Profiles of Famous Women was written by
Michael Cawthra, teacher at Kyffin Elementary School, Golden (CO) and former
Teachers Network web mentor.
March is Women's History Month!
Read about the accomplishments of these famous women.
Eleanor of Aquitane
Queen of France and then queen of England, Eleanor was strong and powerful. In 1137, she married Louis VII and bore two daughters. She joined him on the Second Crusade along with 300 women serving as nurses. The marriage was annulled in 1152. Then in 1154 she married Henry II of England, bearing five sons and three daughters. The eldest of the sons was Richard I (the Lion-Hearted). His brother was Prince John, of Robin Hood Legend. When she married Henry, she gave him all her French lands, which began the distrust between the French and English. Henry was not a very good husband, so when her sons rebelled against him, she has on their side. But they failed, and she was exiled until 1189, when Henry died. While Richard was in the Holy Land on the Third Crusade, John attempted to use the French to overthrow Richard. Eleanor did not allow this to happen, and when Richard returned, she helped the two brothers make peace. She died in the Abbey of Fontrevault, France, at the age of 82.