Queens of the Crusades: Eleanor of Aquitaine and her Successors

By: Alison Weir

Narrated by: Esther Wane

The Plantagenet queens of England played a role in some of the most dramatic events in our history. Crusading queens, queens in rebellion against their king, queen seductresses, learned queens, queens in battle, queens who enlivened England with the romantic culture of Southern Europe - these determined women often broke through medieval constraints to exercise power and influence, for good and sometimes for ill.

Alison Weir’s ground-breaking history of the queens of medieval England now moves into a period of even higher drama, from 1154 to 1291: years of chivalry, dynastic ambition, conflict with the church, baronial wars and the all-pervading bonds of feudalism. We see events such as the murder of Becket, the Magna Carta and the birth of parliaments from a new perspective. Her narrative begins with the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage to Henry II establishes a dynasty which rules for more than 300 years and creates the most powerful empire in Western Christendom - but also sows the seeds for some of the most destructive family conflicts in history and for the collapse, under her son King John, of England’s power in Europe. The lives of Eleanor’s successors were just as remarkable: Berengaria of Navarre, queen of Richard the Lionheart, Isabella of Angoulême, queen of John, and Alienor of Provence, queen of Henry III, and finally Eleanor of Castile, the grasping but beloved wife of Edward I.

Through the story of these first five Plantagenet queens, Alison Weir provides an enthralling new perspective on a dramatic period of high romance and sometimes low politics, with determined women at its heart.

©2019 Alison Weir (P)2020 W F Howes

So interesting

Wow, I had no idea how French these people were. Very interesting how these women wielded power. Beautiful narration.

Amazing

Another wonderfully detailed book by Alison Weir on English Queens few people know little about. Once again, Ms. Weir does not disappoint.

Excellent!!

Great history told in a very interesting manner. Really brings the lives of these queens to life!

Loved it

I loved listening to the history of this period through the perspective of the women, especially Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was a better ruler than her husbands or her sons. I found the others fascinating as well. The history nerd in me just reveled in the detail, and I was sad when it ended.

The 2nd book among an incredible series on medieval queens of England. Splendid writing and performance

An extraordinary book on the lives of renowned English queens, with the first, and my most favorite female historical figure, being Eleanor of Aquitaine. This book recounts much of her life's major events, and then continues toward her son, Richard I's wife and queen, and on to other queens and ending with Edward I's queen. The uniqueness and what makes this book one of my favorites; is that its tales are mostly of powerful female figures, rather than the usual focus on male accomplishments, since the middle ages and until now, unfortunately.
I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those interested or researching medieval English history.