Page "Eleanor of Aquitaine" Paragraph 47

1167 saw the marriage of Eleanor's third daughter, Matilda, to Henry the Lion of Saxony ; Eleanor remained in England with her daughter for the year prior to Matilda's departure to Normandy in September.

Afterwards, Eleanor proceeded to gather together her movable possessions in England and transport them on several ships in December to Argentan.

At the royal court, celebrated there that Christmas, she appears to have agreed to a separation from Henry.

Certainly, she left for her own city of Poitiers immediately after Christmas.

Henry did not stop her ; on the contrary, he and his army personally escorted her there, before attacking a castle belonging to the rebellious Lusignan family.

Henry then went about his own business outside Aquitaine, leaving Earl Patrick ( his regional military commander ) as her protective custodian.

When Patrick was killed in a skirmish, Eleanor ( who proceeded to ransom his captured nephew, the young William Marshal ), was left in control of her inheritance.