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 he year was 1183, he was old, tired, and fifty. He knew he was in the winter of a life that had been one conflict after another; the many wars, conflicts with his wife, his sons, and his dearest friend.
 is best friend he'd asked to be his adviser and they'd become enemies over many differences of opinion. This hurt him deeply.
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e married a woman he fell in love with the first time he saw her. She was a fascinating person; well traveled, educated, and very knowledgeable in the arts. They had three living sons who couldn't wait for him to die so they could inherit what he'd acquired.
His favorite; the youngest, Johnny pretended that he loved him but would stab him in the back if given a chance.
e and his wife only saw each other on big holidays and important occasions; there was no attempt at pretense that there was any trust left. He needed something to bargain with and his wife had it; she owned the richest land around.
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e was Henry the II, first Plantagenet to rule England and his empire had extended far and wide. He reigned well, but he also planned and plotted. Eleanor was a match for Henry's schemes. They had many "wars".
 he was the former wife of King Louis Vll of France. She bore many children for both her husbands.
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enry died at the age of fifty six in 1189 and his least favorite son took the throne. He was known as Richard the Lion Heart.
 hen Richard became king he released Eleanor from the tower where Henry had kept her locked up for sixteen years. The next in line, Geoffrey, named after Henry's father was killed in battle and never became king.
heir next son, John became king and was known as John Lackland, so called because by the time he was born Hernry had apportioned all his lands to his older children. John is best known for signing the Magna Carta.
enry's friend whom he appointed his chancellor was Thomas á Beckett and Henry was suspected of killing him. Since Thomas was archbishop at the time of his death, the Templars made Henry set aside money to pay for crusades.
 leanor lived to the ripe old age of eighty six and ruled for two years while Richard was away fighting in the Holy Land.
enry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; two of my favorite people from history.
I believe that deep down Henry and Eleanor continued to love one another. Their marriage had become complicated and clouded by outside issues. He hurt her and she struck back at him anyway she could so he locked her in a tower for years. I also think their bickering and sparring was a form of love making.
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