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Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile, the remarkable woman behind England’s greatest medieval king, Edward I, has been effectively airbrushed from history; yet she had one of the most fascinating lives of any of England’s queens. Her childhood was spent in the centre of the Spanish reconquest and was dominated by her military hero of a father (St Ferdinand) and her prodigiously clever brother (King Alfonso X the Learned). Married at the age of twelve and a mother at thirteen, she gave birth to at least sixteen children, most of whom died young. She was a prisoner for a year amid a civil war in which her husband’s life was in acute danger. Devoted to Edward, she accompanied him everywhere, including on Crusade to the Holy Land. All in all, she was to live for extended periods in five different countries.
Eleanor was a highly dynamic, forceful personality who acted as part of Edward’s innermost circle of advisers, and successfully accumulated a vast property empire for the English Crown. In cultural terms her influence in architecture and design – and even gardening – can be discerned to this day, while her idealised image still speaks to us from Edward’s beautiful memorials to her, the Eleanor crosses. This book reveals her untold story.
Eleanor was a highly dynamic, forceful personality who acted as part of Edward’s innermost circle of advisers, and successfully accumulated a vast property empire for the English Crown. In cultural terms her influence in architecture and design – and even gardening – can be discerned to this day, while her idealised image still speaks to us from Edward’s beautiful memorials to her, the Eleanor crosses. This book reveals her untold story.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
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November 30, 2019In the preface to her book Sara Cockerill writes that a Canadian historian worked for years on an Eleanor project before deciding that the available materials could not support a book length study, Cockerill was of a different opinion. Having read her book, apparently ten years in the making in her free time - in her day job she is a QC (a senior lawyer for non-UK readers), specialising in commercial law, I think there is not enough to support a biography, but one could perhaps write a reasonable little book about her. This book is not quite the same as Alison Weir's Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, in which my impression was that Eleanor was a by stander in her own biographpy, although in broad outline it is very similar, basically King Edward I plus reminders that Eleanor of Castile was there with him too and probably pregnant - she was mostly pregnant and had a child on average once every eighteen months, since the children generally died the country was not overwhelmed by kings and queens, however even that relies upon Cockerill's assumption that Eleanor was with Edward unless there is evidence to the contrary, which would be fine but she then goes on to argue in a beautifully circular manner that because they were so much together there relationship was unusually close and this feels like the right answer achieved by a faulty methodology.
I think Cockerill gave her book the subtitle of 'the shadow queen' with a view to dragging her into the light, my impression though is that Eleanor remains stubbornly indistinct. I am unconvinced that she is any more obscure than can be expected - there is just not enough known about anybody in the thirteenth century to be able to write a full biography about them as one could for many nineteenth or twentieth century people (in the future if societies become more electronic and paperless I guess people will once more become quickly very obscure).
Cockerill is a lawyer, so rather than filling the book with 'must have been' or 'possiblys', she, true to her profession, prefers to make inferences. At first, my feeling was that lawyers have the makings to be adequate historians - assessing evidence and building a case are common to both trades - but they diverge in that the lawyer is above all a story teller and is ruthless with regards to facts, evidence, or interpretations that don't fit in their story - the judge and jury must not under any circumstances be confused after all. She tends to over state her case in the early chapters and then back tracks in the final chapter – there she admits the change in the character of Edward I’s reign can not be put down purely to the death of Eleanor as several of his inner circle died at the same time, beyond that, the crisis in Scotland was a completely new political challenge, a change in style is to be expected in the circumstance.
The basic problem is that even accepting Cockerill’s inferences the limited amount of evidence available forces the reader to perceive Eleanor as a shadowy figure. The evidence is about eighteen months of her personal accounts from the close of her life and forty-seven letters (p.238), all but one concerning her property business, but later she mentioned other personal letters – though perhaps she inferred those from other surviving correspondence. In addition there are a few mentions in chronicles and some information from other royal documents. It is quite a bit of information by medieval standards and I am slightly won over by Cockerill’s view that you can get a sense of the actual woman, well educated with intellectual interests unusual religious interests , sharp business practices , but she was nice to those around her , but I'm less sure that one can go much beyond that with any certainty.
As one might hope from a lawyer specialising in commercial law, her presentation on Eleanor's property dealings is a strength of the book. She points out how she was keen to build up blocks of territory and how after her death, the route of the procession of her body and the overnight stops correlates neatly with her land holdings in eastern England.
Most of the chapters are chronological, with three thematic ones on the family, her work, and her interests. Cockerill's treatment of Henry III's reign is traditional, he is I suspect maybe the last English King not to have been reassessed since the Victorians . Cockerill is very casual in her use of the term Parliament . She does not go far enough - except in her discussion of Eleanor where she tends to go too far - and this for me for summed up in her treatment of Edward I's expulsion of the Jews from England, she rather brushes over it mentioning the papacy and precedents, while ignoring the English political context, crucially Edward's finances and his crusader status, and as a property and financial wheeler dealer (principally buying up loans from Jews) Eleanor herself I imagine would have been a beneficiary, or at least well placed to take advantage of the expulsion.
Cockerill gets lost for a while considering what Eleanor of Castile may have looked like and what colour her hair might have been - I thought that physiognomy had been most abandoned as a means of gaining insight into character - but not it seems in the legal profession.
I am convinced by Cockerill's work that Eleanor of Castile has potential as a research topic, but I am also convinced that a biography is not a helpful way to approach her, it is not only that there is not much that can be definitely known about her, but even that the possibilities seem particularly speculative - was Eleanor's youthful exposure to the gardens of medieval Spain the inspiration to spend money on a fountain at Rhuddlan Castle and to turf it's courtyard ? Does this book promises more than can be delivered or infer more than can be proved on the balance of probabilities - I am not sure.
I think Cockerill gave her book the subtitle of 'the shadow queen' with a view to dragging her into the light, my impression though is that Eleanor remains stubbornly indistinct. I am unconvinced that she is any more obscure than can be expected - there is just not enough known about anybody in the thirteenth century to be able to write a full biography about them as one could for many nineteenth or twentieth century people (in the future if societies become more electronic and paperless I guess people will once more become quickly very obscure).
Cockerill is a lawyer, so rather than filling the book with 'must have been' or 'possiblys', she, true to her profession, prefers to make inferences. At first, my feeling was that lawyers have the makings to be adequate historians - assessing evidence and building a case are common to both trades - but they diverge in that the lawyer is above all a story teller and is ruthless with regards to facts, evidence, or interpretations that don't fit in their story - the judge and jury must not under any circumstances be confused after all. She tends to over state her case in the early chapters and then back tracks in the final chapter – there she admits the change in the character of Edward I’s reign can not be put down purely to the death of Eleanor as several of his inner circle died at the same time, beyond that, the crisis in Scotland was a completely new political challenge, a change in style is to be expected in the circumstance.
