Editing Eleanor cross (section)

===Purpose and parallels===
[[File:Hennequin und Herman von) Brüder (Pol Limburg 002.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Illumination from the [[Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry]] ({{circa|1412}}–1416) depicting a cross possibly representing one of the ''montjoies'' of [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]]<ref name="evans"/>]]
{{see also|market cross|preaching cross}}
Eleanor's crosses appear to have been intended in part as expressions of royal power; and in part as [[cenotaph]]s to encourage [[chantry chapel|prayers for her soul]] from travellers.<ref>''Chronicle of St Albans''.</ref><ref>Colvin 1963, p. 485.</ref><ref>Cockerill 2014, pp. 351–52.</ref> On the pedestal of each was inscribed the phrase ''Orate pro anima'' ("Pray for [her] soul").<ref>Hunter 1842, p. 180.</ref> Eleanor's reputation had been tarnished by her trafficking in Jewish loans and land acquisition in her own lifetime.<ref>{{harvnb|Hillaby|Hillaby|2013|p=13}}, {{harvnb|Davies|2018|pp=72-74}}, {{harvnb|Morris|2009|p=225}}</ref> Favourable mentions in contemporary chronicles do not emerge until the succession of her son.{{sfn|Parsons|1995|pp=216-7}}The Crosses have been an important element in forming her reputation as an idealised Queen, focusing attention on her relationship with Edward.<ref>{{harvnb|Davies|2018|pp=68, 74-79}}</ref>

It was not unknown for [[memorial cross]]es to be constructed in the middle ages, although they were normally isolated instances and relatively simple in design.  A cross in the [[Strand, London|Strand]], just outside the [[City of London]], was said to have been erected by [[William II of England|William II]] in memory of his mother, [[Matilda of Flanders|Queen Matilda]] (d. 1083). [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] erected one at [[Merton, London (parish)|Merton]], Surrey, for his cousin the [[William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey|Earl of Surrey]] (d. 1240). Another was erected at [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] for Edward I's sister [[Beatrice of England|Beatrice]] (d. 1275). Yet another, almost contemporary with the Eleanor crosses, was erected near [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] for Edward's mother, [[Eleanor of Provence]] (d.1291).<ref name="colv484_5">Colvin 1963, pp. 484–85.</ref><ref>Parsons 1991, pp. 18, 60.</ref><ref>Parsons 1995, p. 209.</ref>

The closest precedent for the Eleanor crosses, and almost certainly their model, was the series of nine crosses known as ''montjoies'' erected along the funeral route of King [[Louis IX of France]] in 1271. These were elaborate structures incorporating sculptural representations of the King, and were erected in part to promote his [[canonisation]] (a campaign that in 1297 succeeded). Eleanor's crosses never aspired to this last purpose, but in design were even larger and more ornate than the ''montjoies'', being of at least three rather than two tiers.<ref name="evans">{{harvnb|Evans|1949|pages=13–16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Robert |last=Branner |author-link=Robert Branner |chapter=The Montjoies of Saint Louis |editor1-first=Douglas |editor1-last=Fraser |editor2-first=Howard |editor2-last=Hibbard |editor2-link=Howard Hibbard |editor3-first=Milton J. |editor3-last=Lewine |title=Essays in the History of Architecture presented to Rudolf Wittkower |location=London |publisher=Phaidon |year=1967  }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=John |last=Zukowsky |title=Montjoies and Eleanor Crosses reconsidered |journal=[[Gesta (journal)|Gesta]] |volume=13 |issue=1 |year=1974 |pages=39–44 |doi=10.2307/766698 |jstor=766698 |s2cid=193389410 }}</ref><ref name="colv484_5"/><ref>Cockerill 2014, p. 351.</ref>

Eleanor has subsequently been an unclear and contested figure in English history.<ref>Holinshed, Raphael, ''Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland''; quoted in {{harvnb|Griffin|2009|p=52}}</ref> Since her death, she has been portrayed in both positive and negative lights, with romantic and aggressive portrayals, focusing on her relationship with Edward or her role as a Spanish, foreign monarch.<ref>{{harvnb|Griffin|2015|p=204}}, {{harvnb|Cockerill|2014}}, {{harvnb|Griffin|2009|pp=53–57}}</ref>