As in 1153 Eleanor’s journey to Poitiers was a dangerous one. The counts of Angoulême, La Marche and Lusignan and the latter’s brothers – two of whom would one day wear the crown of Jerusalem – were in revolt. Henry had stormed the castle of Lusignan and, before going north on another campaign, installed Eleanor in this perilous refuge.
To protect her he left in Aquitaine Patrick, earl of Salisbury, a seasoned veteran of king Stephen’s wars.
One day the queen and earl Patrick were out riding when they were suddenly ambushed by the Lusignans. The earl sent Eleanor safely back to the castle, but while preparing to attack he was treacherously stabbed in the back. His nephew William, an obscure young knight, thereupon charged the Lusignan party single-handed ‘like a famished lion’ and was badly wounded and taken prisoner. His captors refused to dress his wounds, and he remained seriously ill. The queen heard of his plight and ransomed him, rewarding him with money, armour, horses and rich clothes – a great stroke of luck for a poor young man. But Eleanor was always discerning in her patronage. William was to become Marshal of England, the greatest soldier of his day, and to save the throne for her grandson.
Source:
Seward, Desmond. “The Court at Poitiers.” Eleanor of Aquitaine. New York: Times , 1979. 109-10. Print.
Further Reading:
Aliénor d'Aquitaine / Alienora (Eleanor of Aquitaine)
Henry II of England / Henry Court-manteau (Henry Curtmantle) / Henry FitzEmpress / Henry Plantagenet
Patrick of Salisbury, 1st Earl of Salisbury
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke / William li Mareschal (William the Marshal)
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