Mother of a Dynasty: Eleanor of Aquitaine
Arthur to England so that he could be educated there, with an eye to naming the child his heir. Arthur's mother, a mortal enemy of Eleanor's, refused several such commands , and finally Richard lost interest, and named John the heir. When Richard died in 1199, it was Eleanor's vigorous defense of England that held the kingdom for John, rather than her grandson Arthur. Eleanor traveled across Europe several times, maintaining the loyalty of the English subjects, cementing marriage alliances and managing her army and estates.
Perhaps the most ironic task she performed was in traveling to Spain to choose her 13 year-old granddaughter Blanche of Castile as a bride for Louis VIII of France, the grandson of her first husband, Louis VII. When Eleanor died in 1204, she was known as the "Grandmother of Europe": she'd left behind a legacy of competence, ability and wit. Due to her efforts, the Plantagenet dynasty was firmly established and would endure for another 250 years.
Additional information on Eleanor of Aquitaine:
http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroi... http://kids.infoplease.lycos.com/ce6/peo...
The copyright of the article Mother of a Dynasty: Eleanor of Aquitaine in British Royal Dynasties is owned by Wendy J. Dunn. Permission to republish Mother of a Dynasty: Eleanor of Aquitaine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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