ALIENOR REGINE

I finished reading a small history of Eleanor of Acquitaine a while back, and was hugely impressed by this strong woman - wielding power in a time when women were less important than the cattle in the fields... She also fits in rather neatly in the "Robin Hood" cycle of legends. But whilst these legends are fulsome about Prince John and Richard the Lionheart - the Lady Eleanor is never mentioned. Hmmm... You know how wicked Prince John taxed the country? Well, it wasn't to buy him lots of Jimmy Choo's, but to ransom his brother, Richard the Lionheart who had managed to get himself kidnapped. Their mother sailed to free him with the money in silver coin and a horde of noble-born hostages to exchange for Richard's freedom. If he hadn't been off gallivanting around in unnecessary battles, the tax wouldn't have been needed! They don't tell you THAT bit, do they?

The title comes from a coin minted during her lifetime. The coin pictured not the king, but his wife...

You can keep your Robin Hood,
And John, so strong and tall,
For the legends do not mention,
True heroines with much attention,
Lady Eleanor.

It's a mad kind of love,
A mother's kind of love,
Thirty tons of silver,
And hostages - two score.
She'll sail to bring her son,
Her wayward, much loved son,
Home to crown, and away from Eastern war.

"Coeur de Lyon, Le Roi" they cry,
And "Vive la mere de le Roi!"
But legends are never kind
And are careful not to mind,
Lady Eleanor.

In a world full of men, she stood,
And ruled not kind, but fair.
Unafraid, on her own and unbowed.
She was mighty, strong and proud,
Lady Eleanor.

It's a mad kind of love,
A mother's kind of love,
Thirty tons of silver,
And hostages - two score.
She'll sail to bring her son,
Her wayward, much loved son,
Home to crown, and away from Eastern war.

So you can keep your Robin Hood,
And Much the Miller's Son
I know the truth of the story
In all it's forgotten glory.
Lady Eleanor.