In Our Time: History

Eleanor of Aquitaine


Listen Later

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life, times and influence of Eleanor of Aquitaine (c1122-1204) who was one of the most powerful women in Twelfth Century Europe, possibly in the entire Middle Ages. She inherited land from the Loire down to the Pyrenees, about a third of modern France. She married first the King of France, Louis VII, joining him on the Second Crusade. She became stronger still after their marriage was annulled, as her next husband, Henry Plantagenet became Henry II of England. Two of their sons, Richard and John, became kings and she ruled for them when they were abroad. By her death in her eighties, Eleanor had children and grandchildren in power across western Europe. This led to competing claims of inheritance and, for much of the next 250 years, the Plantagenet and French kings battled over Eleanor's land.

With

Lindy Grant

Professor of Medieval History at the University of Reading

Nicholas Vincent

Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia

And

Julie Barrau

University Lecturer in British Medieval History at the University of Cambridge

Producer: Simon Tillotson.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

In Our Time: HistoryBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

1,823 ratings


More shows like In Our Time: History

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,724 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,037 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,547 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,192 Listeners

In Our Time: Philosophy by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Philosophy

870 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

609 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

725 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

583 Listeners

In Our Time: Religion by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Religion

277 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,832 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,060 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

514 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,800 Listeners

Tides of History by Wondery /  Patrick Wyman

Tides of History

6,320 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,162 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,266 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

14,680 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,639 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,840 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,040 Listeners

Empire by Goalhanger

Empire

2,511 Listeners