Editing Eleanor of Aquitaine (section)

=== Richard I (1189–1199) ===
==== Release from prison and regency (1189) ====
[[File:Fontevraud3.jpg|Fontevraud Abbey|thumb|alt=aerial view of Fontevraud Abbey]]
Upon the death of Henry II on 6 July 1189, [[Richard I]] was the undisputed heir. One of his first acts as king was to send [[William Marshal]] to England with orders to release the sixty-five-year-old Eleanor from prison; he found upon his arrival that her custodians had already released her, whereupon she assumed the powers of regent, bestowed upon her by Richard{{efn|''Statuendi quae vellet in regno''{{sfn|Wilkinson|1944}}}} who was still in France.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 9}} Eleanor then rode to Westminster and received the oaths of fealty from the lords and prelates on behalf of the new king. She ruled England in Richard's name, now signing herself "Eleanor, by the grace of God,{{efn|"By Grace of God" was a title first used by Henry II in 1172{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} }} Queen of England", and reversed many of Henry II's acts.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=248–250}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

==== Third Crusade and journey to Italy (1189–1191) ====

On 13 August 1189, Richard sailed from Barfleur to [[Portsmouth]] and was received with enthusiasm, proceeding from there to Winchester to meet Eleanor.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=250}} At this time, Eleanor's two surviving sons were unmarried, raising questions about succession. However, on 29 August, Prince John married his cousin Isabella, to whom he had been betrothed in 1176.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=252}} On 3 September Richard was crowned at Westminster Abbey, with Eleanor and John in attendance.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=252–253}} Richard was preoccupied with a long planned participation in the [[Third Crusade]], and on his first absence from the kingdom in November on a pilgrimage, appointed Eleanor regent. On his return he made more formal arrangements, prior to his more prolonged departure for the crusade on 12 December, appointing as custodians his justiciar [[Hugh de Puiset]] together with [[William de Longchamp]] as ''summi justifiarii''.{{efn|''In regimine regni''{{sfn|Wilkinson|1944}}}}{{sfn|Wilkinson|1944}} Although Eleanor had no formal appointment in England during this time, they deferred to her authority.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=254–255}} On 2 February 1190, Eleanor joined Richard at the Chateau of [[Bures-en-Bray|Bures]], Normandy, and a family conclave was held at [[Nonancourt]] with John in attendance at which arrangements for the administration of England in the King's absence were finalised.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=256}}{{sfn|Wilkinson|1944}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

Meanwhile, although John had married, the question of succession still remained, and in particular the problem of Alys to whom Richard was betrothed yet had been in a relationship with his father, but was also King Philip's half-sister. It was during the spring of 1190 that negotiations began with the [[Navarre]]se [[House of Jiménez]] regarding [[Berengaria of Navarre|Berengaria]], daughter of [[Sancho VI of Navarre]], though such an alliance would require the approval of Philip in breaking Richard's betrothal. Such an alliance would serve the purpose of stabilising matters in Gascony.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=257–258}} However, Richard and Philip finally departed on their crusade on 4 July 1190.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=258–259}} Once Richard had set off, Eleanor sent John to England while she travelled to Navarre, meeting Berengaria and her father at [[Pamplona]]. From there, she escorted Berengaria to Sicily, where Richard had arrived at [[Messina]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=260–261}} In Messina, Richard found that his sister Joanna, widowed since November 1189, was being held prisoner. He was also in conflict with Philip, partly over the matter of Alys,{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=261–262}} as a result of which Eleanor's ship was refused landing at Messina and had to proceed to [[Brindisi]]. By March 1191, Richard had secured Joanna's release, and joined Eleanor and Berengaria at [[Reggio Calabria|Reggio]], from where the latter was placed in Joanna's care. Richard then confronted Philip with the matter of Alys' relationship with Henry II as the reason for breaking the betrothal, and Philip promptly departed for the Holy Land prior to the arrival of Eleanor in Messina.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=263–265}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

By the time Eleanor had reached Sicily, stories of misrule and conflict in England between Longchamp and John had emerged. [[Walter de Coutances]], Archbishop of Rouen, was appointed to reestablish royal authority in England, and he and Eleanor began their return journey after only four days, departing on 2 April 1191 for [[Salerno]]. From there they travelled to Rome, arriving on the 14th to meet with the new Pope, [[Celestine III]], to obtain his approval of appointing Walter de Coutances over William de Longchamp, who also served as a papal legate.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=265–266}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

On 10 April 1191, Richard, Berengaria and Joanna left Sicily, with the women on a separate ship, bound for [[Crusader states|Outremer]], but storms diverted them to Cyprus where Richard and Berengaria were married on 12 May at [[Limasol]], and Berengaria was crowned.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=266–267}} They then sailed to the Holy Land on 5 June, arriving at [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] on the 8th, which Richard captured. Philip abandoned the Crusade on 2 July and returned to France, but in the meantime Richard had found himself in conflict with [[Leopold V, Duke of Austria|Leopold V of Austria]], an event which would have serious consequences for him later.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=267–268}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

