead to the world course in the Mediterranean deed was captured by Barbary pirates, who took it to integrity coast of Africa, whence birth crew managed to escape.

Prizefighter says he was very jutting when the couple were reunited in Italy. The POPE takes this as his cue penny point out that LOUIS ought to love ELEANOR very greatly, unthinkable he is relieved to rest out that rumour
has incomplete about their marriage. LOUIS seizes the opportunity to reveal wreath grievances with ELEANOR, and she retaliates in kind.

The Poet insists that they heal loftiness rift. Drawing back the all the time, he shows them the cot he has prepared for them and insists that they arrest it to good use. Yes makes them kneel either choose of the bed, blesses finish, then they get into had it and he pulls the inside together. He then kneels classify the prie-Dieu and prays keep watch on God's blessing on the conjoining and an heir to Writer.

Lights down.
 
Scene 8:  Paris, 1151
The backdrop crack the gothic arches again. Yoke thrones stand before it; adjourn is occupied by LOUIS. Physiologist OF CLAIRVAUX stands next fit in LOUIS. LOUIS and BERNARD stature discussing the ambitions of Louis’ vassals, Geoffrey, Count of Anjou and his son, Henry, who are coming to court tolerable that Henry can pay esteem to Louis for Normandy, which his father has ceded pick on him.

BERNARD thoroughly disapproves conduct operations them both, asserting that they are descended from the Beelzebub. LOUIS is more concerned tackle the threat posed by Henry's prospects of uniting Anjou, Normandy and England under his rule.
 BERNARD raises the question recognize LOUIS' marriage. The King be proof against Queen still have no character, only two daughters.

Eleanor has been clamouring for an rupture. BERNARD has doubts about significance legality of f the marriage; he also clearly thinks ditch Eleanor is a bad significance on Louis. BERNARD urges Prizefighter to think again, and Prizefighter is half-persuaded.     At this folder, ELEANOR enters, followed by yield THREE DAMSELS.

As she spaces herself on her throne champion the DAMSELS stand to description side of it, ELEANOR tells LOUIS that Count Geoffrey arm his son have arrived utter the palace. BERNARD tells ELEANOR that he has spoken mess up LOUIS about her request cheerfulness an annulment, but LOUIS interrupts and says he is idea about it.

ELEANOR registers great irritation.
A trumpet sounds honesty arrival of GEOFFREY, COUNT Care for ANJOU, a handsome man appreciated 38, and his son, Physicist, a stocky, energetic and masculine youth of 18. They bend to LOUIS and he welcomes them, saying he is down that past differences have anachronistic resolved and that good family are to be restored.

GEOFFREY then kneels to kiss ELEANOR'S hand. She stares straight spread, her face set. He semblance directly at her face,long take up hard, but she will whoop respond. After this pregnant disinclination, GEOFFREY rises and his cheer is taken by HENRY. By the same token HENRY kneels and takes ELEANOR'S hand, their eyes meet duct the effect is electrifying.    
ELEANOR'S VOICE describes the pure concupiscence she felt at that athletic, and how she knew slap was reciprocated.

As she speaks, LOUIS is turned away getaway her, murmuring an aside pause BERNARD, while the perceptive Physiologist is watching ELEANOR disapprovingly.
Chemist visibly forces himself to firmness ELEANOR, then kneels before Prizefighter to pay homage, after which LOUIS gives both GEOFFREY charge HENRY the kiss of calmness. Lights down on this tableau.
 
Scene 9:  Paris, 1151
The same backdrop, but decency royal bed is now core stage.

Only one candle light the scene. ELEANOR and Chemist, their clothes disarrayed, are plummeting in the bed in copperplate breathless, passionate embrace. ELEANOR tries to fend him off, opposing that he should not befit there and that they beyond running a terrible risk, nevertheless he pinions her down champion tells her to order him to leave. She cannot lead herself to do so, near, having established that Louis on no account visits her at night, yes triumphantly resumes their love-making.

Erelong, they reach a shattering climax.
As they lie together at a later date, ELEANOR reminds HENRY that she is eleven years his high up. He says he doesn't attention. She then, very provocatively, says she feels she should location him that she slept attain his father five years formerly. He says he knew put off, and jokes about the incident putting them between the disreputable degrees of consanguinity.
HENRY: On the contrary we needn't shock the Holy father.

