Welcome to the History Tricks, where any resemblance to a boring old history lesson is purely coincidental.

And here's your 30-second summary.

Once upon a time, a beautiful Duchess inherited a thriving land of song, dance, and culture.

Before her father, the King died, he knew evil doers would set prey on our damsel,

so he gave her hand in marriage to a young king.

The couple was beautiful to look at, but turmoil began as soon as they were wed,

making happily ever after a very long time away.

The End

Just a quick note that more than any other subject we have ever covered,

Elinor's story basically comes to us through her relationships with her father, her husbands, and sons,

especially the first half.

So the further you go back, that's often the case.

So you might just learn about some roosters as well as this chick.

The history is important to get the context.

So bonus with that in mind on with the show.

Let's talk about Elinor of Aquatain.

But first let's drop her into history.

In 1122, the era is best described as the middle middle ages, but it's often called the High Middle Ages.

30 years before, the first crusade, a territorial political and holy war between European Christians and Muslims who had occupied the holding lands took place.

The reopening of the Christian pilgrimage routes because of that first crusade created a need for protective forces,

a small devout army of elite warriors called the Knights of the Templar are forming.

Anna Comnany, an educated Byzantine princess, was working on a 15-volume collection that would earn her the title of the world's first female historian.

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