Eleanor Of Aquitaine: The Woman Who Broke Boundaries
Session Title
Additional Abstracts
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
History
Faculty Mentor
Gregory Bell, Ph.D.
Abstract
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most interesting and influential women in medieval history. She was the Queen of England and France as well as the mother to Richard the Lionheart and King John of England, and she participated in the courts, led armies and was a leader during the Second Crusade. Eleanor of Aquitaine has been viewed as a mysterious woman who broke the boundaries that kept women in check during her time period. Did she? In medieval Europe, women rarely had an identity of their own, but instead stood beside their husbands and sons. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role that Eleanor of Aquitaine played as a woman during the Middle Ages. Rather than remain a meek wife or mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine instead chose to break societal norms and be a woman who stood independently in a male dominated society. She held her own power, helped shape Europe, and influenced politics during this time period. Through marriage and relationships with influential men, Eleanor became the most powerful and influential women of the twelfth century.
Course Assignment
HIST 590 - Bell
Eleanor Of Aquitaine: The Woman Who Broke Boundaries
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most interesting and influential women in medieval history. She was the Queen of England and France as well as the mother to Richard the Lionheart and King John of England, and she participated in the courts, led armies and was a leader during the Second Crusade. Eleanor of Aquitaine has been viewed as a mysterious woman who broke the boundaries that kept women in check during her time period. Did she? In medieval Europe, women rarely had an identity of their own, but instead stood beside their husbands and sons. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role that Eleanor of Aquitaine played as a woman during the Middle Ages. Rather than remain a meek wife or mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine instead chose to break societal norms and be a woman who stood independently in a male dominated society. She held her own power, helped shape Europe, and influenced politics during this time period. Through marriage and relationships with influential men, Eleanor became the most powerful and influential women of the twelfth century.