The basic problem is that even accepting Cockerill’s inferences the limited amount of evidence available forces the reader to perceive Eleanor as a shadowy figure. The evidence is about eighteen months of her personal accounts from the close of her life and forty-seven letters (p.238), all but one concerning her property business, but later she mentioned other personal letters – though perhaps she inferred those from other surviving correspondence. In addition there are a few mentions in chronicles and some information from other royal documents. It is quite a bit of information by medieval standards and I am slightly won over by Cockerill’s view that you can get a sense of the actual woman, well educated with intellectual interests unusual religious interests , sharp business practices , but she was nice to those around her , but I'm less sure that one can go much beyond that with any certainty.
As one might hope from a lawyer specialising in commercial law, her presentation on Eleanor's property dealings is a strength of the book. She points out how she was keen to build up blocks of territory and how after her death, the route of the procession of her body and the overnight stops correlates neatly with her land holdings in eastern England.
Most of the chapters are chronological, with three thematic ones on the family, her work, and her interests. Cockerill's treatment of Henry III's reign is traditional, he is I suspect maybe the last English King not to have been reassessed since the Victorians . Cockerill is very casual in her use of the term Parliament . She does not go far enough - except in her discussion of Eleanor where she tends to go too far - and this for me for summed up in her treatment of Edward I's expulsion of the Jews from England, she rather brushes over it mentioning the papacy and precedents, while ignoring the English political context, crucially Edward's finances and his crusader status, and as a property and financial wheeler dealer (principally buying up loans from Jews) Eleanor herself I imagine would have been a beneficiary, or at least well placed to take advantage of the expulsion.
Cockerill gets lost for a while considering what Eleanor of Castile may have looked like and what colour her hair might have been - I thought that physiognomy had been most abandoned as a means of gaining insight into character - but not it seems in the legal profession.
I am convinced by Cockerill's work that Eleanor of Castile has potential as a research topic, but I am also convinced that a biography is not a helpful way to approach her, it is not only that there is not much that can be definitely known about her, but even that the possibilities seem particularly speculative - was Eleanor's youthful exposure to the gardens of medieval Spain the inspiration to spend money on a fountain at Rhuddlan Castle and to turf it's courtyard ? Does this book promises more than can be delivered or infer more than can be proved on the balance of probabilities - I am not sure.
April 19, 2022
Meh, this was information dense but maybe 50% of it, at most, related to Eleanor.
The author supposes and romanticizes often about Eleanor feelings, motivations, etc.
The author also seems to dismiss Eleanor’s more unattractive behaviors as necessary or whatever. Her acquisition of property is brutal and there's no reason to believe that the worst of her henchmen were acting on other than her orders, since according to the author, Eleanor was a micromanager of her business affairs.
I also am uncomfortable at the normalizing of clear antisemitism, such as Edward I having the English Jewish Community wear 'badges' to inform on their status. Yes, that's highly antisemitic. Even though other European leaders acted the same that doesn't lessen this as horribly antisemitic.
The author feels to me too attached to the subject to make reasonable assumptions. If more records existed this wouldn't matter but as so few exist, this just reads as the authors well researched suppositions.
The author supposes and romanticizes often about Eleanor feelings, motivations, etc.
The author also seems to dismiss Eleanor’s more unattractive behaviors as necessary or whatever. Her acquisition of property is brutal and there's no reason to believe that the worst of her henchmen were acting on other than her orders, since according to the author, Eleanor was a micromanager of her business affairs.
I also am uncomfortable at the normalizing of clear antisemitism, such as Edward I having the English Jewish Community wear 'badges' to inform on their status. Yes, that's highly antisemitic. Even though other European leaders acted the same that doesn't lessen this as horribly antisemitic.
The author feels to me too attached to the subject to make reasonable assumptions. If more records existed this wouldn't matter but as so few exist, this just reads as the authors well researched suppositions.
February 23, 2017
It is often stated that writing a biography of a medieval person, particularly a woman, is impossible and that any effort will descend into quasi-fiction, littered with more than its fair share of "must haves" and "presumably would haves". In her new book, "Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen", Sara Cockerill disproves this assertion. Edward I's queen and Edward II's mother emerges from this beautiful book full of fire, vigour, and more than her fair share of deeply off-putting flaws.
At 410 pages in length, "The Shadow Queen" can hardly be accused of narrative anaemia and the decade or so of research that went into writing it bounces off the page as intellectually convincing but rendered readable by Cockerill's light narrative touch. There are touching and thought-provoking deviations about the humanity of her subject - a particular favourite of mine being when the author, weighing up evidence that Eleanor was either fair or dark, concludes, "her own colour choices make it almost certain that her colouring was dark; as will be seen, she favoured reds and greens, colours which no blonde would be likely to choose but which are very becoming to brunettes." This is set alongside a razor-sharp understanding of the quagmire of thirteenth-century international diplomacy and warfare, both of which shaped Queen Eleanor's life.
Cockerill believes that Eleanor of Castile was a more likeable individual than she has been presented in recent histories of the monarchy, for instance in Lisa Hilton's study of English medieval queens, from which Eleanor emerges as a chillingly avaricious matriarch, who bled the Anglo-Jewish community white in her relentless quest for personal financial security. Cockerill allows Eleanor's faults to show in all their ugliness, but she suggests that, by the standards of her own generation, England's second Iberian queen consort had more on the credit than debit side by the time she passed away in 1290. Personally, I emerged from my compulsive reading of "The Shadow Queen" still rather dubious about the Queen's personal plus-points, but that is a tribute to the wealth of detail that Cockerill relates to her readers. While the author wears her views plainly, she is too good a writer to force them upon her audience. "Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen" is a compelling and exhaustive look at one of England's most fascinating queens and a beautiful example of a medieval biography.
At 410 pages in length, "The Shadow Queen" can hardly be accused of narrative anaemia and the decade or so of research that went into writing it bounces off the page as intellectually convincing but rendered readable by Cockerill's light narrative touch. There are touching and thought-provoking deviations about the humanity of her subject - a particular favourite of mine being when the author, weighing up evidence that Eleanor was either fair or dark, concludes, "her own colour choices make it almost certain that her colouring was dark; as will be seen, she favoured reds and greens, colours which no blonde would be likely to choose but which are very becoming to brunettes." This is set alongside a razor-sharp understanding of the quagmire of thirteenth-century international diplomacy and warfare, both of which shaped Queen Eleanor's life.