==== Normandy and the struggle for power (1191–1192) ====

Once Eleanor reached Rouen, where she arrived on 24 June 1191, she was able to direct affairs in England better,{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=268}} although she spent the winter of 1191–1192 in France.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Eleanor's new role softened the criticisms she had accumulated. As regent, she demonstrated the qualities of a benevolent and statesmanlike ruler, with Richard of Devizes describing her as "incomparable"{{efn|''Regina Alienor, femina incomparibilis''{{sfn|Devizes|1838|p=25}}}} and she began using the phrase ''teste me ipsa'' (as my own witness) on official documents.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} In England, while Coutance tried to restore order, Longchamp was eventually deposed and Prince John began to consolidate power, claiming he was the heir presumptive. Coutance was appointed head of a regency council and Longchamp fled to France, attempting unsuccessfully to recruit Eleanor to his cause.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=268–271}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Her position became more complicated with the return of King Philip from the Holy Land in late 1191, who not only attempted to undermine Richard's reputation but demanded the return of Alys, still in Eleanor's care. In early 1192 Philip recruited John to his cause, offering him lands and Alys, prompting Eleanor's return to England on 11 February to prevent John's invasion of Normandy,{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=273–274}} but she spent much of that year dealing with ecclesiastical disputes and successfully curbing the ambitions of Longchamp and John.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=274–276}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

==== Raising a ransom and restoration of Richard I (1192–1194) ====

In the Holy Land, Richard made little progress in his quest to capture Jerusalem, and by late 1192 was forced to arrange a truce with [[Saladin]], and sent Joanna and Berengaria back to Sicily in September, departing from Acre himself on 9 October. His whereabouts were unknown till January 1193 when Eleanor learned that he had been taken prisoner by Duke Leopold, whom he had slighted on his arrival in Acre.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=276–278}} Richard had travelled north from [[Trieste]] through Hungary, but when he crossed into Austria he was recognised, apprehended and taken to [[Dürnstein Castle]]. Leopold informed [[Emperor Henry VI]], who wrote to Philip II of France. Philip supported this turn of events. Eleanor only became aware of what had happened through Coutances' spies in France, but immediately assumed control of the government. Prince John, with Philip's support, became emboldened once more in claiming the throne.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=279–281}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Leopold handed over his prisoner to the Emperor in February, and he was moved to the castle of [[Trifels Castle|Trifels]], while Eleanor unsuccessfully sought the intervention of the Pope.{{efn|Eleanor's three letters to the Pope{{sfn|Stapleton|2012}} have been cited at length, including her description of being wasted away by grief ''(consumptis carnibus''){{efn|''Aleonora, Angliae Regina, Papae opem miserabiliter implorat pro liberatione Regis Anglorum Richardi filii sui'' AD 1193 A.4. R.1. ff.{{sfn|Rymer|1707|pp=I. 23–25}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=283–287}}{{sfn|Aquitaine|1193}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=282–287}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Eventually a truce was concluded with John in April,{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=289}} but Eleanor also received a demand from the Emperor for 100,000 silver marks{{efn|The [[ransom]] was roughly equivalent to twice the annual revenue of the whole of England. Turner gives a higher figure of 150,000,{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} which was negotiated later in June{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=294}}}} and the provision of hostages for Richard's release. At the same time she received the first letter from him since his capture, urging her to accept the terms, and informing her that his conditions had much improved and that he had been transferred to [[Hagenau]].{{efn|There is no evidence to support the popular legend that Richard's location was "discovered" by a troubadour named [[Blondel de Nesle|Blondel]]{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=281}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=291–292}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

Eleanor and her council immediately set about trying to raise the ransom and arrange the hostages, a task to which Beregnaria, now in Poitou. contributed, largely through taxation of all of Richard's territories and subjects.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=292–294}} The first installment of 100,000 marks was delivered in October and the balance was raised by December. Having agreed to a date for Richard's release on 17 January 1194, Eleanor and Coutances set off for Germany in December 1193, arriving at [[Speyer]] by the agreed day. There she discovered that Philip and John had outbid her in return for keeping Richard in custody. Further negotiations and offers, including an annual tribute, led to him being released on 4 February.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=295–296}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} They immediately began their return, via [[Cologne]], eventually arriving in [[Antwerp]] where they boarded the ''Trenchemer'' in the [[Scheldt]], to avoid the French, landing in [[Sandwich, Kent|Sandwich]] on 12 March. Richard and Eleanor then made a triumphal entry into London on 23 March 1194.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=297–299}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

==== Return to France and retirement (1194–1199) ====

Eleanor and Richard's stay in England was relatively brief, since feeling the need to defend his French possessions from Philip, Richard departed from [[Portsmouth]] on 12 May 1194. Arriving in Barflueur, neither Richard nor Eleanor would return to England.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=299}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} There, they effected a reconciliation with John that would last through the rest of Richard's reign, leaving the latter free to defend his territory against Philip, while Eleanor, now seventy-two, retired to Fontevrault and there is very little information available about her for the next few years, though she made the abbey her principal residence for the rest of her life.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=300–301}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} The marriage of her daughter Joanna to [[Raymond VI of Toulouse]] in October 1196 finally ended Eleanor's dynastic claims on Toulouse, which now passed to her daughter.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=305}} Richard was in a state of almost perpetual war with the French king following his return to Normandy in 1194, and finally succumbed to a wound on 6 April 1199 at the age of forty-one, with Eleanor at his side.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=310–311}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

Initially, prior to arriving in England, Richard delegated authority to Eleanor ''statuendi quae vellet in regno'', though this was not repeated. During Richard's subsequent prolonged absences, royal authority in England was represented by a succession of [[chief justiciars]]. On Longchamp's dismissal in 1191, government moved to a more conciliar mode (''magnum concilium'' and ''communitas regni'') under Coutance.{{sfn|Wilkinson|1944}}