Eleanor PLANTAGENET of Brittany ²¹⁵⁷

   FamilySearch ID: 9HJC-87P
Find A Grave ID: 112185644

  General Notes:

English Royalty. Born the eldest daughter of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany and Constance, Duchess of Brittany. When her father died, she was about 2, she was brought up by her uncle, King Richard I, and her grandmother, dowager queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her brother, Arthur, was heir presumptive to the English throne and the duchy of Brittany. She was considered the beauty of her generation, and several betrothals were suggested for her, but none were ever concluded. With the death of Richard I, both 12 year old Arthur and their uncle, John, moved to take the throne. Arthur was defeated and captured at the Battle of Mirebeau, and Eleanor began her life of captivity under John's reign. She was kept in comfort as befit her rank, but she was, nevertheless, a prisoner. She was styled 5th Countess of Richmond, as successor to her brother, but she was never recognized as the Duchess of Brittany as was her birth right. In 1215, when the Magna Carta was issued, it was demanded that all hostages held by John including Scottish and Welsh princesses be released; Eleanor, however, was excluded. John kept her under house arrest at either Corfe, Bristol, or Gloucester Castle. With his death, his son, Henry III took the throne, though Eleanor had a stronger claim, but her position was untenable. She remained "under a gentle house arrest", while her young cousin stripped her of her titles. In 1219, her earldom of Richmond was given to Peter I of Brittany, never to be returned despite the fact that Peter renounced it in 1235. Henry then styled Eleanor as "king's kinswoman." After rumors of a rescue attempt circulated, Henry moved her away from the coast and she was transferred between Gloucester, Marlborough, and Bristol Castle. Her guards were changed frequently. She was never allowed her freedom, never allowed to marry, and she reportedly remained quietly defiant through the entire course of her confinement. She died at the age of about 57, and was initially buried at St. James' Church, then removed to Amesbury Abbey, which was dedicated to Saint Melor, purportedly a young Breton prince murdered by his uncle who usurped his throne. Her grave is unmarked. She was also known as the Fair Maid of Brittany and Alienor Bretagne.