Women Whose Lives Would Make Great TV: Eleanor of Aquitaine

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re publishing a series of features about women in history whose lives we think would make for amazing television. Read more in the series here.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was the most powerful, wealthiest, most eligible woman in the Middle High Ages. Born in 1122, during her lifetime she was Queen Consort to both France and England, a Duchess in her own right, and leader of several armies, including the Second Crusade. Her first marriage to Louis VII of France ended in an annulment when she was unable to produce an heir. Eleanor then married Henry II of England, a distant cousin. Their marriage soured near the end and Henry had her imprisoned for 16 years, until his death. She would give birth to a total of ten children, and by the time she died, in her early 80’s, three of her five sons had become King. One of her sons was Richard the Lionheart, who you probably recognize from pretty much any retelling of Robin Hood.

She has been described as “extroverted, lively, intelligent, and strong-willed.” Her father made sure she was educated in subjects ranging from arithmetic to needlepoint, an unusually broad education for a woman during that era. Upon her father’s death, Eleanor became sole heir to his fortune. As this was a point in history where kidnapping a woman and forcing her into marriage was an actual way to get a title and wealth, her father attempted to protect her by appointing King Louis VI of France as her guardian. This turned out to be both good and bad for Eleanor. King Louis VI wed Eleanor to his son Louis VII, a strategic move that placed Eleanor’s property and fortune under France’s control. Fortunately, Louis VII loved Eleanor and allowed her any indulgence she wanted despite her “high spirited attitude.” However, she never produced a son and the Catholic Church allowed them an annulment. Within two months she married her cousin Henry, who would become King of England.

Eleanor lived a fascinating, action-packed life ripe for the television treatment. She is featured in several movies and television, although they primarily focus on her relationship with Henry II. Somehow a TV series focused solely on this extraordinary woman has yet to happen.

Dream casting for me would have Eleanor’s character played by Julianne Moore. Think Mannequin (the movie from the 80’s with Kim Cattrall) meets Quantum Leap. Each episode would have her in a different location in time where she has to help solve some sort of problem/mystery. Interspersed with her time jumping she could spend a few episodes in her own time dealing with her immense family and the issues that come with royal families in that day and age.