Eleanor’s Regency During Richard’s Captivity

England’s king vanished during the Crusades and a queen took control of the realm. The year was 1192.

King Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart, was returning from the Third Crusade.

On his journey home, he was captured near Vienna. Richard was imprisoned by Leopold V of

Austria, then handed to Emperor Henry VI. England suddenly had no king.

Power passed to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine Richard’s mother. She was already

one of the most powerful women in medieval Europe. Eleanor acted as regent in all but

name. She secured the kingdom against rebellion. She confronted Richard’s

brother, Prince John, who tried to seize the throne. Eleanor organized