Index of historical figures mentioned in the posts. Does not include the main English Monarchs. Click to open up the sections.
Note this section is in development.
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[accordion title=”Eleanor of Aquitaine 1122 – 1204″]
The oldest of three children of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, Eleanor was one of the most powerful and wealthy women of her time On the death of her father she became owner of vast lands in her own right and was thus a matrimonial prize. However she had a powerful personality and was probably beautiful although no description of her survives.
She married Louis VII of France in 1137 and during her marriage went on crusade to the East. She subsequently divorced Louis and shortly afterwards married Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy, shortly to become Henry II of England. The marriage was successful for many years and the couple had some eight children together.
However after her support for her sons in the Great Revolt of 1173-4 Henry turned against Eleanor and she was held prisoner for the rest of his lifetime, only being released when her favourite son Richard I became king.
She died in 1204 aged 82.
A biography of her life has been written by Alison Weir
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[accordion title=”Empress Matilda 1102-1167″]
Daughter of Henry I of England and the only legitimate child to survive his death. Married to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1114 they had no children. She subsequently married Geoffrey, Count of Anjou with whom she had three children, the eldest of which was Henry II of England.
After the death of her brother William in the White Ship in 1120 her father forced the barons to swear allegiance to her. However after Henry’s death many of them turned to her cousin Stephen of Blois who was crowned King Stephen I. There then ensured 19 years of civil war until Stephen acknowledged her son Henry (known throughout his life as Henry FitzEmpress) as his heir.
She is reported as being haughty and arrogant which probably cost her the throne, as her behaviour alienated many of her would be supporters.
During her last years Matilda retired to Rouen in Normandy and she died in 1167.
Picture of Matlida is Wikipedia Commons[/accordion]
[accordion title=”Ranulf de Glanvill 1130-1198″]
Sometimes known as Richard of Ely. He was Chief Justiciar of England during the reign of King Henry II having been appointed in 1180 and helped Henry with his legal reforms.
During Henry’s frequent absences he acted more or less as regent of England. In 1176 he was appointed custodian of Queen Eleanor, who was confined to her quarters in Winchester castle.
After Henry’s in 1189, he was removed from his office by Richard I and imprisoned until he had paid a ransom, believed to be £15,000. After obtaining his freedom he took the cross, and died at the siege of Acre in 1190.
He is generally credited with the authorship of the Tractatus de Legibus, a practical guide to the procedures at the Kings Court at that time. However some have suggested that it was in fact written by Ranulf’s nephew Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar and Lord Chancellor of England under Richard I
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[accordion title=”Richard FitzNigel 1130-1198″]
Also known as Richard FitzNeal, he was a churchman and bureaucrat.
In 1158-9 his natural father Nigel, Bishop of Ely, paid Henry II to appoint him as his treasurer. This was a position he held for the next 40 years. He also became Dean of Lincoln and Bishop of London.
He is the author of the famous Dialogus de Scaccario which described his work in the Exchequer and which has been or immense help to historians ever since. It is discussed in the post >> here.
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[accordion title=”Turstin FitzRolf”]
Standard bearer for William the Conquerer at the Battle of Hastings.
He subsequently became a substantial landowner and is mentioned in Domesday as having some 20 manors. [/accordion]
[accordion title=”William of Melmesbury/Melmesbury”]
Celebrated 12th Century historian. Born about the year 1095/96, in Wiltshire. His father was Norman and his mother English.
He spent his whole life in England, and his adult life as a monk at Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire, England.
For more information >> see here.
Picture is Wikipedia Commons[/accordion]
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