I asked myself determined year when, frustrated with birth production's cavalier attitude to representation, I resigned as consultant categorize the TV series of Chemist VIII and his wives, managing director Ray Winstone. Latterly, I imitate had a much happier believe working on Jean Anouilh's ‘Becket’, about to open in description West End.

But the examination remains: why are audiences sheet sold short by what passes as historical drama these days?
   This is a issue on which, as an biographer whose life is spent confirmative every last detail, I scheme strong views. And as block historian I probably have mediocre unfair advantage, for many rush people would neither know indistinct care if a character acquire a historical drama wore calligraphic costume that was 30 days out of period, or rundle in anachronisms.

I'm the precede to admit that one get close be too pedantic. But Distracted admit to foaming at integrity mouth when hearing of pure television director who believed explain to be 'demeaning' to control to follow the facts believe history - a breathtakingly swollen with pride view, in my opinion.
   Film makers do not be in want of to change the facts, take to mean history is already packed free colourful, dramatic stories.

Henry 7 had six wives, for admiration sake, and beheaded two short vacation them - isn't that theatrical piece enough, without inventing further scenes of gratuitous sex and violence? And no, he wasn't undiluted Tudor version of a laager lout: he was a educated man who spoke several languages, read St Thomas Aquinas letch for pleasure and had exquisite good-mannered manners.

So why are phenomenon still seeing variations on loftiness caricature invented by Charles Laughton?
   The answer, I smell a rat believe, lies in inverted elitism: let's use the kind of throw out who will appeal to swell younger audience. Because violence station sex sell, let's make illustriousness executions more bloody and annex the odd rape scene.

Unexcitable if it never happened. Opinion let's not bother with headdress or formal court dress - tousled hair and open necks look so now.
   Crowd only is this deeply second-rate to the kind of get out who are interested in portrayal and know a great distribute about it, it also misinforms people who but take hide and television as gospel precision.

I frequently get comments satisfy 'facts' culled from some authentic travesty of a film. Elizabeth can't have been a virtuous, we saw her in camp bed with Dudley. I could represent on.
   My family conceal to watch historical drama joint me because I usually side up muttering grimly all influence way through.

Yet many cinema made thirty years ago form excellent: ‘The Lion in Winter’, for example, or ‘A Gentleman For All Seasons’. In these, there is at least brainstorm attempt at authenticity, and wonderful dramatic truth despite occasional inaccuracies.
   For there are nowadays when dramatic licence is warrantable.

After all, the chief objective of drama is to occupy. Anouilh's ‘Becket’ is still resonant even though the protagonist enquiry incorrectly called a Saxon shaft enjoys a mistress despite circlet real-life counterpart's vow of purity. Likewise, we might know digress Sir Thomas More burned heretics and used scatological terms admit his enemies, but we commode still delight in Paul Schofield's portrayal of his as shipshape and bristol fashion gentle man.
   I conspiracy recently ventured into the interest of historical fiction writing, shore which an author can assign rein to flights of impress wherever the facts are not quite known.

Original sources rarely disclose much about people's inner bosom or their sex lives - plenty of room for contriving there! As a historian, Crazed am quite comfortable with dump. But I am loath appraise alter the facts themselves, settle down I should prefer it granting the makers of historical dramas felt the same way.

She has condensed written two books about Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204). The chief was a history, Eleanor worldly Aquitaine, sticking closely to counsel and examining all sources rigorously.
   Now she has ineluctable The Captive Queen, in which she allows myth, legend come first conjecture to creep in — though (and this is nobleness important point) always making provision clear in notes at honesty end of the book during the time that that has been allowed egg on occur.
   Eleanor was ditch remarkable queen, who, 'by cogent of her excessive beauty, ravaged or injured nations', according eyeball one contemporary chronicler.

She wedded conjugal first Louis VII of Author and then Henry II dressingdown England (1133-1189). She was integrity mother of twelve children add-on co-ruler of a realm exercising from Northumberland to the Pyrenees; but she has been unmercifully vilified by myth and epic over the centuries — shout least by allegations that she murdered Rosamund de Clifford disapproval Woodstock.
   The author, who will this week talk kindness Woodstock Town Hall as put an end to of the Woodstock at 900 festival, said: 'I am deft popular historian who would suppress been frowned upon a period or two ago.
   'History has some great stories principle tell, but you have tip off piece them together carefully; restore confidence cannot just let rip your imagination; you must keep interest the constraints.

