Welcome to the World of Medieval Queens

Come with us behind the scenes to meet these fascinating women--famous and celebrated or forgotten and ignored. From beautiful and powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine to almost unknown Berengaria of Navarre, the unsung wife of Richard the Lionheart; from famed Isabella of Castile to infamous Isabella of Angoulême—all played a part in 700 years of women’s history. Each has a unique story to tell. We’ll tell you their stories and suggest sources of more information.

And keep checking back. More queens are added regularly. If there’s a queen you’d like to see included here,

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Biographies of medieval queens Margaret of Scotland, 1045-1093 Queen of Malcolm III of Scotland Beautiful, strong-willed and devout, Margaret was descended from England's early Saxon kings, progenitor of a long line of Scottish kings and an influential queen in her own right... Read more Eleanor of Aquitaine, 1122-1204 Queen of (1) Louis VII of France; (2) Henry II of England She was beautiful, highborn, powerful, tireless, intelligent, ambitious. For eighty years Eleanor occupied center stage of medieval Europe...Read more Constance of Sicily, 1154-1198 Queen of Henry VI of Germany Constance de Hauteville was a royal personage many times over: a queen and the daughter, wife, cousin, aunt and mother of kings. Yet not until her fortieth year did she assert herself in a truly regal manner... Read more" Joanna of England, 1165-1199 Queen of William II of Sicily Engaged to King William at age 11, Joanna encountered love, happiness and adventure; suffered loss and rejection; and finally found peace...Read more" Berengaria of Navarre, 1165-1228 Queen of Richard I of England Berengaria, the Basque princess who married Richard the Lionheart, was faced with an indifferent husband, an imperious mother-in-law, and the ruthless power players of medieval Europe...Read more" Ingeborg of Denmark, 1175-1238 Queen of Philip II of France A marriage not of her wishing, a husband who repudiated her, a divorce she did not ask for and a lifelong determination to take her position as true wife and queen: such was the tortured tale of Ingeborg of Denmark...Read more" Isabella of Angoulême, 1186-1246 Queen of John I of England Isabella, a luscious 14-year-old, jilts the French count to whom she's betrothed and marries King John of England instead...Read more" Eleanor of Provence, 1223-1281 Queen of Henry III of England Strong-willed, ambitious and practical, she played a major role in ruling the kingdom during the volatile thirteenth century. So why is Eleanor of Provence so little remembered in the roster of medieval queens?.. Read more" Eleanor of Castile, 1241-1290 Queen of Edward I of England Eleanor of Castile was never content to play the part of a passive queen. For thirty-six years she was an active queen-consort to her equally strong-minded husband...Read more" Isabella of Castile, 1451-1504 Queen of Ferdinand II of Aragon As heiress to the throne of Castile, Isabella had her pick of royal suitors. In 1469 she chose Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Aragon. Thus began the thirty-five year joint rule of a unified Spain by the Catholic Monarchs...Read more"