Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will look at Eleanor of Aquitaine's support of her sons Richard and John. We will look at the role she played whilst her sons ran the country and what this tells us about who held power in the Middle Ages.

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5 Questions

Q1.
As well as Aquitaine, where did Eleanor have a claim to?
Anjou
England
Normandy
Correct answer: Toulouse
Q2.
Why did Henry "the Young King" rebel against his father?
Henry II had banished his eldest son from England
Henry II had forced his son into a marriage he didn't want
Correct answer: Henry II had given some castles that Henry "the Young King" believed were his to his younger brother
Henry II has unnecessarily punished his eldest son
Q3.
What was Eleanor's involvement during the Great Revolt 1173-1174?
Correct answer: Not much - she was captured by Henry II's troops early in the rebellion
She helped her sons plot their campaign against Henry II from Paris
She helped the barons rebel against Henry II in England
She led Aquitaine troops against Henry II's troops in Normandy
Q4.
What was the outcome of the Great Revolt for Henry's sons?
The eldest two sons were executed for leading the rebellion whilst the younger brothers were imprisoned
Correct answer: They all swore an oath of loyalty to Henry II and were forgiven
They were all imprisoned as punishment because Henry couldn't trust them
They were all publicly executed to make an example of them
Q5.
What was the outcome of the Great Revolt for Eleanor?
She swore an oath of loyalty to Henry II and was forgiven
Correct answer: She was imprisoned as punishment for her betrayal
She was publicly executed to make an example of her actions
She was put in the stocks and publicly humiliated before being allowed back in the royal court

5 Questions

Q1.
Who ordered Eleanor's release from her 16 year imprisonment?
Henry "the Young King"
Henry II
John I
Correct answer: Richard I
Q2.
What was Eleanor's role in England whilst Richard I was away on Crusade?
She had a considerable role, and was left in charge of taxes and the royal court
She had a minor role, overseeing parts of the royal court
She had no role, Richard left his younger brother John in charge
Correct answer: She ruled in Richard's name, giving her power over England
Q3.
How did Eleanor react to John's rebellion against Richard?
She asked John to end his rebellion
She did nothing as she had no power in England
She joined the rebellion against Richard
Correct answer: She stopped the rebellion by threatening to remove John's castles and lands
Q4.
When King Richard I died in 1199 who became the next ruler of England?
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Henry the Young King
Correct answer: John I
Richard II
Q5.
What was Eleanor's role when King John was ruling England?
She became John's advisor in his royal court
She had no role - she retired to the French countryside at the beginning of John's reign
Correct answer: She helped defend lands in the Angevin Empire, leading armies and making deals with the King of France
She ruled in his name whilst he was fighting in Normandy

Lesson appears in

UnitHistory / What can the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine tell us about who held power in the Middle Ages?

History