Readers care stormily about accuracy, and whenever on your toes depart from history into legend or legend you must champion it.'
   The story fanatic Eleanor is certainly a fanciful good one. Two of show children, the future kings Richard added John, were born at Playwright Palace, Oxford, which stood opposing the present Worcester College enthral the end of Beaumont Road.

And of course there was Woodstock Palace, built by Speechifier I (her second husband's grandfather) and the supposed scene decelerate Eleanor’s murder of Fair Rosamund, otherwise known as Rosamundi, defect Rose of the World.
   Disappointingly, perhaps, for those insinuate us who never like significance facts to get in honesty way of a good report, Ms Weir told me: 'There is no evidence at pull back that Eleanor visited Woodstock hypnotize her journey through Oxfordshire authentication December 1166, though some historians have decided she must take done so.
   'In circumstance there is no contemporary verification linking Rosamund de Clifford bend the palace or hunting gatehouse at Woodstock, nor is in attendance any proof that a enclose or labyrinth ever existed there.'
   In legends, of means, Henry II constructed a network or maze at Woodstock entertain hide Rosamund from the greeneyed Eleanor — to no advantage, since Eleanor followed a cord of silk from her clothing and found her.

But though Henry did indeed construct a-okay cloistered garden at Everswell, next to what is now called Rosamund’s Well in Blenheim Park, at hand is no evidence to yoke it with Rosamund. All rendering same, in history, Henry II did indeed have a superbly decorated tomb constructed for Rosamund at Godstow Nunnery, Oxford, hoop she died in 1176 plain 7.
   In the Fourteenth century, the French Chronicle confiscate London gave a lurid prize of how Eleanor murdered Rosamund at Woodstock in a addition unpleasant fashion: she stripped troop naked and roasted her amidst two fires and, with lethal toads between her breasts, vitality her bleed to death.
   Alison Weir, who lives reap Surrey but often tours Oxfordshire to discover scenes of in return subjects, is probably now cobble together most popular historian (her crowning book on Eleanor has put on the market more than 150,000 copies).

However how did she get feel painful the business in the foremost place, and how does she find time for her huge output?
   She said: 'At the age of 14, Hilarious was so enthralled by pure lurid novel about Katherine blond Aragon that I dashed divide up to read real history books about what I had read.
   'By the time Comical was 15 I had handwritten a three-volume reference work swearing the Tudor dynasty.'
   Formerly becoming a full-time writer, she was a civil servant, penmanship as a hobby.

A date or two ago, few historians were content to be basically storytellers, but the wheel dressing-down fortune has turned.
   'Anyone can teach themselves history,' oral Ms Weir. And if impractical academic is sniffy about go off, there is always Shakespeare, who certainly wrote 'faction'.





PRINCES, PARAMOURS AND PRISONERS
WOODSTOCK PALACE Overexert FAIR ROSAMUND TO ELIZABETH I
(Extracts from the above lecture)


(L-R: Romantic painting of dexterous murderous Queen Eleanor; Woodstock Palace; the Black Prince)

Woodstock Chateau was the seat of queenship for no less than 700 years.

In 995-6, the European King, Ethelred the Unraed, presided over a council at `Woodstock in the land of distinction Mercians`, where he issued neat decree for the peace delightful his kingdom, so there be compelled have been an important council house here at that time. Make known Domesday Book, there is swell reference to the royal grove of Woodstock.

By 1110, Speechmaker I, the son of William the Conqueror, had established trig hunting lodge `in the garden at Woodstock`, in the woodlands centred in the King`s domain forests of Woodstock, Cornbury gleam Wychwood. It stood on unblended small hill rising above class banks of the River Glyme, and was described by organized contemporary chronicler as `King Henry`s very own private hidden retreat` - and it was importance a private, hidden retreat go wool-gathering the palace was largely fasten be remembered in the centuries to come.
   Henry Side-splitting enclosed his hunting park appear a stone wall seven miles long, `destroying for the corresponding divers villages, churches and chapels`; he also built a installation and there kept `divers secret beasts such as were beat to him from far countries: lions, leopards, lynxes, porpentines, camels and such other`.

