Collins Medieval Britain history for Year 7

1. Unit 4.5 Medieval Queens
Medieval Kingship

2. Words to learn
Terminology Definition
Regent Someone who is appointed to rule on behalf of a
monarch , when the monarch is too young, infirm or
absent to rule
Depose To suddenly or forcefully remove a monarch from
power

3. • During the medieval period, it was
seen as unnatural for a woman to
hold political power.
• Women were expected to be meek
and gentle, power was related to
physical prowess
• Some medieval queens, however
were exceptions to this general rule
• This remarkable individuals rose
above the expectations set by their
gender.

4. Eleanor of Aquitaine
• She was the eldest child
of the Duke of Aquitaine
• Her father have
enormous territory
stretching across the
south west of France.
When he died, Eleanor
inherited those lands
• Attractive, well educated
and wealthy.

5. Her 1st marriage
• At the age of 15, she was married
to King Louis VII
• The husband was slow-witted and
lack of charm was not a good
match for high-spiritted Eleanor
• In 1147, she accompanied her
husband for crusade.
• Once reached in Jerusalem (Holy
land) she questioned about her
husband’s decision making and
refused to accompany him to
South Jerusalem.
• Louis was enraged with his wife’s
obedience and they divorced in
1152

6. Her 2nd marriage
• 8 weeks after her divorce,
Eleanor shocked medieval
Europe by marrying the heir of
English throne, Henry Duke of
Normandy
• Her husband was later crowned
as King Henry II. This marriage
was more successful and they
had 5 sons together
• As the years went on, Eleanor
and her strong willed husband
began to quarrel and she left to
France in 1168 to rule Aquitaine
on Henry II’s behalf

7. Her imprisonment
• In France, she developed a
glamourous court and were
celebrated in poems and songs
across Europe for its display of
chivalry
• In 1174, she was arrested for
helping to plot a revolt against
her own cruel husband
• She was imprisoned for 15
years
• When Henry II died, her son
Richard the Lion heart became
a new king, his first act was to
release his mother.

8. Her political career
• She was already 67 years old
when she was released from
prison.
• Her political career doesn’t end
there. Her son Richard left
England to fight for the 3rd
Crusade
• He appointed his mother to
become regent and rule
England on his behalf
• Richard died in 1199 and John
became king. She transferred
her loyalty to John , she often
travel to France and Spain to
negotiate and build alliances
for her son

9. Her death
• Eleanor died in 1204
at the age of 82
• She was laid rest next
to her son Richard
back in France
• She became one of
the most powerful
figure male or female
in all Europe.

10. Isabella of France
• Isabella of France was just 12 years
old when she married Edward II (Son
of Edward I) in 1308.
• Unfortunately her husband was
already in love with a male courtier
name Pier Gaveston though nobody
today know if they ever got physical.
• At Edward’s coronation, he chose to
sit next to his favourite courtier
instead of his own wife, Isabella was
humiliated and her family was
outraged
• In 1312, a group of barons captures
Pier and executed him
• After Pier died, Isabelle and Edward
II’s relationship improved. They later
had 4 children

11. More conflict in marriage
• Edward came to admire
his wife’s intelligence and
judgment and he too
relied on her advice
• Not long after, Edward II
gained new favourite
Hugh Despenser.
• Hugh was a greedy and
sinister, much hated by
the rest of English barons
and Isabelle despise him

12. Rebellion against her husband
• In 1325, Edward II sent his
wife to her homeland of
France to negotiate a treaty
on his behalf.
• Once in France, she fell in
love with an English knight
named Roger Mortimer
• Together, they planned
rebellion against Edward II.
• They both raised French
army and invaded England
in September 1326.

13. She wolf of France
• French army gained England once
more.
• They capture Despenser and had
him hanged, drawn and quartered
• Edward II was sent to prison in
Berkley Castle and now his wife
Isabelle a Queen.
• She was the only queen in known
in history to depose her own
husband, rumours emerge that
Edward II died in a horrific death
• Isabella was called a She-Wolf for
her role in the fall of her husband
and the brutal revenge she took
on the Despensers once she held
power

14. The rise and fall of Isabella.
• Isabella made her 14 year old son
Edward III a new king of England.
• She was ruling England (on behalf
of her son) alongside her lover
Mortimer
• Once Edward III grew older, he
executed Mortimer and send his
mother into prison.
• Isabella slowly gained pardon
from her son and lived in freedom
for almost 30 more years dying at
the age of 63
• She gained power as the most
beloved and hatred queen for
what she did.

15. Question 1
• Why women were unlikely to have political
power in medieval period?

16. • Women were expected to be gentle and
political power is just opposite to their nature.

17. Question 2
• Do you think Eleanor marriage to henry II
were more successful then her previous
marriage ? Give one reason

18. • Yes, she gave him many sons and two of them
became the next king of England (Richard and
John)

19. Question 3
• How did Eleanor help her sons Richard and
John when they were king?

20. • Richard – She helped him by becoming regent
(rule england on his behalf while he was at
war)
• John – helped him to build allies in Spain and
france

21. Question 4
• Name 2 man became favourite courtier to
Edward III? What happened to them?

22. • Pier gaveston and Hugh Despenser both were
caught and executed

23. Question 5
• What made Isabella unique amongst other
English queens?

24. • Shes the only queen who known for her
ruthless rebellion and disposing his own king
husband to rule England