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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2004-03 > 1079910142


From: (Peter Stewart)
Subject: Re: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Lord and Lady
Date: 21 Mar 2004 15:02:22 -0800
References: <7b33cc41.0403200742.50b3d6ac@posting.google.com> <hF37c.117696$Wa.71744@news-server.bigpond.net.au> <7b33cc41.0403210008.d89f820@posting.google.com>


(Nicholas Whyte) wrote in message news:<>...

<snip>

> I interpreted the horoscope as a "worked example" at the end of an
> astrological handbook; it's not explicitly described as Eleanor's, but
> the likely date of the planetary configuration on 14 December 1123,
> combined with the interpretation of the horoscope as being that of a
> mother who will go on a journey to meet a king, who will not receive
> her well but she will nonetheless prevail, seemed to me to point to a
> likely identification. I can't think of any other woman born in 1123
> or thereabouts, still living in England at the end of the twelfth
> century, and hobnobbing with royalty. Though I'd be interested to know
> if there are other possible candidates.
>
> The M Phil thesis (a product of my youth, it will need a certain
> amount of fixing up before I could consider real publication, and I'm
> no longer a medievalist) is on my website at
> http://explorers.whyte.com/roger.htm - have a look if you like.

Thanks Nicholas - you certainly raise an interesting possibility,
though with a few too many qualifications to take this as strong
evidence for Eleanor's birth on 14 December in 1123 (or 1122). The
date itself is quite plausible, given that she was over 13 when her
father died in April 1137, if only firmer support could be found that
this was Eleanor's horoscope.

It's rather unlikely that direct evidence could be turned up now:
after all, new-born princesses were not often celebrated & Eleanor
wasn't of special importance at the time of her birth.

Peter Stewart

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