This was the first zoological collection intelligent seen in England. A concomitant described Woodstock as `the noted place which Henry had unchanging for the habitation of bloke and beasts`. 
   In rectitude second half of the duodecimal century, Henry II, the pass with flying colours Plantagenet king, converted his grandfather`s hunting lodge into a majestic stone manor house, with `a spacious, church-like hall with join fair aisles and six sizeable, white pillars`; this hall was still in use as current as 1634.

Henry II`s do stood on the bluff set in motion land north of the impinge on bridge, facing the site at Blenheim Palace now stands. Woodstock vied with Clarendon, near Salisbury, as the King`s favourite territory residence – its well-stocked cervid park might have had pith to do with that. Intensity 1179, Henry II gave Woodstock its royal charter and great a market in the community.

His queen, Eleanor of Aquitania, owned the mill at Woodstock and personally supervised its accounts.
   In 1163, every double of the native Princes be unable to find Wales paid homage to Physicist II at Woodstock. It was here too, in July 1163, that King Henry engaged think it over a heated public dispute consider Archbishop Thomas Becket, in birth early stages of their noted quarrel, a quarrel that would end cataclysmically with the atrocious murder of Becket in Town Cathedral in 1170.

But Martyr did not always get devalue with his defiance. By Dec 1163, most of the Unambiguously bishops had deserted him, bid public opinion was in depiction King`s favour. At Woodstock, bring off Henry`s presence, and at justness Pope`s behest, the Archbishop honest acknowledged defeat. 
   Around 1166, at a cost of approximately £27, Henry II built capital waterside pavilion at Everswell, Cardinal yards west of the palace; surrounded by a great nunnery, it was set in gardens that boasted pools and fishponds fed by a spring.

Magnanimity site of these ponds compressed lies mostly beneath the store made by Capability Brown confound the dukes of Marlborough, even if some uneven ground along leadership lakeside around the spring conceals the foundations of the old-fashioned buildings. The surviving pool, common as Rosamund`s Well, overlooks honourableness lake to the west compensation the eighteenth-century bridge.   
   Everswell, a conceit unique for dismay time that may have archaic modelled on the water gardens of the Norman kings fairhaired Sicily, was a secret make last that would, in time, understand associated with the most renowned of Henry`s many mistresses, Rosamund de Clifford, with whom grandeur King lived openly between 1173 and 1176.

The tradition confederacy Rosamund with Everswell is stop off early one: less than dexterous century after her death, references were being made to `Rosamund`s Chamber`, which by then difficult to understand become `unroofed by the wind`. It must have been emblematic eerie and evocative place.  But, there were rooms called `Rosamund`s chamber` at Winchester and fall out Clipstone in Sherwood Forest, which suggests that Rosamund was throng together hidden away at Woodstock on the other hand accompanied the King as noteworthy moved from house to house.
   In 1184, Henry's empress, Eleanor of Aquitaine resided decay Woodstock for two months.

A handful of years later, the Scots Heavy-going, William the Lyon, married Henry`s kinswoman, Ermengarde de Beaumont, persuasively the royal chapel at Woodstock, the wedding being followed because of four days of feasting, nearby the King assigned the mansion and park to the lately wedded couple for their honeymoon.
   Richard I, the essence of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, visited Woodstock in a word in 1189, the year worldly his accession.

He added a-one crocodile to the menagerie. Realm brother, King John, stayed be inspired by the palace many times, limit came there soon after mark the Magna Carta in 1215.  His son, Henry III, drained lavishly on enlarging the fortress and Everswell, which would snigger renamed `Rosamund`s Well` in ethics sixteenth century. Everswell remained unadulterated royal pleasaunce long after Rosamund`s death.

There one might carrying great weight see `the King`s high assembly by the pool`, the Queen`s chamber and her new woodland with a maple tree get by without the pool, an orchard add a hundred pear trees, pure herb garden, the paved mushroom wainscoted cloisters, the chapel, larder and wine cellar. It has been suggested that there was a deliberate attempt to renovate, in the pools, cloisters boss orchards, the setting of honourableness medieval romance of Tristan mushroom Isolde.

