Editing Eleanor of Aquitaine (section)

==== Early years in England (1154–1158) ====

On 25 October 1154, King Stephen died. Although Henry was immediately summoned to England, it was not until 7 December that he and Eleanor were able to cross the channel from [[Barfleur]], landing near [[Southampton]] on the 8th. They travelled first to [[Winchester]] to greet [[Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury]], who had been acting as [[regent]]. From Winchester, the royal party moved to London and were lodged at the royal palace at [[Bermondsey]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=101–103}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} On 19 December 1154, Archbishop Theobald [[coronation of the British monarch|crowned Henry as King Henry II]] in [[Westminster Abbey]], with Eleanor beside him.{{sfn|Jones|2013|p=45}}{{sfn|Parsons|Wheeler|2003}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} It is unclear whether Eleanor was actually crowned or [[anointed]] as well, since she had already been crowned queen of France in 1137.{{sfn|Aurell|2007}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} This was the beginning of the [[House of Plantagenet]] that would rule England till the end of the fifteenth century.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=103}}

As queen of England, Eleanor was provided for generously by Henry, including multiple dowerlands and regular settlements of money that made her one of the richest people in the kingdom, earning her the title of "''riche dame de riche rei''".{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 6}}{{sfn|Sainte-More|1912}} The chroniclers barely mention Eleanor during the reign of Henry II, other than to note when she was with the King, and biographies have been built on these itineraries and surviving official documents.{{sfn|Stapleton|2012}}{{sfn|Vincent|2006}}{{sfn|Richardson|1959}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} She signed her official documents {{langx|la|Alienor Dei Gracia Regine Anglorum|links=no|lit=Eleanor by the Grace of God Queen of England}}. This was not uncommon, in that the activities of women were not thought to be of sufficient importance to report, they were merely {{Langx|la|regalis imperrii participes|links=no|lit=participants in the imperial kingship}}.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=126–127}} Furthermore, the independence and authority of queens had been progressively eroded prior to her ascension to the role. She participated with the King in ceremonial occasions,{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=128–129}} though she never learned English.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}}

Henry's dominions stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees, and he was frequently travelling through them, both in England and France and was absent from England far more than any of his predecessors. For much of his absences from court Eleanor acted as either [[regent]] or co-regent with the [[justiciar]].{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 6}} Although she sometimes accompanied Henry, she also travelled extensively throughout her domains on her own or with her children.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=126–128}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} While claims that she was an influential patron of the arts appear to be greatly exaggerated, many writers dedicated works to her. These include [[Robert Wace]]'s ''Roman de Brut'' ({{c.|1155}}) and [[William of Blois (poet)|William of Blois]], while other writers such as [[Marie de France]] and the author of ''[[Roman de Thebes]]''{{sfn|Clogan|1990}} are believed to have been inspired by her. Some writers, such as Marie de France appear to associate her with the [[Matter of Britain|Arthurian Legends]], while the more speculative Eleanor legends even associate her with the person of [[Guinevere]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=130–132}}{{sfn|Broadhurst|1996}}{{sfn|Pappano|2003}}

On 28 February 1155, Eleanor gave birth to the couple's second child, [[Henry the Young King|Henry]], during the King's absence.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=144}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} On 10 January 1156, King Henry left England for one of his many prolonged absences, leaving Eleanor pregnant again.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=145}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} It was during this absence, in the spring of 1156, that Prince William died and was buried at [[Reading Abbey]], next to his great-grandfather [[Henry I of England|Henry I]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=145–146}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} In June of that year, the couple's third child [[Matilda, Duchess of Saxony|Matilda]] was born and Eleanor and her children travelled to France to be with Henry in July, returning in February 1157. Henry joined her in England in April, and on 8 September their fourth child, [[Richard I of England|Richard]], was born at [[Beaumont Palace]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=146–147}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}} After 1156, Eleanor's autonomous rule of her duchy was much diminished, her name disappearing other than to confirm acts of Henry, for whom Aquitainians had little respect.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 5}}