Eleanor Of Aquitaine And Anne Boleyn: Queens Of Courtly Love

In courts of Western Europe, chivalry and courtly love shaped politics and personalities in ways that still resonate today. From the Middle Ages to the Tudors, the image of warrior-king prevailed, shaped by legends of King Arthur and courtly love. This book explores how Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II and mother of Richard the Lionheart, helped cultivate a culture where the performance of power and love shaped courts and nations. Centuries later, Anne Boleyn skillfully used Henry VIII's admiration, her own restraint, and courtly performance to win a crown. However, Anne failed to fulfil her greatest duty: to produce a male heir. Henry VIII, likely embarrassed by his failure as a glorious knight and lover, sent her to her death. Eleanor and Anne represent the complexities, powers, and dangers of a kingdom that embraces the ideals of chivalry and courtly love. Through literary analysis, historical evidence, and vivid storytelling, this book reveals how courtly love influenced political alliances, gender expectations, and the rise and fall of powerful women. It illuminates how love, power, and performance shaped two of the most compelling women in European history - and how the legacy of courtly love continues to inform leadership, influence, and relationships today. AUTHOR: Carol Ann Lloyd is a historian and author who specialises in women's lives, the Early Modern Era, royal history, and Shakespeare. She presents internationally for Smithsonian, Smithsonian Journeys, Royal Oak Foundation, Agecroft Hall, Tudorcon, Cunard/Queen Mary 2, and more. She is the host of the popular Royals, Rebels, and Romantics podcast. Her previous books from Pen and Sword are The Tudors by Numbers: The Stories and Statistics Behind England's Most Infamous Royal Dynasty (2023) and Courting the Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I and Her Suitors (2024). She is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Past President of the National Speakers Association, Washington DC Chapter. 20 b/w illustrations