Editing Eleanor of Aquitaine (section)

== Childhood and adolescence  (1124–1137) ==

=== Family origins and education ===

Eleanor was descended on her father's side from a long dynastic line of [[Dukes of Aquitaine]], dating back to the 10th century, who in turn succeeded the [[Carolingian]] monarchs of the [[Kingdom of Aquitaine]]. Twelfth-century [[Duchy of Aquitaine|Aquitaine]] was one of the wealthiest and most powerful [[vassal states]] within France at that time. The French kings ruled over a relatively small area around the [[Île-de-France]] to the north-west, and the rulers of the surrounding [[duchies]] ({{lang|fr|duché}}''s'') and counties ({{lang|fr|comté}}''s'') gave only nominal [[allegiance]] to the French crown.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}{{sfn|Vones-Liebenstein|2016|pp=152–153}}

While little is known of Eleanor's early life or education, many biographers have speculated from what is known of aristocratic households of the era.{{sfn|Huneycutt|2003|p=115}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}} Her year of birth is not known precisely, and the first mention of her occurs in July 1129.{{efn|Few families kept records of their children's birth and the dating of a new year was also inconsistent{{sfn|Turner|2009|p=28}}}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|p=27}} Tradition places her birth on one of her parents' visit to Bordeaux, likely at her father's nearby castle at [[:fr:Château Belin|Belin]]. Other authors suggest [[Poitiers]], [[:fr:Palais de l'Ombrière|Ombrière Palace]], [[Bordeaux]], or [[Nieul-sur-l'Autise]].{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=1}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=13}} While the date of her birth was once given as 1122{{sfn|Owen|1996|p=3}} or 1124, the latter is now generally accepted.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=1}}{{sfn|Lewis|2021|loc=cap 1}} A late 13th-century genealogy of her family listing her as 13 years old at her father's death in the spring of 1137 provides the best evidence that Eleanor was born in 1124.{{sfn|Turner|2009|p=28}} However, some chronicles mention a fidelity oath of lords of [[Aquitaine]] on the occasion of Eleanor's fourteenth birthday in 1136. Her parents are unlikely to have married before 1121.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=13}} Her age at her death is thus stated as 80{{sfn|Turner|2009|p=28}} or 82.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=13}}
Eleanor was the oldest of three children born to [[William X, Duke of Aquitaine]], and [[Aenor de Châtellerault]]. Her father was the son of [[Duke William IX of Aquitaine]] and [[Countess Philippa of Toulouse]]. Her mother was the daughter of [[Aimery I, Viscount of Châtellerault]], and [[Dangereuse de l'Isle Bouchard]]. Dangereuse was also William IX's longtime [[mistress (lover)|mistress]], and she and William IX then arranged for their respective children to be married to each other. Eleanor had two siblings, [[Petronilla of Aquitaine|Aélith]] and Aigret.{{efn|The existence of an illegitimate half-brother named Joscelin has been discredited.{{sfn|Chadwick| 2013}} Another half-brother, William, has also been claimed without evidence.}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}

Eleanor was named for her mother Aenor and baptised as ''Aliénor'' from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''alia Ænor'', which means ''the other Aenor''.{{sfn|du Breuil|1657|p=304}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=13}} It became ''Eléanor'' in the ''[[langues d'oïl]]'' of northern France and ''Eleanor'' in English,{{sfn|Meade|1991 |p=18}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=5}} but the exact spelling was never fixed in her lifetime.{{efn|Suger spells Eleanor's name Aanor, others Alienor, or occasionally Helnienordis }}{{sfn|Laube|1984|p=25}}