Cockerill believes that Eleanor of Castile was a more likeable individual than she has been presented in recent histories of the monarchy, for instance in Lisa Hilton's study of English medieval queens, from which Eleanor emerges as a chillingly avaricious matriarch, who bled the Anglo-Jewish community white in her relentless quest for personal financial security. Cockerill allows Eleanor's faults to show in all their ugliness, but she suggests that, by the standards of her own generation, England's second Iberian queen consort had more on the credit than debit side by the time she passed away in 1290. Personally, I emerged from my compulsive reading of "The Shadow Queen" still rather dubious about the Queen's personal plus-points, but that is a tribute to the wealth of detail that Cockerill relates to her readers. While the author wears her views plainly, she is too good a writer to force them upon her audience. "Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen" is a compelling and exhaustive look at one of England's most fascinating queens and a beautiful example of a medieval biography.
Want to read
February 29, 2024If I’m remembering correctly this mighty queen was also a mind blowing shopaholic! I may be wrong because I think I’ve only read one book about Edward I and there are about 4000 Eleanor’s in the Middle Ages. I know Edward spoiled his wife and was sorely lost without her for some time. Hmmm 🤔
November 12, 2014
Link to my review of this book:
http://flhwnotesandreviews.com/2014/1...
http://flhwnotesandreviews.com/2014/1...
April 8, 2016
Eleanor of Castile is certainly deserving of the title 'shadow queen', being probably one of the least known of all England's medieval queens. If people have heard of her at all, it is likely either through the surviving 'Eleanor crosses', erected by her grieving husband Edward I to mark the passage of her funeral bier, or through the saccharine apocryphal story of her sucking poison from Edward's wounds after an assassination attempt in the Holy Land whilst on Crusade. So it's refreshing to read a biography that attempts to flesh out her story and bring her out of the shadows.
That said, I'm not sure Sara Cockerill doesn't oversell her subject here somewhat. I'm all for giving credit where it's due and highlighting accomplishments and achievements, and Cockerill has certainly done her research and then some - but there were many points in this book where I felt she was giving too much credit to Eleanor. Medieval gender roles didn't often give women, even queens, much of a voice, and however much Edward was devoted to his wife, I very much doubt he paid much heed to her opinions on town construction, military strategy, treaty-making, or international diplomacy, as Cockerill claims. Simply because Edward and Eleanor had an exceptionally close marriage doesn't automatically give her an equal role in his actions and accomplishments. And by the same token, just because Eleanor and Edward were often together and seemed to avoid separation wherever possible, doesn't mean the historian can take Eleanor's presence for granted, in places where the historical record gives us no evidence.
The author also very much seems to have an agenda in terms of leavening history's view of Eleanor as acquisitive and grasping when it came to her property dealings. It does leave a reader wondering how one individual can provoke such contradictory views in historians relying on apparently the same scanty sources - this book is very sympathetic to Eleanor's character, whereas Lisa Hilton's recent book on medieval queens takes almost the opposite approach. The book is also very sympathetic to Edward too, a figure far less deserving, and makes very little mention of his harshness in dealing with his enemies, whether English, Welsh or Scottish. You wouldn't known he was the king known to history as the Hammer of the Scots from this portrayal.
From the criticism you would think I didn't enjoy this book - I did. But as with any biography of a subject so far removed in history, with so little trace in the historical record, there is just far too much supposition, conjecture and interpretation here for my comfort.
That said, I'm not sure Sara Cockerill doesn't oversell her subject here somewhat. I'm all for giving credit where it's due and highlighting accomplishments and achievements, and Cockerill has certainly done her research and then some - but there were many points in this book where I felt she was giving too much credit to Eleanor. Medieval gender roles didn't often give women, even queens, much of a voice, and however much Edward was devoted to his wife, I very much doubt he paid much heed to her opinions on town construction, military strategy, treaty-making, or international diplomacy, as Cockerill claims. Simply because Edward and Eleanor had an exceptionally close marriage doesn't automatically give her an equal role in his actions and accomplishments. And by the same token, just because Eleanor and Edward were often together and seemed to avoid separation wherever possible, doesn't mean the historian can take Eleanor's presence for granted, in places where the historical record gives us no evidence.
The author also very much seems to have an agenda in terms of leavening history's view of Eleanor as acquisitive and grasping when it came to her property dealings. It does leave a reader wondering how one individual can provoke such contradictory views in historians relying on apparently the same scanty sources - this book is very sympathetic to Eleanor's character, whereas Lisa Hilton's recent book on medieval queens takes almost the opposite approach. The book is also very sympathetic to Edward too, a figure far less deserving, and makes very little mention of his harshness in dealing with his enemies, whether English, Welsh or Scottish. You wouldn't known he was the king known to history as the Hammer of the Scots from this portrayal.
From the criticism you would think I didn't enjoy this book - I did. But as with any biography of a subject so far removed in history, with so little trace in the historical record, there is just far too much supposition, conjecture and interpretation here for my comfort.
September 30, 2014
Source: Free copy from Amberley in exchange for a review. All reviews expressed are from my own opinion.
Summary:
On the 1st of November 1254, twelve year old Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290), and fifteen year old Edward (1239-1307), the son of Henry III (1207-1272) king of England were married. Eleanor's brother Alfonso X (1221-1284) was king of Castile and Leon. Their father had been King Ferdinand (1201-1252). Edward and Eleanor's marriage was a political marriage; nonetheless, it would become a successful marriage considering most royal arranged marriages. They were married thirty-six years. Eleanor had at least sixteen children, six survived. Their son Edward of Caernarfon (1284-1327) became the future Edward II.
Eleanor was successful in fulfilling her duty as queen to have children; but, she was also a successful partner in a royal marriage taking part in Edward's cabinet of advisers, she was also an astute business woman.
Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen, is a narrative biography non-fiction book. It stands alone both in its own distinct genre and its own weighty merit.
My Thoughts:
Sara Cockerill worked on Eleanor of Castile for ten years. She read, studied, and researched, a queen which had been swept aside for other notable queens through the coarse of British history. One other complete non-fiction work has been written by J.C. Parsons, Eleanor of Castile. Cockerill will refer to his book in her book, it is one of the many sources she utilized. This is the first reason I have given Eleanor of Castile a 5 star review. Ten years of research is a great achievement. The patience and careful study given over ten years has produced an excellent work. I read through Cockerill's list of first, second, and online sources. Many of these sources found on Eleanor is included inside another person's historical account, chronicle, letter. Piecing and shaping the information into a readable biography that is informational and interesting is a careful balance. I feel Cockerill has achieved all of this.