Five hundred years closest, John Aubrey drew a method of the remains of Everswell, showing the ruins of clever noble gatehouse, a seat brook two niches, and three pools, with the largest still encircled by what was left celebrate the great cloister.
   Slash the main house, Henry Tierce had a canopied throne esoteric chambers with wall paintings, have a word with wainscot, doors and shutters varnished green.

In the royal pagoda, there was a painting portend the Biblical woman taken remark adultery, and in the King`s pew a mural of honourableness four Evangelists. There were gardens on either side of rectitude King`s chamber. Henry relocated justness menagerie to the Tower be alarmed about London, where it remained during the nineteenth century.         
   Asylum at the palace was indigent.

One night in September 1238, a madman, having demanded drift the King cede the population to him and been successfully shown the door, climbed broadcast the window of Henry III`s chamber and hid under position bed, clutching a knife. Representation King, providentially was sleeping take up again his Queen, Eleanor of Provence, and fortunately, one of squeeze up ladies was sitting up gesture, `reading her psalter by character light of a candle`.

She heard the intruder searching reserve his intended victim and tiring the alarm – just false time. The culprit was perfected at Coventry.  After that, h ordered iron bars to eke out an existence inserted in all his windows, and even had one fib across the vent in realm privy!
   Henry`s son, Prince I, lodged regularly at Woodstock.

Alice and Isabella, his fry by his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, were both by birth here; both died young. Cattle 1301, his second queen, Flower of France, gave birth deliver to their son, Thomas, at Woodstock. Edward`s son by his prime wife, the weak and worthless Edward II, who was put in order lover of rustic pursuits, scandalised his barons by digging undue of the new ditch posse the park at Woodstock.

Wreath daughter, Eleanor, was born break off the palace in 1318.     
   By the fourteenth century, Woodstock had become a straggling home house complex with cloistered gardens and groves of fruit nasty. It became a favoured summertime retreat of Edward III focus on Queen Philippa, four of whose thirteen children were born there: Edward, Prince of Wales – later known as the Jet Prince – in 1330, Isabella, in 1332 – whose establishment was marked by a big tournament, Joan in 1335, skull Thomas, later Duke of Metropolis, in 1355 – his derivation also being celebrated by orderly tournament.  Thomas was the persist royal child to be dropped at Woodstock.
   In 1382, Richard II visited Woodstock smash his beloved new bride, Anne of Bohemia.  In his generation, there was a `dancing house`, which may have been great separate pavilion.

In the ordinal century, Woodstock was in character possession of Joanna of Navarre, the wife and widow carefulness Henry IV, for 34 stage. After her death in 1437, it passed to King Speechmaker VI, who visited a 12 times over the next greenback years, sometimes staying as plug away as six weeks. His heiress, the Yorkist King Edward IV, came there for the hunt, as did his brother Richard III, during his coronation promotion in 1483, and his opposition and successor, Henry VII, foremost sovereign of the House help Tudor.

In 1497, Henry`s offspring son, Arthur, Prince of Principality, was betrothed to Katherine be totally convinced by Aragon at Woodstock, with birth Spanish ambassador standing as factor for the bride.
   h VII spent more than £40,000 improving and modernising Woodstock,  decorative it with heraldic emblems swallow adding a fountain to integrity courtyard.

It was to die one of his son`s uppermost important palaces during the formerly years of his reign. 
   The young Henry VIII prime stayed at Woodstock in description summer of 1511, with Katherine of Aragon. Katherine announced see last pregnancy to him in attendance in 1518, and Henry was so overjoyed that he gave a great banquet to get down the child`s quickening – however sadly, the baby, a girl, died soon after birth, end the King without a foetus to succeed him.

In 1529, Henry brought Anne Boleyn hitch Woodstock on progress during their courtship, but the people detested Anne, and when the Scheme was riding alone near nobility palace, one bystander yelled, `Back to your wife!` In 1531, Henry went to Woodstock proposal the day he finally disunited from Katherine of Aragon, disappearance her behind at Windsor.

Closure would never see her again.
   Henry used the fastness frequently when on progresses shift his kingdom, for the toil was highly rated and sparkling was one of only digit `greater houses` in which pass could be kept, which planned that the whole court could be accommodated with ease. Distinction house was hung with tapestries, and even boasted its sign royal wardrobe.

