How to solve a problem, medieval style
Or, how many times can you be excommunicated?
So, I’m researching Eleanor of Aquitaine’s years in Poitiers, when she was effectively separated from King Henry II. At the time she was raising Richard, and living in the Maubergeonne Tower in Poitiers, built by her grandfather William IX for his mistress, known as Dangerosa, or the Countess Dangereuse de l'Isle Bouchard, who was thought to be “dangerous” because of her beauty and seductiveness.
William IX is generally recognized as the first of the Troubadours, the warrior/poet/musicians of France in the Middle Ages. The song above is one he wrote.
Struck by passion, William more or less kidnapped her (with her apparent permission) from Aimery I, the Viscount of Châtellerault. He then built the Maubergeonne Tower for her, and installed her there in his residence. Needless to say, his (second!) wife Philippa was not too happy about that, and William was excommunicated (for the second time!) for his actions. After Philippa died, William’s first wife Ermengarde (man this guy was trouble) unsuccessfully appealed to the Pope to have him excommunicated (a 3rd time!).
(Via wikipedia: William, like his father and many magnates of the time, had a rocky relationship with the Church. He was excommunicated twice, the first time in 1114 for an alleged infringement of the Church's tax privileges. His response to this was to demand absolution from Peter, Bishop of Poitiers. As the bishop was at the point of pronouncing the anathema, the duke threatened him with a sword, swearing to kill him if he did not pronounce absolution. Bishop Peter, surprised, pretended to comply, but when the duke, satisfied, released him, the bishop completed reading the anathema, before calmly presenting his neck and inviting the duke to strike. According to contemporaries, William hesitated a moment before sheathing his sword and replying, "I don't love you enough to send you to paradise.")1
Back to the 2nd excommunication:
William’s son William X was also quite unhappy with his father over his treatment of his mother and his taking a mistress, to the point of open rebellion.
Here’s how you solve a problem, medieval style: it’s either the sword or the spouse.
William IX and Dangerosa decide to marry William X to Aenor, Dangerosa’s daughter from a previous marriage!
“Married to my dad’s mistress’s daughter.” Just one big happy family, right?
And the happy ending?
Aenor and William X have a daughter, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Who was a bit dangerous herself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_IX,_Duke_of_Aquitaine