To give the "basic template" of a life is bland. In order to breath life into a character one must see the person's essential qualities, decisions made, reactions to events, and most importantly the legacy. While reading Eleanor of Castile the book begins and continues with the actions of historical events surrounding Eleanor and family, her husbands reign, children that were born and including those who lived, a Crusade in which Eleanor accompanied Edward, land purchases and business dealings, and then chapter eleven came. In chapter eleven, Cockerill gave me a close-up perspective of Eleanor. I felt the book culminated in this chapter.
The last chapter of the book is a study on the crosses (several of which are forever lost) which were made after Eleanor's death. This was a added gem in the book.
Edward I is not beloved by all, those in Wales or Scotland have strong opinions of him. He was brutish, avenging, larger than life. On the other hand, he was faithful to his beloved Eleanor. This last point leaves me astounded. In the royal world, where kings such as Henry VIII is written about in popularity in both non-fiction and historical fiction, he was not a faithful husband. I'm thinking of another king who was also a tyrant, William I the Conqueror, I've read he was faithful to his diminutive wife Matilda. People are fascinating to me, this is just one of the reasons I have always loved history.
Summary:
On the 1st of November 1254, twelve year old Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290), and fifteen year old Edward (1239-1307), the son of Henry III (1207-1272) king of England were married. Eleanor's brother Alfonso X (1221-1284) was king of Castile and Leon. Their father had been King Ferdinand (1201-1252). Edward and Eleanor's marriage was a political marriage; nonetheless, it would become a successful marriage considering most royal arranged marriages. They were married thirty-six years. Eleanor had at least sixteen children, six survived. Their son Edward of Caernarfon (1284-1327) became the future Edward II.
Eleanor was successful in fulfilling her duty as queen to have children; but, she was also a successful partner in a royal marriage taking part in Edward's cabinet of advisers, she was also an astute business woman.
Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen, is a narrative biography non-fiction book. It stands alone both in its own distinct genre and its own weighty merit.
My Thoughts:
Sara Cockerill worked on Eleanor of Castile for ten years. She read, studied, and researched, a queen which had been swept aside for other notable queens through the coarse of British history. One other complete non-fiction work has been written by J.C. Parsons, Eleanor of Castile. Cockerill will refer to his book in her book, it is one of the many sources she utilized. This is the first reason I have given Eleanor of Castile a 5 star review. Ten years of research is a great achievement. The patience and careful study given over ten years has produced an excellent work. I read through Cockerill's list of first, second, and online sources. Many of these sources found on Eleanor is included inside another person's historical account, chronicle, letter. Piecing and shaping the information into a readable biography that is informational and interesting is a careful balance. I feel Cockerill has achieved all of this.
To give the "basic template" of a life is bland. In order to breath life into a character one must see the person's essential qualities, decisions made, reactions to events, and most importantly the legacy. While reading Eleanor of Castile the book begins and continues with the actions of historical events surrounding Eleanor and family, her husbands reign, children that were born and including those who lived, a Crusade in which Eleanor accompanied Edward, land purchases and business dealings, and then chapter eleven came. In chapter eleven, Cockerill gave me a close-up perspective of Eleanor. I felt the book culminated in this chapter.
The last chapter of the book is a study on the crosses (several of which are forever lost) which were made after Eleanor's death. This was a added gem in the book.
Edward I is not beloved by all, those in Wales or Scotland have strong opinions of him. He was brutish, avenging, larger than life. On the other hand, he was faithful to his beloved Eleanor. This last point leaves me astounded. In the royal world, where kings such as Henry VIII is written about in popularity in both non-fiction and historical fiction, he was not a faithful husband. I'm thinking of another king who was also a tyrant, William I the Conqueror, I've read he was faithful to his diminutive wife Matilda. People are fascinating to me, this is just one of the reasons I have always loved history.
December 20, 2014
Eleanor of Castile is certainly worthy of the epithet 'Shadow Queen' that Sara Cockerill attributes to her. Although she is not a woman unworthy of comment, it could be seen that she has resided in the shadows of her contemporaries, namely her husband Edward I and her step-mother Eleanor of Provence.
The author's breadth of knowledge and research on her subject is impressive, but there is a clearly detectable agenda laced throughout the book, and that is to 'prove' that Eleanor was not a conventional Queen, but one who was distinguished both from her predecessors and her successors. Largely, I find Cockerill's arguments for this convincing when focusing on the 'property empire' that the Queen accrued and how she rarely took part in the ceremonial intercessions that Queens were notable for in the period. However, I feel as if this way of presenting the research has led to a rather one sided approach, which I find can be quite common with some biography writers. It is understandable that some might become too attached to their subjects, when their subjects are in fact an individual person - a feeling one gets when reading biographies also.
It is not that Cockerill is completely biased when it comes to the Queen. She does acknowledge that Eleanor's popularity suffered due to the acquisitive nature of her property business, however she is reluctant to ascribe blame to Eleanor solely, and rarely does this. Whether this attitude lends itself to reliable presentation of research is up for debate.
The author also relies on conjecture a modicum too often for me to feel completely comfortable with the overall depiction of Eleanor that is presented. Very often, we are presented with phrases along the lines 'although we don't know for sure, Eleanor's influence can be inferred here'. Now, this isn't necessarily wrong. Often Cockerill looks at works of literature, some specifically penned by her brother Alphonso, and draws comparisons between that and action that Edward I is taking, and speculates that Eleanor's voice can be heard there, which I think is an interesting thing to stipulate. However, just as often, it is simply the case of the author saying 'Eleanor probably would have advised Edward with this course of action' simply because it is likely that they shared a close relationship. Although this may not be incorrect, I find the reasoning (or lack thereof) a little tenuous at times.
Despite all of this, I do find myself agreeing that Eleanor of Castile was a fascinating Queen. Business minded, intelligent and strong willed, it is completely legitimate that she should be brought from her assumed shadow and placed into the limelight. However, I find the penning of a work specifically with this purpose somewhat questionable.
Definitely a recommendable work. Despite certain agendas that may drive the presentation of research, as long as you read with an open mind, then you should be able to know where to take what the author says with a pinch of salt. Eleanor is a fascinating woman, and I'm glad I read this book. Now, to look for a book on Eleanor of Provence...
The author's breadth of knowledge and research on her subject is impressive, but there is a clearly detectable agenda laced throughout the book, and that is to 'prove' that Eleanor was not a conventional Queen, but one who was distinguished both from her predecessors and her successors. Largely, I find Cockerill's arguments for this convincing when focusing on the 'property empire' that the Queen accrued and how she rarely took part in the ceremonial intercessions that Queens were notable for in the period. However, I feel as if this way of presenting the research has led to a rather one sided approach, which I find can be quite common with some biography writers. It is understandable that some might become too attached to their subjects, when their subjects are in fact an individual person - a feeling one gets when reading biographies also.