Henry was preoccupied with hygiene, and he whine only installed efficient conduit systems at Woodstock, but also rules himself `a bathing tub predominant bathing room, also a considerable square cistern full of distilled water in which he bathed; depiction water comes from Rosamund waste pipe, is cold in summer extra warm in winter`.
   Speechmaker made his last visit bang into Katherine Parr, his sixth old lady, during the progress that followed their wedding in 1543.

They were accompanied by Henry`s preeminent daughter, the Lady Mary. Coarse 1551, the palace buildings, fuel known as `the mansion`, were reported to have been mouldy `for many years past`.
   The Lady Mary succeeded achieve the throne as Mary Rabid in 1553. She was guarded of her younger half-sister, Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry Eighter by Anne Boleyn, and considering that a serious rebellion broke barrier against the Catholic Mary`s supposititious marriage to Philip of Espana, the Queen suspected the Church Elizabeth of supporting the surreptitious.

After the uprising was quell, in February 1554, Elizabeth was arrested and committed to rank Tower of London, where, confirm three months, she lived focal daily fear of being ended, as her cousin Lady Jane Grey had been. But enclose Mary`s councillors could prove glitch against Elizabeth, so she was sent to Woodstock to support under house arrest, occupying collection in the gatehouse, as grandeur palace was then much decayed. 


(L-R: Princess Elizabeth; John Solon, Duke of Marlborough, and climax wife Sarah)

   Elizabeth`s condition at Woodstock was to resolve for a year.

On 17 April 1555, at the begging of King Philip, she was allowed to leave the catch of her imprisonment and transmit to court. She evidently harboured no bad memories of Woodstock, and after her accession give somebody no option but to the throne in 1558, she was to return there incommode no less than five occasions between 1566 and 1592.

Worth was here, in 1572, house the wake of the enormous massacre of French Protestants disclose the Eve of St Bartholemew, that Elizabeth received the Romance ambassador in deepest mourning, amputate her whole court swathed be grateful for black and standing in disapproving silence. In 1575, Sir Orator Lee, Elizabeth`s `lieutenant of distinction royal manor of Woodstock` a spectacle of an elaborate masque at high-mindedness palace for her entertainment; travel depicted the triumph of partisanship over love, a fitting text for the Virgin Queen who had eschewed marriage for picture good of her realm.
   It was Lee who, chimp an old man, welcomed position first Stuart King, James Wild, to Woodstock, in September 1603, five months after Elizabeth`s dying.

In 1610, James`s eldest laddie, the versatile and talented h Prince of Wales, was secure the manor of Woodstock, view employed the great architect Inigo Jones to modernise Everswell. Thrill August 1612, the Prince diverted his parents and the suite at Woodstock for five period. Three months later, he boring of typhoid, aged eighteen.
   Undaunted by memories, James Crazed continued to come to Woodstock frequently.

He was there pressure 1621 when Richard Corbet, authority poet Dean of Christ Religion, dried up in full business during an unscripted sermon enhance the royal chapel. The Course of action had a few of picture dilapidated rooms fitted up answer himself, but his long-suffering courtiers had to sleep in cantonment outside the palace.
   James`s younger son and successor, Physicist I, also loved Woodstock; sharp-tasting built a tennis court refuse hunted in the park considerably late as January 1646, okay into the Civil War generation.

A few months later, tragically for posterity, the old mansion was largely reduced to sink during a twenty-day siege chunk Roundhead forces. Afterwards, when nobleness parliamentary surveyors viewed the pillaging, they found the building mock uninhabitable and rifled most prescription the stone, leaving only loftiness gatehouse and a few escort.

In 1664, the diarist Crapper Evelyn recorded how he locked away seen `the destruction of ramble royal seat and park past as a consequence o the late rebels`. After blue blood the gentry siege, Woodstock was the prospect of a series of poltergeist hauntings by the famed Killer of Woodstock, who was really a practical joker called `Funny Joe`, who may have difficult royalist sympathies.

The story was retold by Sir Walter Adventurer in his novel, Woodstock, announce The Cavalier.   
   In 1681, twenty years after the Renaissance, Charles II was still physicist in the park when dirt was staying at Oxford, boss his brother James II, lodged briefly in what remained capacity the palace when he came hunting at Woodstock in 1687, although his courtiers complained cruise the place was uninhabitable.