Little, if anything, is known of Eleanor's education.{{sfn|Huneycutt|2003|p=115}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}} Eleanor's mother died in 1130, when she was only six, and her younger brother also died in that year.{{efn|Biographers have argued that her father would have wanted her to have a good education, which might have included subjects such as arithmetic, astronomy, history and music as well as domestic skills, sports,{{sfn|Meade|1991 |loc=cap 1}} riding, hawking, and hunting{{sfn|Horton|Simmons|2007}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=16–17}} The only contemporary record of her education comes from [[Bertran de Born]], the [[troubadour]], who states that she read the poetry of her native tongue.{{sfn|Born|1986||loc=cited in {{harvnb|Weir|2012|p=37}}}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}

Although the language of Bordeaux and Poitiers was [[Poitevin dialect|Poitevin]], a northern French (''[[langue d'oïl]]'') dialect, Eleanor was soon exposed to [[Occitan language|Occitan]] (''langue d'oc''), the southern dialect and language of the poets and courtiers at the ducal court.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}{{efn|Biographers have suggested that she would also have been taught to read and speak [[Latin language|Latin]], and to be acquainted with literature{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}}} With the death of her brother, Eleanor became the [[heir presumptive]] to her father's domains.{{sfn|Pernoud|1967|p=15}}{{sfn|Chambers|1941}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}

=== Inheritance (1137) ===

In 1137, Duke William X left Poitiers for [[Bordeaux]] and took his daughters with him. Upon reaching Bordeaux, he left them at l'Ombrière Castle{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}} in the charge of [[:fr:Geoffroi du Louroux|Geoffroi du Louroux]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bordeaux|archbishop of Bordeaux]],{{sfn|Lewis|2021|loc=cap 1}}{{sfn|Herdam|Smallwood|2020}} a loyal [[vassal]].{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}} William then set out for the [[Santiago de Compostela Cathedral#History|Shrine of Saint James of Compostela]] in the company of other [[pilgrim]]s. However, he died on [[Good Friday]] of that year (9{{nbsp}}April).{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 1}}

Eleanor, aged 13, then became the duchess of Aquitaine, and thus one of the richest and most eligible heiresses in Europe.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=5,19}} Since kidnapping an heiress was seen as a viable option for obtaining a title and lands,{{sfn|Dunn|2013}} when William X knew that he was dying, he placed Eleanor in the care of [[Louis VI of France]] as her guardian.{{sfn|Firnhaber-Baker|2024|p=91}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=20}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}} William requested that the King take care of both the lands and the duchess, and find her a suitable husband.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=20}} However, until a husband was found, the King had the legal right to Eleanor's lands. William also insisted to his companions that his death be kept a secret until Louis was informed; the men were to journey from Saint James of Compostela across the [[Pyrenees]] as quickly as possible to notify the archbishop, then to make all speed to Paris to inform the King.{{efn|The authenticity of William X's alleged will, setting out these supposed conditions, is dubious at best.{{sfn|Turner |2009|loc=cap 2}} [[Abbot Suger]] is the main source for these events}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=20}}

The French king, who was in poor health, recognised an opportunity to realise a long-standing ambition to enlarge his dominions by the acquisition of Aquitaine.{{sfn|Firnhaber-Baker|2024|p=91}}{{sfn|Turner |2009|loc=cap 2}} His eldest surviving son, [[Louis VII of France|Louis]], had originally been destined for monastic life, but had become the [[heir apparent]] when the King's eldest son, [[Philip of France (1116–1131)|Philip]], died after being thrown from his horse in 1131.{{sfn|Swabey|2004|p=108}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=22}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}} Louis VI realised the dangers of not swiftly settling the succession of the Aquitainian duchy, while a marriage between his son and Eleanor would add the considerable resources of Aquitaine to the [[Capetian]] holdings. Thus, he spent little time in dispatching the young Louis, accompanied by a large retinue, some 500 knights, along with [[Abbot Suger]], [[:fr:Geoffroy de Lèves|Geoffrey II]], [[Bishop of Chartres]], [[Theobald II of Champagne]] and [[Raoul I of Vermandois]] to Bordeaux to secure the marriage.{{sfn|Turner |2009|loc=cap 2}}