It is not that Cockerill is completely biased when it comes to the Queen. She does acknowledge that Eleanor's popularity suffered due to the acquisitive nature of her property business, however she is reluctant to ascribe blame to Eleanor solely, and rarely does this. Whether this attitude lends itself to reliable presentation of research is up for debate.
The author also relies on conjecture a modicum too often for me to feel completely comfortable with the overall depiction of Eleanor that is presented. Very often, we are presented with phrases along the lines 'although we don't know for sure, Eleanor's influence can be inferred here'. Now, this isn't necessarily wrong. Often Cockerill looks at works of literature, some specifically penned by her brother Alphonso, and draws comparisons between that and action that Edward I is taking, and speculates that Eleanor's voice can be heard there, which I think is an interesting thing to stipulate. However, just as often, it is simply the case of the author saying 'Eleanor probably would have advised Edward with this course of action' simply because it is likely that they shared a close relationship. Although this may not be incorrect, I find the reasoning (or lack thereof) a little tenuous at times.
Despite all of this, I do find myself agreeing that Eleanor of Castile was a fascinating Queen. Business minded, intelligent and strong willed, it is completely legitimate that she should be brought from her assumed shadow and placed into the limelight. However, I find the penning of a work specifically with this purpose somewhat questionable.
Definitely a recommendable work. Despite certain agendas that may drive the presentation of research, as long as you read with an open mind, then you should be able to know where to take what the author says with a pinch of salt. Eleanor is a fascinating woman, and I'm glad I read this book. Now, to look for a book on Eleanor of Provence...
March 13, 2016
$7.99
After reading a biography of Edward I, I was naturally curious about his consort, Eleanor of Castile since I knew nothing about her. I’m not the only one although this author has changed that. To say that considerable research has gone into this biography of Eleanor would be an understatement. I think I read somewhere that she did 10 years of research, and it shows. I just wish it could have been a little more interesting. It got dry in some places, and I guess that is also why I prefer well written historical fiction so I can get a little more idea of what a person is like, or at least an interpretation.
Eleanor married Edward when she was 12 and had her first child when she was 13. She was to bear 16 children although only six of them survived to adulthood, including the future Edward II and five daughters. In reading about her early upbringing, it appears that she was extremely well-educated, probably more so than Edward, and experienced a very good life as the daughter of King Ferdinand III and later the half-sister of Alphonso X. I didn’t realize she, along with Edward, could trace her ancestry back to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She descended through Eleanor’s daughter, Eleanor of England who married Alphonso VIII of Castile. It is beginning to get tricky to follow all the relatives of the folks I have been reading about, but it was also interesting to note that Alys, formerly betrothed to King Richard, was also one of her ancestors.
Eleanor noted the mistakes her mother-in-law, Eleanor of Provence, had made, and while she was active in politics, it was quietly behind the scenes, a real shadow queen. She began acquiring property, and was a great collector of books, gardens (creating them), and perhaps even introducing some “modern” conveniences to England that she had experienced in a warmer and more advanced country.
Eleanor was extremely devoted to Edward and they were rarely apart. Still after reading all of this, it is clear she was not dedicated to her children although that may not have been uncommon for Royals during the time. I just couldn’t get a taste of her personality, and while it is clear the author thinks she was a great queen, I neither liked nor disliked her although I am glad I read this book.
After reading a biography of Edward I, I was naturally curious about his consort, Eleanor of Castile since I knew nothing about her. I’m not the only one although this author has changed that. To say that considerable research has gone into this biography of Eleanor would be an understatement. I think I read somewhere that she did 10 years of research, and it shows. I just wish it could have been a little more interesting. It got dry in some places, and I guess that is also why I prefer well written historical fiction so I can get a little more idea of what a person is like, or at least an interpretation.
Eleanor married Edward when she was 12 and had her first child when she was 13. She was to bear 16 children although only six of them survived to adulthood, including the future Edward II and five daughters. In reading about her early upbringing, it appears that she was extremely well-educated, probably more so than Edward, and experienced a very good life as the daughter of King Ferdinand III and later the half-sister of Alphonso X. I didn’t realize she, along with Edward, could trace her ancestry back to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She descended through Eleanor’s daughter, Eleanor of England who married Alphonso VIII of Castile. It is beginning to get tricky to follow all the relatives of the folks I have been reading about, but it was also interesting to note that Alys, formerly betrothed to King Richard, was also one of her ancestors.
Eleanor noted the mistakes her mother-in-law, Eleanor of Provence, had made, and while she was active in politics, it was quietly behind the scenes, a real shadow queen. She began acquiring property, and was a great collector of books, gardens (creating them), and perhaps even introducing some “modern” conveniences to England that she had experienced in a warmer and more advanced country.
Eleanor was extremely devoted to Edward and they were rarely apart. Still after reading all of this, it is clear she was not dedicated to her children although that may not have been uncommon for Royals during the time. I just couldn’t get a taste of her personality, and while it is clear the author thinks she was a great queen, I neither liked nor disliked her although I am glad I read this book.
February 21, 2021
An almost ludicrously comprehensive biography of Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I. I actually had to go looking for this one, and ended up getting this through interlibrary loan. Eleanor of Castile is a somewhat obscure figure, in terms of biographies about her. Heck, I didn't even know her name until I watched a documentary on great British castles and she came up in the episode about Carnavron (where I've been!).
So, Eleanor of Castile. Spanish by birth, she married Edward I back when he was still Prince Edward and they were both in their early teens. They proceeded to fall in love (really!), have sixteen children, and create a functional working partnership. Unfortunately only seven of those children lived to adulthood, and even more unfortunately one of them was Edward II, but Eleanor died before he became king and so escaped knowing about most of his misdeeds.
She was also an extremely competent administrator, very well-educated, Countess of Pontheiu in her own right, a successful businesswoman, responsible for the development of English gardens, and a strong patron of culture in England. This book goes into all those aspects of her in exhaustive detail; I almost feel like the author did all this research and by God, we were going to know about it. I did appreciate learning so much about her, but I feel like other people might not be interested?
I would recommend this book, but with a qualification: unless you want to know more about Eleanor of Castile than you know about your own mother, maybe skim some chapters.
So, Eleanor of Castile. Spanish by birth, she married Edward I back when he was still Prince Edward and they were both in their early teens. They proceeded to fall in love (really!), have sixteen children, and create a functional working partnership. Unfortunately only seven of those children lived to adulthood, and even more unfortunately one of them was Edward II, but Eleanor died before he became king and so escaped knowing about most of his misdeeds.
