Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

This extensive source provides biographical and historical context for Eleanor of Aquitaine and the complex political landscape of twelfth-century Europe. It covers various aspects of the period, including Eleanor's two marriages—first to Louis VII of France and later to Henry II of England—and the annulment of her first marriage based on consanguinity, while also discussing the Second Crusade and her involvement. The text details the turbulent reigns of the Angevin kings, particularly Henry II and his son Richard the Lionheart, examining their personalities, political struggles with the French crown, and conflicts with their own family, including the infamous murder of Thomas Becket and Eleanor's subsequent imprisonment and eventual release. Furthermore, the source offers glimpses into the feudal society, courtly culture, legal customs, and daily life of the era, drawing upon various contemporary chroniclers and modern historical analysis, as highlighted in the provided footnotes and an interview with the author.