Editing Eleanor of Aquitaine (section)

=== Conflict with the church ===

Louis soon came into conflict with the church and [[Pope Innocent II]] (1130–1143). In 1140 he intervened in the election to the [[Episcopal see|see]] of Poitiers on finding that a new bishop, Grimoald, had been elected and consecrated without his consent. This was despite the fact that his father had granted the [[ecclesiastical province]] of Bordeaux the right to do so and that he himself had approved this. Louis then attempted to prohibit Grimoald from entering the city, thus drawing both Innocent II and Bernard of Clairvaux into the dispute. Innocent issued an order to overrule the royal edict but Grimoald died, ending the dispute. The ecclesiastical authorities were aware of the unsuccessful attempt of both Eleanor's father and grandfather to interfere in church matters. However, the Poitiers affair was soon followed by other attempts by Louis to exert his authority.{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}}

The most consequential of these occurred when the [[Archbishopric of Bourges]] became vacant in 1141. Louis put forward as a candidate his chancellor, Cadurc, while vetoing the one suitable candidate, [[Pierre de la Chatre]], a monk who was promptly elected by the [[Canon (priest)|canons]] of [[Bourges Cathedral|Bourges]] and [[consecrated]] by the Pope in Rome. Louis bolted the gates of Bourges against the new archbishop on his return. The Pope, recalling similar attempts by Eleanor's father to exile supporters of Innocent from Poitou and replace them with priests loyal to himself, may have blamed Eleanor for this,{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=38}} but stated that Louis was only "a foolish schoolboy" and should be taught not to meddle in such matters. Outraged, Louis swore upon relics that so long as he lived Pierre should never enter Bourges. An [[interdict]] was thereupon imposed upon the royal household and lands, and Theobald II of Champagne granted Pierre refuge, further annoying the King.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=38–39}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}}{{sfn|Evergates|2016|p=110}}

Louis had been in a situation of increasing conflict with Theobald II,{{sfn|Evergates|2016|p=110}} and the Bourges affair, together with a crisis in Theobald's family, brought this to a head. In 1125 Theobald's sister [[Eleanor of Champagne|Eleanor]] had married [[Raoul I of Vermandois]], but Raoul had been forming a liaison with Petronilla, the Queen's sister. Raoul eventually deserted his wife, seeking an annulment of their marriage on grounds of [[consanguinity]],{{efn|The church forbid divorce, but grounds of consanguinity allowed a marriage to be annulled as if it had never happened. While consanguinity was common among the aristocracy, who had limited marital options, it was rarely proposed as an impediment to marriage. Instead, it provided a convenient route for them to escape unsatisfactory marriages{{sfn|Bouchard|1981}}{{sfn|Bouchard|2003}}}} to which Louis acquiesced, finding three bishops who agreed that the marriage was invalid and then in 1142 officiated at the wedding of Petronilla and Raoul.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=39}} Both Theobald, who had taken his sister under protection, and Bernard of Clairvaux protested to Pope Innocent, who convened a council, voided both Raoul's annulment from Eleanor of Champagne and his marriage to Petronilla, [[excommunicated]] one bishop and suspended the other two. Furthermore, Raoul was ordered to return to his first wife. Upon his refusal, he and Petronilla were excommunicated and their lands placed under interdiction.{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=39}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}}

Eleanor's assumed role in these affairs led to the first appearance of the Black legend that would be associated with her for centuries. Women, even queens, were not expected to concern themselves with such matters, and that therefore she might represent darker powers. Rumours began to associate her with mythical figures such as [[Melusine]].{{sfn|Newman|2023}} Things took a more salacious turn when it was suggested she was having an affair with [[Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou]].{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=52–53}}

Louis rejected the [[papal legate]]'s decision and ordered an invasion of [[County of Champagne|Champagne]], in a war that would last two years (1142–44) and ended with the occupation of Champagne by the royal army. For a year the royal army laid waste to the Champagne countryside, but since Theobald showed no signs of backing down, Louis took personal charge of the assault in 1143, which focused on the siege of the town of [[Vitry-le-François|Vitry]]. More than a thousand people sought refuge in the cathedral, which caught fire, burning alive everyone inside. Horrified at the carnage, Louis returned to Paris, seeking to make peace with Theobald. In return, and with the support of the Pope, he demanded Raoul renounce Petronilla and the interdiction on Raoul and Petronilla was duly lifted, while Louis ordered a retreat. When Raoul refused the King's demands, the royal forces once more invaded Champagne.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=39–41}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}}

Public opinion was turning against the war and in particular Bernard of Clairvaux was very critical, while Suger advised settling the issues. Innocent II died in September 1143 and was succeeded by [[Celestine II]] (1143–1144), who lifted the interdiction in an offer of conciliation, at Bernard's suggestion and Louis became more open to negotiation. It was about this time that questions of consanguinity were first raised about Louis and Eleanor's marriage, since he had opposed a number of other marriages on these grounds, including that of Raoul and Eleanor of Champagne. Consequently, a number of negotiations took place over the winter of 1143–1144.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=41–42}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}} Finally, Suger hosted a meeting at his newly built [[Basilica of Saint-Denis|monastic church at Saint-Denis]] during a [[feast day]] on 22 April 1144, at which Bernard persuaded Eleanor that her efforts on behalf of her sister were hopeless, and peace was restored, although the couple continued to refuse to separate, and they remained excommunicated till 1148 when Raoul's first marriage was once again invalidated and his second marriage validated. Also the Saint-Denis agreement included Louis withdrawing his opposition to the archbishop of Bourges. The discussion between Eleanor and Bernard also included reference to her apparent infertility (she had had one [[miscarriage]] in 1138{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=31}}{{sfn|Harris-Stoertz|2012}}), and a suggestion that she might be rewarded for her concessions with a child.{{efn|Bernard said to Eleanor "My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the king against the Church, and urge upon him a better course of action. If you will promise to do this, I in return promise to entreat the merciful Lord to grant you offspring"{{sfn|Migne|1841–1865|loc=cited in {{harvnb|Weir|2012|p=44}}}} }} In April 1145, Eleanor gave birth to a daughter, [[Marie of France, Countess of Champagne|Marie]].{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 2}} On Sunday, 11 June 1144, the King and Queen attended the dedication of Saint-Denis, at which time Louis donated Eleanor's crystal vase.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=32–33}}