She was also an extremely competent administrator, very well-educated, Countess of Pontheiu in her own right, a successful businesswoman, responsible for the development of English gardens, and a strong patron of culture in England. This book goes into all those aspects of her in exhaustive detail; I almost feel like the author did all this research and by God, we were going to know about it. I did appreciate learning so much about her, but I feel like other people might not be interested?
I would recommend this book, but with a qualification: unless you want to know more about Eleanor of Castile than you know about your own mother, maybe skim some chapters.
April 15, 2015
I read this book because I was curious about Eleanor of Castile, a woman who, if not for the Eleanor Crosses, probably wouldn't have much recognition today. Eleanor was the woman whom Edward I loved so much, that after her death, built a cross (more like a small monument in some cases) at every stop in her funeral procession from Lincoln to London. Eleanor wasn't your typical medieval queen - she had quite the land holding business and was advisor to her husband in the running of England. Despite having 16 children, she left child-rearing to the nannies, though, there was evidence she did have concern for them. Overall, Eleanor of Castile isn't as one-sided as some of the other medieval queens.
August 30, 2016
This book reads like a series of very dense and very good lectures. There were points where I actually giggled at how information was phrased. I definitely recommend this not only for learning about Eleanor herself but also for a general sense of thirteenth century Western Europe and as a source for inspiration for any authors doing world building.
February 23, 2017
Eleanor of Castile, She Shadow Queen (The Property-Hungry Queen)
While reading this book I gradually became disappointed in Eleanor of Castile. It’s not the quality of the writing of the author, but it could have to do with the focus of the book, or the available sources of the period. We all know Edward I loved his 1st wife so much that, after her death, he planted crosses all over the country to remember his beloved wife, so I had high expectations of Eleanor.
However, while reading this book, Eleanor of Castile emerges as a Queen interested only in acquiring property, property and more property. Edward I is always short of cash, but he doesn’t mind paying for more properties for his wife, even on remote locations like the Isle of Wight. Eleanor also made sure to arrange good marriages for her many relatives, mostly of the Brienne and De Fiennes families, resulting in them becoming ancestors of the Royals involved in the Wars of the Roses.
According to this author Eleanor had 15 children, including John (5), Henry (6), Eleanora (29), Joan (35), Alphonso (11), Margaret (58), Mary (54), Elizabeth (34) and Edward II (43), but she didn’t seem to show much interest in them. The author claimed it was Eleanor who made sure her eldest same-named daughter’s marriage was delayed to avoid an early-teenager pregnancy, but the marriage seems to have been postponed due to the groom and his father being under an interdict by the pope - and thus not allowed to marry. Daughter Joan, born during the crusade, was left in France with her grandmother during the first years of her life. Daughter Mary was destined to become a nun as a little girl, regardless of her inclinations.
While reading this book I gradually became disappointed in Eleanor of Castile. It’s not the quality of the writing of the author, but it could have to do with the focus of the book, or the available sources of the period. We all know Edward I loved his 1st wife so much that, after her death, he planted crosses all over the country to remember his beloved wife, so I had high expectations of Eleanor.
However, while reading this book, Eleanor of Castile emerges as a Queen interested only in acquiring property, property and more property. Edward I is always short of cash, but he doesn’t mind paying for more properties for his wife, even on remote locations like the Isle of Wight. Eleanor also made sure to arrange good marriages for her many relatives, mostly of the Brienne and De Fiennes families, resulting in them becoming ancestors of the Royals involved in the Wars of the Roses.
According to this author Eleanor had 15 children, including John (5), Henry (6), Eleanora (29), Joan (35), Alphonso (11), Margaret (58), Mary (54), Elizabeth (34) and Edward II (43), but she didn’t seem to show much interest in them. The author claimed it was Eleanor who made sure her eldest same-named daughter’s marriage was delayed to avoid an early-teenager pregnancy, but the marriage seems to have been postponed due to the groom and his father being under an interdict by the pope - and thus not allowed to marry. Daughter Joan, born during the crusade, was left in France with her grandmother during the first years of her life. Daughter Mary was destined to become a nun as a little girl, regardless of her inclinations.
February 7, 2019
The primary source material of the life of Eleanor of Castile is fragmentary. Cockerill did a lot of research and it shows in the details of Eleanor's travels, household, and business dealings. Eleanor was deeply involved in property acquisition in order to bolster the royal bank accounts. This was necessary as the royal family was often in debt and she was very skilled at business. She had her own scriptorium where books she was interested in were copied by scribes. She was known as a voracious reader and as an intellectual. The closeness of her marriage with Edward I is well-documented and was unusual for political arranged marriages. She had 16 children but was more often with her husband than with her children. She was deeply religious but preferred the intellectual spirituality of the Dominican order above all others. She was known as a woman that it was ill-advised to cross though later chroniclers tried to paint her as the typical gentle, pious woman whose only work was to bear her husband children. Although that was an important part of her life, it was clearly not her only interest or her only contribution. I thought the opening chapters where Cockerill tried to set the stage for inferring some things about Eleanor's life before her marriage as there are really no primary source documents to work from were a little drawn-out. For anyone interested in the roles of women in history, this is an interesting work and does the best it can with the little evidence available.
March 23, 2022
'Decessus Regine': reader, I cried.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, but I still had a bit of a cry and carried on through all the descriptions of Edward's memorials to her. This whole book felt like a labour of love: a queen who is not well known, or only known as consort (though lets be honest, most consorts are only known as annexes to their more famous husbands) finally emerging from the mists and taking her place as a complex and complicated woman who with such a seemingly light touch influenced English history and almost certainly moulded and propped up one of England's greatest kings. The book suffered from repetition, but only because the few records that survive are of Eleanor's business dealings, so tracing her continuous travels around her properties and reporting on her purchases and legal disputes is sometimes all there is.
In my experience the most successful queens are the ones who have very quickly worked out what their husband needed from them and then spent their lives giving it. Philippa of Hainault was mother. Anne of Bohemia was a playmate. Anne of Cleeves was discreet and compliant, quietly selling beer while accepting the role of sister. Eleanor of Castile was exactly the business-savvy right-hand woman that Edward needed and this biography shines a light on her intellect, her enthusiasms, her personality in a wonderful way.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, but I still had a bit of a cry and carried on through all the descriptions of Edward's memorials to her. This whole book felt like a labour of love: a queen who is not well known, or only known as consort (though lets be honest, most consorts are only known as annexes to their more famous husbands) finally emerging from the mists and taking her place as a complex and complicated woman who with such a seemingly light touch influenced English history and almost certainly moulded and propped up one of England's greatest kings. The book suffered from repetition, but only because the few records that survive are of Eleanor's business dealings, so tracing her continuous travels around her properties and reporting on her purchases and legal disputes is sometimes all there is.