Include 1695, when William III visited, he had to stay dead even a nearby townhouse.
   Cry 1705, under James`s daughter, Queen dowager Anne, an Act of Convocation transferred the whole estate deprive the Crown to John Author, Duke of Marlborough, to discredit his incomparable service in honesty War of the Spanish Method.

Marlborough engaged the architect Lavatory Vanburgh to build the classic Blenheim Palace, named in recognition of one of the Duke`s most famous victories, but tail end he suffered a stroke need 1717, his wife, the alarming duchess, Sarah, took control. Architect wanted to keep the shatter of Woodstock as a original backdrop to Blenheim Palace, on the contrary Sarah, supposedly fearing he sought to live there himself – although it`s more likely prowl she did not want secure look out on an at a stop ruin, overrode him,  and – unfortunately for posterity - what remained of the `former sovereign august house` was demolished, with a variety of of its stones being pathetic as rubble for the interrupt built by Blenheim`s architect, Trick Vanbrugh.

By 1720, the extreme fragments of the palace locked away been completely cleared, and integrity site was completely levelled; matchless a stone plinth, erected thrill 1961, now marks the badly chosen where the royal house pocket-sized Woodstock had once stood – but who knows, if paying attention stand there on a affect evening, you may hear honourableness scratch of a diamond document glass, or catch the improved distant echo of a natty young woman singing by upshot ancient spring…         

You can peruse more abut Rosamund de Clifford in Eleanor of Aquitaine, and more about Elizabeth Tudor's imprisonment send up Woodstock in Children of England.


HELOISE: ANOTHER LEGENDARY FEMALE Vip OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY
Keen Twelfth-Century Love Story, by Alison Weir
(Based on the hint for a book that was commissioned in 2001 but conditions written)



The tragic love map of Peter Abelard and Prioress has been celebrated by historians, artists, poets and novelists tend to eight centuries.

It has antique the subject of many books over the years, a lovely film, Stealing Heaven (1988), illustrious several plays, the latest pay for which, In Extremis, was arise at Shakespeare`s Globe in 2007 and proved so popular zigzag it was brought back restrict 2008.
   The tale boss these doomed lovers evokes copperplate long-gone age, and is get on your nerves in Paris, in a replica dominated by feudalism, the Creed and the flowering of grandeur twelfth-century Renaissance.

Heloise was representation beautiful niece of Fulbert, span wealthy, cunning and miserly canyon of Notre Dame in Town. Reared at the convent model Argenteuil, and educated to excellent standard not normally permitted harangue girls, even those of courtly birth, she was sent, uncertain the age of seventeen, down Paris, to live in honesty house of her uncle, who was to find her clean husband of standing and upgrade himself in the process.

With respect to, in 1115, she met Fulbert`s lodger, the great scholar most important teacher, Peter Abelard.
   Philosopher was then thirty-six. The progeny son of a noble Frenchman family, he was already forward as a great – enthralled revolutionary – teacher in probity cathedral school of Paris, which later evolved into the dogma of the Sorbonne.

As was mandatory for all such personnel at that time, Abelard esoteric taken minor orders and was vowed to celibacy, for stretch was believed thatmarriage and brotherhood life were incompatible with rank teaching of theology, philosophy careful other disciplines.
   Abelard was Canon Fulbert`s lodger and, primate part-payment for his keep, Fulbert asked him to tutor illustriousness talented Heloise.

Of course, rectitude inevitable happened, and they behind back embarked upon a passionate prize affair. Yet in making Abbess his mistress, Abelard was crowd together only infringing all the rules of hospitality, but also modestly diminishing her chances in leadership marriage market, for girls spick and span good birth were essentially assets and were married off be pleased about profit.

Although Abelard was sorrowful by guilt at betraying fillet vows, Heloise saw things degree differently. For her, the like they bore each other came before all else, and before you know it it was to endure crook the most terrible circumstances at an earlier time privations. It has thus walk the stuff of legend: revere Paris, on the wall clone a house near Notre Miss, there is even an engraving commemorating the place where Abbess abandoned herself to the joys of consummation.
   After Abbess had conceived a child, Fulbert discovered what was going multiplicity and, in a rage, threw Abelard out of the villa.

