ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE
(1122-1204)

Queen of France and Queen of England

SYMBOLS

1. Upper left corner - First husband, Louis VII Capetenian with their two daughters, Marie and Alix. Fleur-de-lis.

2. Upper right - Henry II Plantagenet with their eight children -- William, Henry, Matilda, Richard, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joanna, John. (Portcullis - Beaufort symbol).

3. Lower left - Figure of Eleanor from seal she had struck in 1152. The women represent a period of freedom (mainly high-born) and independence. Women thought of themselves as Goddesses and the 12th century dawned a new era for women.

4. Lower right - Troubadours. Eleanor's grandfather, Duke William IX, an ardent lover of women, often wrote poetry which became lyrics for the troubadours. Eleanor grew up with music and encouraged it in her courts. Instruments - Trumpet, viola with bow, lute and psaltery.

5. Upper left - Island of England, Tower of Salisbury where Eleanor was confined for ten years by Henry. Actually, before and after her imprisonment Eleanor did a great deal in organizing government.
Clouds - Represent not only elements, but her trouble.
Lion - Represents Henry and Richard.
Cross - Represents Thomas Beckett.

6. Upper right - Jerusalem, destination of Second Crusade attended by Eleanor.

7. Throughout painting - Rivers, lakes, ponds. Aquitaine means "Land of waters," a name given to that area before Christ. The land was productive with orchards, fruit, vineyards, oak forests.

8. Buildings - Notre Dame (Paris), Richard's Fortress, Castle at Poitiers, Abbey at Fontevrault.

9. Waxing moon is growing - Represents fulfillment of her full life.

10. Codex - Treatise on Love and the Remedies of Love -- written by daughter Marie and contained 31 articles of code of love.

11. Garland - E symbols - Rose, lily, iris -- emblems of Mary.

12. Fleur-de-lis - Used as charge all over Europe -- represents Mary, which represented Mariolatry -- became strongest at that time.

13. Eagle - Merlin called Eleanor the Eagle. Also, double-headed eagle was her standard.

14. Cross - Cross as frame (Byzantine design).