In my experience the most successful queens are the ones who have very quickly worked out what their husband needed from them and then spent their lives giving it. Philippa of Hainault was mother. Anne of Bohemia was a playmate. Anne of Cleeves was discreet and compliant, quietly selling beer while accepting the role of sister. Eleanor of Castile was exactly the business-savvy right-hand woman that Edward needed and this biography shines a light on her intellect, her enthusiasms, her personality in a wonderful way.
March 10, 2023
DNF
After reading Marc Morris’s book “Edward: A Great And Terrible King”, I found this book a struggle for a number of reasons: the writing style; the speculations made about Eleanor of Castile based very loosely on suppositions and circumstantial evidence; and the lack of any real picture of any of the other key people such as Edward, Henry III, and Eleanor of Provence. These were key people and a significant part of Edward’s life and therefore Eleanor of Castile’s life, and yet we really only have vague and unimaginative descriptions, there is no life. Again, this was in contrast to Marc Morris’s book where there was a lot of detail about the people in Edward’s life.
Unfortunately, Sara Cockerill bases many of her assertions about Eleanor of Castile on very weak evidence and many of them are prefaced with “I think that...” so we are getting her opinions and assumptions. The only assertion made by Sara Cockerill about Eleanor of Castile that does have any evidence or rather the lack of it, is the distant relationship between Eleanor of Castile and Eleanor of Provence. Sara Cockerill makes this assumption based on the facts that: there is little actual correspondence between the two women and; that neither of the two women mentioned each other very much in their own correspondence. However, in the part of the book that I read (to the end of Chapter 6) this was the only assumption that was made that had any evidence to support it.
A Big disappointment
After reading Marc Morris’s book “Edward: A Great And Terrible King”, I found this book a struggle for a number of reasons: the writing style; the speculations made about Eleanor of Castile based very loosely on suppositions and circumstantial evidence; and the lack of any real picture of any of the other key people such as Edward, Henry III, and Eleanor of Provence. These were key people and a significant part of Edward’s life and therefore Eleanor of Castile’s life, and yet we really only have vague and unimaginative descriptions, there is no life. Again, this was in contrast to Marc Morris’s book where there was a lot of detail about the people in Edward’s life.
Unfortunately, Sara Cockerill bases many of her assertions about Eleanor of Castile on very weak evidence and many of them are prefaced with “I think that...” so we are getting her opinions and assumptions. The only assertion made by Sara Cockerill about Eleanor of Castile that does have any evidence or rather the lack of it, is the distant relationship between Eleanor of Castile and Eleanor of Provence. Sara Cockerill makes this assumption based on the facts that: there is little actual correspondence between the two women and; that neither of the two women mentioned each other very much in their own correspondence. However, in the part of the book that I read (to the end of Chapter 6) this was the only assumption that was made that had any evidence to support it.
A Big disappointment
February 16, 2020
Eleanor of Aquitaine is a figure larger than life. She is the symbol of the Middle Ages, a queen who is well-known outside the academia. There are countless books about her.
Sarah Cockerill's bio is the first one that incorporates the newest research about Eleanor to give a well-rounded picture of this queen. She is careful not to repeat the well-entrenched myths such as that Eleanor was beautiful (there are no physical descriptions of her) or that she had a conflict with her mother-in-law Adelaide of Maurienne.
People familiar with the Eleanor scholarship will find this book a breath of fresh air because the author didn't fell into a trap of representing Eleanor as unique (because she wasn't - there were many 12th century women who wielded power) and steered clear from repeating myths.
I read this book with interest because of the author's style of writing and her ability to navigate through the primary sources.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the medieval period.
Sarah Cockerill's bio is the first one that incorporates the newest research about Eleanor to give a well-rounded picture of this queen. She is careful not to repeat the well-entrenched myths such as that Eleanor was beautiful (there are no physical descriptions of her) or that she had a conflict with her mother-in-law Adelaide of Maurienne.
People familiar with the Eleanor scholarship will find this book a breath of fresh air because the author didn't fell into a trap of representing Eleanor as unique (because she wasn't - there were many 12th century women who wielded power) and steered clear from repeating myths.
I read this book with interest because of the author's style of writing and her ability to navigate through the primary sources.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the medieval period.
February 17, 2023
I wholeheartedly agree with what another reviewer said. "Medieval gender roles didn't often give women, even queens, much of a voice, and however much Edward was devoted to his wife, I very much doubt he paid much heed to her opinions on town construction, military strategy, treaty-making, or international diplomacy, as Cockerill claims. Simply because Edward and Eleanor had an exceptionally close marriage doesn't automatically give her an equal role in his actions and accomplishments." The author acted like everything Edward did or thought or liked was only inspired by Eleanor. It was stupid and extremely insulting to one of England's greatest kings, not to mention any self-respecting king. To imply that he had no agency or personality of his own and was completely dominated by his wife is ridiculous. When I read that he started liking tournaments and warfare because of his wife I rolled my eyes. Apparently an English prince couldn't possibly enjoy martial pursuits like the rest of his social class. No it was only because of Eleanor.
March 20, 2025
I was looking forward to reading this book. I have had an interest in the reign of Edward I for 15 years and saw a book on the life of his wife as a must read.
I don't know if my expectations were too high or if the writing style was not agreeable with me. The book feels like it was written by a lawyer and not a historian as all the human elements and feel to the story of Eleanor's life have been sucked out.
Eleanor was an incredible person, who led a fascinating life. The author states this in the book! Having finished the book, I am left wanting to read another take on Eleanor's life to revitalise her story and make it appeal to a wider audience than the academically inclined willing to work through this version.
I don't know if my expectations were too high or if the writing style was not agreeable with me. The book feels like it was written by a lawyer and not a historian as all the human elements and feel to the story of Eleanor's life have been sucked out.
Eleanor was an incredible person, who led a fascinating life. The author states this in the book! Having finished the book, I am left wanting to read another take on Eleanor's life to revitalise her story and make it appeal to a wider audience than the academically inclined willing to work through this version.
February 5, 2021
This was a fine book, though it is challenging to create a compelling biography about someone who lived from 1241-1290. Eleanor was the great-great grand-daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine (through their daughter, Eleanor, Queen of Castile). She was married at age 12 to one of the greatest medieval kings, Edward I (Longshanks), whose great-grandparents were also Henry II and Eleanor (through their son, King John). They had 15 children, though only 5 lived to adulthood, including Edward II, one of the worst medieval kings. Her husband, Edward was incredible devoted to her and upon her death erected many "Eleanor" crosses through out England as a tribute to her.
