Eleanor Of Woodstock

Birth Of Eleanor Of Woodstock

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Plantagenet Princess Eleanor, was born on 18th June 1318, at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire.

She was the daughter of King Edward II of England, and Isabella of France.

Eleanor was named after her paternal grandmother, Eleanor of Castile.

In 1325, there were negotiations for seven year old Eleanor to be betrothed to Alphonso XI of Castile, but this fell through due to the problems with the dowry.

In 1329, negotiations were underway for a match between Eleanor and the future John II of France.

The following year the prospective bridegroom was Pedro, son of Alphonso IV of Aragon, but both these negotiations fell through also.

In May 1332 fourteen year old Eleanor married the Count of Gelders, Reinoud II "the black"

The groom, quite dark of colour, and also of character, was a widower with four daughters.

He was known for, among other things, having imprisoned his father for over six years.

As Eleanor sailed from Sandwich, in Kent, her wedding trousseau included a beautiful wedding gown of Spanish cloth, caps, gloves, shoes, rare spices, loaves of sugar, and a bed.

When she arrived in Gelders, she was given a warm welcome by the people.

The marriage started off successful with the birth of two sons, Reginald and Edward.

But Reginald soon tired of Eleanor.

In 1338 he claimed she had leprosy and sent her from the court. and tried to annul the marriage.

Eleanor turned up in Court to contest the annulment, and proceeded to strip naked, to prove that there were no signs of leprosy on her body, thus forcing her husband to take her back.

Eleanor's husband Reginald, died from a fall from his horse on 12th October 1343.

Eleanor then became the regent of Guelders, for her nine-year-old son Reginald.

Her regency was formally recognised, but she was forced to confront a relative of her late husband, Jan van Valkenburg, who demanded his right to share the regency with her.

The situation was soon so difficult for Eleanor, that she was forced to resign her post of regency.

After her resignation she formally retired under the title Lady of Veluwe, and spent much of her time acting as a benefactor of convents, particular the beggar convents such as the Order of Saint Clare

In 1344, her eleven year old son was formally declared of legal majority.

On 22nd April 1355, twelve years after she became a widow, Eleanor died at the age of 36.

She was buried in the Franciscan church in Deventer, Netherlands.

Her tombstone had the simple inscription 'ELEANOR' on it ~ however in England, on the south side of Philippa of Hainaults tomb in Westminster Abbey, there is an image of Eleanor and her husband Reginald.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Woodstock

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

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A "portrait" representing Eleanor at prayer, in the illustration for the Hours of the Holy Spirit in the Taymouth Hours (London, BL MS Yates Thompson 13)