Eleanor of Castile

Queen of England

Apr 13, 2009 Adrienne Warber

Eleanor of Castile saved the life of one of England's greatest warrior kings, bore him more than twelve children and was one of the first female landowners.

Queen Eleanor of Castile was a child bride and may have feared beginning a new life in a foreign country. While the marriage of King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile was arranged, it was documented by historians as a happy union. In fact, Eleanor seemed able to bring out more merciful qualities in the warrior king. After Eleanor's death, Edward I was more ruthless and vengeful. Who was this woman who had such influence on one of England's greatest and most ruthless kings?

Infanta of Castile

Eleanor of Castile was born in 1244 as the twelfth of fifteen children to King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon and his wife, Queen Jeanne de Dammartin, Countess of Ponthieu. Eleanor was known as the Dona Lenor de Castilla and the Infanta of Castile.

Eleanor of Castile's Marriage and Family

Eleanor was sent to England as Edward's bride when she was only ten years old. Her new husband was fifteen at the time of their marriage. Historians believe that they did not consummate the marriage until Eleanor grew up because she began having a baby almost every year at the age of eighteen.

Edward I and Eleanor were fortunate to be only five years apart in age. Many royal couples had large age differences between them. They grew close and Edward kept his wife by his side as much as possible. Eleanor was devoted to her husband. In fact, Eleanor regarded Edward's life more than her own. When a poison arrow struck Edward during a Crusade, Eleanor sucked the poison out in order to save his life.

The couple had about fifteen children, though not all children survived infancy. Their son became King Edward II.

Eleanor of Castile, the Landowner

Eleanor was ahead of her time because she owned a great deal of property in her own name. Historians paint two different pictures of Eleanor of Castile. Many historians view her as a gentle and virtuous Christian queen who was devoted to her husband and England. Yet, some historians such as John Carmi Parsons believe that Eleanor practiced ruthless landownership practices and was disliked by her subjects.

The Eleanor Crosses

Edward I and Eleanor often traveled together. While traveling, Eleanor gave birth to her fifteenth child and became ill with a fever. She and her newborn baby did not survive the fever and harsh conditions of travel.

Eleanor's body was transported to St. Catherine's Priory for embalming. After the embalming, she was interred at Westminster Abbey, near the body of Edward's father, King Henry III. Her viscera was buried at the Lincoln Cathedral and her heart was entombed at Blackfriars Church.

A devastated King Edward honored his beloved wife's memory by erecting crosses at every place where Eleanor's twelve day funeral procession rested at night during the journey from St. Catherine's to Westminster Abbey. The crosses are known as the Eleanor Crosses. A number of the crosses still stand today.

Sources:

Prestwich, Michael, Edward I, Yale English Monarchs 1997

Parsons, John Carmi, Eleanor of Castile, St. Martin's Press 1995

Softly, Barbara, The Queens of England, Stein and Day, Briarcliff Manor 1976

The copyright of the article Eleanor of Castile in Historical Biographies is owned by Adrienne Warber. Permission to republish Eleanor of Castile in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Eleanor of Castile