July 2, 2019
Fascinating! Despite some speculation, I found the author's ability to make inferences from the content and lack of content of the historical records a brave effort. It is unlikely that we shall ever be able to distinguish the 'probable' from the 'possible' but the author's efforts are to be commended. Very readable and very entertaining in the light of what was known to be going on elsewhere in the world.
November 14, 2023
This is an interesting and very detailed biography of the wife of Edward I. The author has put together a life story from very sparse primary sources. Considering that the events described took place in the thirteenth century, this is not surprising. Cockerill has made a few tentative suggestions but on the whole her ideas are fairly convincing. Eleanor must have been an interesting and strong woman - the Eleanor crosses are evidence of Edward's regard.
January 27, 2018
The biography of a formidable queen, very comprehensive and well written. An industrious woman, obviously with a keen eye for business and clearly an inquisitive mind. Cockerill describes a woman who is extremely aware of the responsibility she shoulders as queen of Edward I and who lifts it with dignity and grace.
Apart from that an extremely interesting period in English history.
Apart from that an extremely interesting period in English history.
July 31, 2023
A bit long winded and though after reading about the sisters from Provence, as well as biographies of Henry III and Edward I, there wasn't much new to learn here, particularly since there's so little record to go on. It was nice, however, the day way the author highlighted Castilian/Eleanor's influence on policy and strategy I guess. Next stop Daughters of Chivalry!
October 9, 2022
This book is a wonderful history of a little known queen. However be prepared the print in the paperback edition is very small.
October 11, 2022
Loved it!
May 8, 2020
A book of two tales. Firstly one of the woman herself and the other her property portfolio.
June 16, 2016
Sara Cockerill does an excellent and thorough job researching the available sources on Eleanor of Castile. While the staggering amount of real-estate transactions conducted by or on behalf of Eleanor do deserve coverage in the text, the continual comments (rather randomly tossed in) did become tedious. Also was concern for the implied message that Edward and Eleanor only traveled because she had her eye on another property or to check the ones she already possessed. A king would be in great demand throughout his realm and would have traveled for his own sake.
Regardless of these issues, Cockerill’s extensive research, professional presentation and resistance of placing 21st century responses on the medieval context, is to be lauded. As Cockerill argues concerning the historical interpretations of Eleanor of Castile during the Victorian Era---one must attempt to withdrawal present-day sensibilities.
The first two chapters were of particular interest to this reviewer as many years have been spent studying the histories, relations and movements within the ruling houses of Europe. Beginning with the novel idea of the important marriages that led to the union of Eleanor and Edward, Cockerill tackled an almost thankless job of keeping track of the Eleanors, Edwards, Berengarias, Alfonsos, etc. Being a student of history, this reviewer actually created her own chart to keep the relationships straight (the included family tree diagrams were excellent but covering that many different branches can be confusing in the confined space of a book page).
Finally, this reviewer must comment on the closing remarks comparing Eleanor of Castile to Eleanor of Aquitaine. To imply that Eleanor of Castile was the more remarkable of the two women, completely missing the author’s own continued point—Eleanor of Castile had the loving, trusting support of her spouse. Eleanor of Aquitaine accomplished tremendous political and social change within the unstable confines of her marriages. Now there is a woman who led an exceptional life! Dissolving the marriage with a king and taking a risk on a son of a duke---that is courage!
Sara Cockerill flushes out the many facets of Eleanor of Castile, an intelligent, admirable woman, to present a well-rounded historical figure. A personage living in a time where there were few public records let alone those that addressed the women in society.
Regardless of these issues, Cockerill’s extensive research, professional presentation and resistance of placing 21st century responses on the medieval context, is to be lauded. As Cockerill argues concerning the historical interpretations of Eleanor of Castile during the Victorian Era---one must attempt to withdrawal present-day sensibilities.
The first two chapters were of particular interest to this reviewer as many years have been spent studying the histories, relations and movements within the ruling houses of Europe. Beginning with the novel idea of the important marriages that led to the union of Eleanor and Edward, Cockerill tackled an almost thankless job of keeping track of the Eleanors, Edwards, Berengarias, Alfonsos, etc. Being a student of history, this reviewer actually created her own chart to keep the relationships straight (the included family tree diagrams were excellent but covering that many different branches can be confusing in the confined space of a book page).
Finally, this reviewer must comment on the closing remarks comparing Eleanor of Castile to Eleanor of Aquitaine. To imply that Eleanor of Castile was the more remarkable of the two women, completely missing the author’s own continued point—Eleanor of Castile had the loving, trusting support of her spouse. Eleanor of Aquitaine accomplished tremendous political and social change within the unstable confines of her marriages. Now there is a woman who led an exceptional life! Dissolving the marriage with a king and taking a risk on a son of a duke---that is courage!
Sara Cockerill flushes out the many facets of Eleanor of Castile, an intelligent, admirable woman, to present a well-rounded historical figure. A personage living in a time where there were few public records let alone those that addressed the women in society.
December 5, 2014
This is not a romantic novel but a thoroughly researched history of the title subject. Extremely interesting and absorbing, why history has forgotten this women is incomprehensible, she is every bit as fascinating and important as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Edward 1 was indeed lucky that she was chosen for him but unfortunately a woman's role in history has not exactly appreciated, even when now and then we learn of one who had more brains and common sense than most men. Eleanor could have been another Elizabeth 1, given the chance, but having 16 children probably wore her out and lead to her early death. There is much information on the political machinations in the thirteenth century and also the journeys taken, both in England and abroad, of Edward, Eleanor and their court but it is not one for bedtime reading.
February 23, 2015
Eleanor of Castile is definitely a shadow in the annals of history, but her life has so much more to offer than what we see at first glance. Her queenship was a different sort than that of her Mother-in-law Eleanor of Provence. She worked hand in hand with her husband Edward, and made the most of their reign together as she could. Different from other queens, she spent as little time apart from her husband as possible, and Edward's grief at her death was not hidden or faked.
The book is a great read, although the first couple of chapters are very technical and geneological, and it is very easy to get bogged down and find it hard to move forward. Once the story starts moving, it picks up a little, with a few places that seem to get bogged down, but then pick up again. I was sad when it ended, but the pictures and supplements at the end are wonderful.
Great read!
The book is a great read, although the first couple of chapters are very technical and geneological, and it is very easy to get bogged down and find it hard to move forward. Once the story starts moving, it picks up a little, with a few places that seem to get bogged down, but then pick up again. I was sad when it ended, but the pictures and supplements at the end are wonderful.
Great read!
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