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A Female Network of Power in the Middle Ages
The lives of the sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine are the stuff of legend. Her daughters, however, are less well known, and the fascinating personalities of her daughters-in-law have been almost entirely overlooked, as have those of the daughters she bore Louis VII of France. The Families of Eleanor of Aquitaine redresses this balance and showcases the lives, travels and careers of these ten very different women, who formed a great international network of political alliances that linked their parents, siblings, husbands and children all across Europe and the Holy Land.
Some of these women found happiness; others endured lives of turmoil and conflict. Some of them were close; others never met. But two things linked them all: their connection to Eleanor and to the kingdoms over which she reigned – and their determination to exert authority on their own terms in a male-dominated world.
J.F. Andrews reminds the reader that these were … living, breathing women who had to make the most of the lives planned out for them … Andrews writes with compassion and empathy, turning the spotlight on the diverse lives and experiences of the daughters and daughters-in-law of Eleanor of Aquitaine. A book I didn't know I'd been waiting for!
Sharon Bennett Connolly, author of Ladies of the Magna Carta,
This engaging read illuminates the lives of a group of fascinating medieval royal women. Many of these figures … are often only given brief mentions in histories of the period, yet here they come out of the shadow of the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine and get their own chance to shine.
Elena Woodacre, Founder of the Royal Studies Network,
Andrews offers a mesmerising tour of the intricate webs of female power in the medieval world. Through the lens of ten women closely connected to one of history’s most famous matriarchs, we get a unique perspective of the lives of women who were politically and dynastically of great importance … a lively, sparkling and intensely readable account of women who made history.
Matt Lewis, author of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine,
17th February, 2025 in Biography & Memoir, History, Women in History
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The decree was read out and that, for Eleanor, was that. The prize of release from the marriage to Louis VII of France, which she had sought for so long, had been obtained at the cost of a year of her life, plus a pregnancy she had not wanted. But she was free, at a price. Her da…
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