Eleanor - Definition and Overview

[The name "Eleanor" in English is usually a form of "Helen" (or "Ellen" or "Elaine"), derived from the Greek for "light", and has many variants in various languages.]

Among the women known to history as "Queen Eleanor" are:

• Eleanor of Aquitaine (~1122-1204), queen consort of France and queen consort of England: daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine; wife of Louis VII of France and Henry II of England; mother of Richard I of England and John of England

• Leonora of Aquitaine (1161-1214), queen consort of Aragon (Spain), wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile; daughter of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

• Eleanor of Castile (1202-1244), queen consort of Aragon (Spain); daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Leonora of Aquitaine; wife of James I of Aragon

• Eleanor of Provence (1222-1291), queen consort of England: daughter of Raymond Berenger IV, Count of Provence; wife of Henry III of England; mother of Edward I of England

• Eleanor of Castile (1244-1290), queen consort of England: daughter of Ferdinand III of Castile; wife of Edward I of England; mother of Edward II of England

• Eleanor of Castile (131x-1359), queen consort of Aragon (Spain): daughter of Ferdinand IV of Castile; wife of Alfonso IV of Aragon

• Eleanor of Castile (136x-1416), queen consort of Navarre (Spain): daughter of Henry II of Castile; wife of Charles III of Navarre; mother of Blanche of Navarre