Eleanor of Castile

 Eleanor of Castile married Prince Edward, son of Henry III of England, when she was barely into her teens. She herself was the daughter of the king of Castile. Her marriage would prove to be long and successful one with her husband became very fond of her. In the early 1270s, Eleanor accompanied her husband on crusade. It was during the Ninth Crusade that Edward nearly died. An assassin made his way into the Prince’s tent and attacked Edward with a poisoned dagger. Edward managed to fight off his foe but was seriously wounded. A famous story states that it was here that Eleanor saved her husband by sucking the poison out of his wound. This is extraordinarily unlikely. It’s more probable that Edward was saved by the swift actions of his doctors. However what the legend does indicate is that Edward and Eleanor’s relationship was a loving one and, on seeing Edward’s suffering, she despaired greatly.

As we know, Edward survived and in November 1272, whilst still abroad, he got word of Henry III’s death. He was now Edward I. However, he and Eleanor were in no hurry to return home and in fact didn’t set foot in England until 1274. The delay may well be due to Edward still suffering the effects of his near death encounter and the journey could well have been a long and difficult one for him The coronation took place only three months shy of the second anniversary of Edward’s succession. Edward and Eleanor were largely inseparable. She accompanied him on his many campaigns against the Welsh and their son Edward was born at Caernarfon in 1284. This was the future Edward II. There are stories told of Edward playing games and tricks with Eleanor’s ladies in waiting in order to see her. Eleanor is also known to have sent musicians to play for the king. .

However, not everybody was as fond of Eleanor as Edward I. She became unpopular in some quarters with her acquiring lands that some thought had been extorted from Christians by Jewish moneylenders. As a result, her reputation suffered a little. Edward I was also known to be a king capable of real brutality when stamping his authority over his, and neighbouring, territories. Some believe this was actively encouraged by Eleanor herself but this is wholly unfair. Edward was very much his own man. Eleanor died in 1290, possibly of a fever. She had served her husband nobly. Journeying with him far and wide, from the Holy Land to Wales, to Southern France and all throughout England, her loyalty to Edward was not in question. Her death came as a devastating blow to Edward. She had died near Lincoln and on the procession back to London, he famously ordered the Eleanor Crosses to be erected, three of which can still be seen today. Like many of the medieval queen consorts, Eleanor has largely been forgotten but the mark she left on her warrior king husband should always be remembered. Her tomb can be seen at Westminster abbey.