If you’ve been following me for a while, you may have picked up on the fact that I teach at an all girl’s school, and that I mostly teach about history, politics, and global issues. So, International Women’s Day is sort of my jam.

In celebration my school went to a 1 Billion Rising Event.

From the website:
One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On 14 February 2013, people across the world came together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.

I was like a proud Momma when four of my students went up and spoke from a personal and international perspective. Their words carried strength, passion, and empathy.

My kids are going to change the world.

Okay! Now that I’ve sufficiently bragged (don’t even get me started on the amazing women who are my friends, coworkers, and family members) I want to change gears a bit. In honour of International Women’s Day I’m going to write a post about a women that I love teaching about.

I was inspired to do this by @somebuttstuff who wrote a post about Empress Theodora as well as by the books that have started to pop up everywhere about badass women. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, check out Good Night Rebel Girls 1 & 2, or Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World, or Bad Girls Throughout History!

You’ve probably heard of Richard the Lionheart, but have you heard of his totally awesome Mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine? I hadn’t until I started teaching. But as far as I can tell, she was a real Queen.

I say this because I’ve been watching a lot of RuPaul’s Drag Race but also because she was a literal Queen, of two countries.

First, she was Queen of France.

Born in southern France around 1122, Eleanor was educated in literature, philosophy, languages, court life, and horse(wo)manship from an early age. Her Daddy died, and she was his heir (which is kind of something in itself) so she inherited a bunch of land. The King of France was like ooh lala (forgive me, all French people for that horrible joke) and became her guardian. Almost immediately she was betrothed to his son, Louis. Apparently it was really drafty in her new Paris home and she invented the built-in fireplace, so I’m really grateful.

Eleanor and Louis are married, and her and her husband become Mr. and Mrs. King and Queen on Christmas Day that year. Apparently Louis wasn’t a very good king, and was involved in the messy business of murdering innocent people. He felt very guilty about this, and when a medieval person feels guilty, a crusade is just the ticket. Eleanor accompanied him which seems romantic, but turns out crusading puts a strain on the ol’ marriage. They were eventually granted an annulment on the ground that they were related by blood. If I had been one of their two daughters, I would have been pretty embarrassed by this.

Here is the dame herself! image source.

Off she went to become Queen of England!

Within two months our crusader queen was married off to Henry Plantagenet (which, side note, I couldn’t pronounce for a really long time), who was the Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy. Apparently she may have had an affair with his father? And was maybe more related to her new husband than her first? But oh well because she had a new beau and within two years they were Mr. and Mrs. King and Queen of England!

She had EIGHT children. Eight! That’s TEN KIDS ALTOGETHER!

The most famous being Richard the Lionheart of Robin Hood fame. He was also pretty influential with the Third Crusade, which is when he was off trying to retake Jerusalem from the Muslim general Saladin. This was all before he deus ex machina’d his way into the end of Robin Hood. You remember, he was an actual lion in Disney’s version!

Doesn't he look like a nice guy? image source

I digress, back to Eleanor.

We don’t really know how much Eleanor was the woman behind the man when it came to Henry, but we can assume she had a thing or two to say. Especially when he apparently cheated on her. SO! Our Queen Eleanor leaves Henry in 1167, and heads to Poitiers, France. Here she establishes a court that promotes chivalry, courtly love and symbolic ritual. Which all sounds like a romance novel, but the next part of her story isn’t all knightly kisses.

Leighton-God_Speed!.jpg
They are going to kiss, I just know it. image source.

Eleanor may have gotten a bit too involved with her son “Young” Henry’s plot to overthrow his Poppa, so she was arrested and imprisoned for treason. She was carted around to different castles and strongholds, before her son “Young” Henry died. Before he kicked the proverbial bucket, however, he begged for his dear mother’s freedom. “Old” Henry said “okay” and Eleanor was released (under guard) after a mere sixteen years. She even resumed some of her duties as Queen.

My favourite legend surrounding this whole thing is regarding one of Henry’s mistresses, Rosamund. Eleanor hunted her down in a maze that Henry had created for his kept woman, and forced her to choose how she would die. A dagger, or a bowl of poison! I actually played Rosamund in a short one-act play, which is how I know I struggle with the pronunciation of Plantagenet. I said plant-a-janet. That isn’t correct. It’s more like plantaaaagenet. Or at least I think that’s right. I confuse myself sometimes.

Poor, fair Rosamund hanging out in a maze. image source.

Henry died in 1189, which is when Lionheart comes into power. He begins by fully freeing Momsy, but then became wrapped up in a crusade—like mother, like son! Guess what he did while he was off to The Holy Land? He left his mom in charge!

Eleanor became Queen Regent

I’m getting some Cersei vibes all of a sudden, but regardless—Eleanor ruled for her son while he was off crusading. Richard returned to England, and subsequently died in 1199. Eleanor then witnessed her youngest son, John become king. BUT WAIT, ROBIN HOOD TAUGHT ME TO DISLIKE PRINCE JOHN! But that’s another blog post. Eleanor worked for John, until she retired to the nunnery. She died in 1204, at the very impressive age of 82.

He does certainly look evil in comparison to his brother. image source.