Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Arrest and Disappearance (1173 …
Years: 1173 - 1173
May
Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Arrest and Disappearance (1173 CE)
In 1173, amid the rebellion of Henry the Young King and his brothers Richard and Geoffrey, Eleanor of Aquitaine attempted to join her sons in their fight against Henry II. However, between late March and early May, she was intercepted and arrested, likely while traveling from Poitiers. She was then taken to Henry II at Rouen, marking the beginning of her long imprisonment.
The Secrecy Surrounding Eleanor’s Arrest
- Henry II did not publicly announce the arrest, keeping her whereabouts hidden.
- For the next year (1173–1174), Eleanor’s location remained unknown, likely to prevent further unrest in Aquitaine and undermine the legitimacy of the rebellion.
- Contemporary sources suggest she was held in confinement under close watch, but exactly where she was imprisoned during this time remains uncertain.
Why Was Eleanor Arrested?
- Eleanor had supported her sons’ rebellion, seeing Henry II’s refusal to grant them power as a direct threat to her family’s control over Aquitaine.
- Henry II likely saw her as the instigator of the revolt, fearing her political influence and ability to rally opposition.
- By removing Eleanor from the political landscape, Henry crippled the rebellion’s legitimacy, particularly in Aquitaine, where her authority was strongest.
The Beginning of Eleanor’s Long Captivity
- Eleanor’s imprisonment lasted for the next 15 years, as Henry II kept her under strict control to prevent further plots.
- Over time, she would be moved between different castles in England, re-emerging into public life only after Henry’s death in 1189, when her son Richard the Lionheart freed her.
Her arrest and disappearance in 1173 marked the turning point in the revolt, depriving the rebels of one of their most formidable allies and ensuring that Henry II remained dominant over the Angevin Empire.
Locations
People
- Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany
- Henry II of England
- Henry the Young King
- John of England
- Louis VII of France
- Richard I of England
Groups
- Flanders, County of
- Anjou, County of
- Boulogne, County of
- Alba (Scotland), Scots Kingdom of
- Normandy, Duchy of
- Brittanny, Duchy of
- Aquitaine, (Angevin) Duchy of
- France, (Capetian) Kingdom of
- Christians, Roman Catholic
- Anglo-Normans
- Blois, (restored) County of
- England, (Plantagenet, Angevin) Kingdom of
- Angevin Empire
