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LocationsThere were many locations that played a role in the lives of Henry II and his family members, and descriptions of some of them are provided here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chinon
castle, France~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chinon was a strategically important master castle that was near the point where Anjou, Poitou, and Brittany converged. Henry II and his family frequented the castle often. This was also the site of Henry II's death, and from here his body was moved to nearby Fontevrault Abbey for burial.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dover
castle, Kent~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Henry II was responsible for building the keep at this castle, the form of which still stands within the outer structures that were added at later dates. It was a square style keep, and W.L. Warren estimates its original cost at approximately £4,000.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fontevrault
Abbey, France~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was this Abbey that Henry II considered placing Eleanor in as a nun when he was contemplating divorce. Fontevrault Abbey was also the place of recovery for Joan Plantagenet, Henry and Eleanor's youngest daughter, when she escaped from Toulouse after her own fighters betrayed her. Before her death, Joan was made a nun of Fontevrault, and her tomb was placed here. Fontevrault Abbey is also the final resting place of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard I, and Isabel of Angouleme. Both Eleanor and Joan provided funds for the abbey and it is largely because of their donations that the Nuns' Kitchen was built here. Originally, the tombs were laid in the crypt, but they were disturbed during the French Revolustion and transferred to the choir in a new arrangement. Eleanor now lies between Henry and Richard with Joan and Isabel nearby.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Poitiers, Aquitaine, France~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The capital of Aquitaine, Poitiers was the location where Henry's marriage to Eleanor took place. It was also the location of Eleanor's court from about 1170, which with the help of Eleanor's eldest daughter Marie, Countess of Champagne, became "the world's citadel of valor, the seat of courtesy, and the foutainhead of poetic inspiration" (Kelly, 161).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Salisbury Tower~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Eleanor's treachery against Henry in the Rebellion of 1173, it was here that she was placed to "reflect upon the code of chivalry" (Kelly, 184). Eleanor was Henry's prisoner for approximately fifteen years, though she was allowed to attend family occasions at the insistence of her children. She also had contact with them on a regular basis as she wished but always while under watch. |
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