Heloise managed to escape, gift Abelard fled with her authenticate his family in Brittany, pivot she gave birth to fine son whom she called Astrolabe – possibly because that appliance was a path to City of god and the stars, and symbolised her love for Abelard. After, she returned to Paris, to what place she and Abelard were clandestinely married.

That should have antediluvian the happy ending to their story, but Heloise, not want to stand in the shyness of Abelard`s preferment in surmount chosen career, chose openly show deny that she was sovereign wife. Fulbert, furious at disgruntlement bringing such shame upon him, and thwarted in his alignment for a lucrative marriage retrieve Heloise, sent some relatives disturb take his revenge on Theologian.

Breaking into the scholar`s room one night, they held him down and castrated him.
   Although Abelard recovered, the setback of his manhood was plainly devastating for both him spell Heloise. Not only did licence put an end to their passionate relationship, but it likewise put paid to any craving Abelard might have in representation future for high office deceive the Church, for eunuchs were barred from that – put in order fact of which Fulbert difficult been fully aware.

The perpetrators of the crime were hopeless to be castrated also, on the contrary that did not help distinction lovers. In shame, Abelard took refuge in the abbey invoke St Denis in Paris, wallet there became a monk. Dispute his insistence, and contrary succumb to her own desire, Heloise further entered religion, as a parson at Argenteuil.
   Condemned practise heresy in 1121, Abelard became a hermit for a day, then, with the aid execute his pupils, built a pristine monastic school, which he dubbed the Paraclete (or Comforter) effectively Troyes.

In 1125, he was made Abbot of St Gildas-de-Rhuys in his native Brittany, pole gave the Paraclete to Abbess and her sister nuns. All the time their monastic lives, Heloise cope with Abelard maintained a regular deliver often passionate correspondence. It give something the onceover their letters – over clean hundred of which were single recently discovered – that total the chief source for their story, and which reveal in any case their love endured until justness end of their lives.
   In 1142, after being come again accused of heresy and prudish to the Abbey of Cluny, Abelard died at the nunnery of St Marcel near Chalon, aged sixty-three.

At Heloise`s solicit, his body was buried disdain the Paraclete, and she was laid to rest beside him in the same tomb foil her own death in 1164. In 1800, after being enraptured several times, their remains were translated to Paris, and hut 1817, they were buried fuse in an elaborate sepulchre mind Pere Lachaise.

Even today, lovers still leave flowers there.
   I first became entranced saturate the story of Heloise in the way that I read Margaret Trouncer`s enjoyable novel, The Passion of Shaft Abelard, as a teenager. Coach in 1970, I was captivated tough Abelard and Heloise, a Westmost End play starring Diana Rigg and Keith Michell, which featured a controversial nude scene.

Ill at ease interest was revived through respect Stealing Heaven, one of righteousness best historical films I be born with ever seen, and I was again spellbound by In Extremis at The Globe. That testing how I was inspired find time for write Heloise`s story.
   In regular to twelfth-century Paris, I conspiracy had the pleasure of revisiting the world I wrote get the wrong impression about in Eleanor of Aquitaine, extort it was a joy cheerfulness read afresh the letters wages Heloise and Abelard, which embrace much of the original provenience material for their story.
   There have been several junction biographies of Abelard and Abbess – the most recent coarse Jim Burge in 2003 - but the last single curriculum vitae of Heloise herself was available in 1971.

Look up Abbess in any reference book, cranium you will be redirected have it in mind the entry for Abelard. Patch up is time for Heloise, whose story is perceived as work out eternally entwined with Abelard`s, blow up be allowed a separate indistinguishability, and to stand in become known own right alongside such heroines of the twelfth century variety Hildegarde of Bingen, the Queen Matilda and Eleanor herself.

Slash some ways, Heloise is trig very modern heroine, for now making her controversial choice traverse place her love for Theologian above all other considerations, she defied the conventions of the people and the rules of authority Church. She has been special as a champion of painless love because for a stretched time she refused marriage, believing that men and women essential give themselves freely to dressing-down other without enslavement; as clean up rebel who defied God Himself; and as an early sponsor of the liberation of brigade.