Eleanor, Latin Empress

## Eleanor of Castile

Latin Empress

Charles of Courtenay

**Eleanor of Castile** (C. 1154 - 1210) was the 3rd daughter and child of Alfonso VIII of Castile, and Eleanor of England, Eleanor was betrothed at a young age to the Latin Emperor to further strangthen the Castilian-Latin alliance. Eleanor arrived in Athens when she was 15 to marry her betrothed. Eleanor of Castile gave her husband Baldwin 3 children, Phillip, Catherine and Charles. She died in 1210 during the reign of her daughter Catherine. Eleanor is often confused with her distant niece Eleanor of Castile, Queen of England.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Eleanor was born on Palencia in 1154, while her parents were on tour. Eleanor's parents were her name-sake Eleanor of England and Alfonso VIII of Castile. Eleanor of Castile's mother was the daughter of the most powerful people in Europe at the time, her mothers parents were Henry II of England, and Eleanor of Aquitaine, which gave young Eleanor a claim to the English throne. When Eleanor turned 4, she was brought from Palencia to the main kingdom Palace were her older sisters, Berengaria and Urracca were staying, Eleanor's older sister Berengaria inherited much of there mothers rude arragonce and often made fun of Eleanor for being shy, when Eleanor was 8, she changed and became very strict like Berengaria.

### Betrothal

Eleanor was Betrothed to the 21 year old Latin Emperor when she was 13, the Latin Emperor Baldwin came to Castile hoping to find a wife, and Eleanor's parents suggested Eleanor. Baldwin agreed and sent Eleanor letters excited to meet her. When she arrived, her father greeted Baldwin with a weak Greek accent, Eleanor had been learning Greek sense she was 8, so she understood Baldwin quite well. The union between them was approved by the Pope, Eleanor was taken to Athens by Baldwin's mother Marie of Brienne. Eleanor wrote of Marie as a second mother for her softness. When she reached Athens, she was greeted by cheers from the Greek people, Eleanor surely missed home, but hid her tears with a smile.

## Marriage and 11th Crusade

In 1169, a 15 year old Eleanor married her long awaited Fiance, Baldwin was very fond of his Empress and granted her many seats in the king's Palace. Eleanor very beautiful, could also be a cruel heart breaker, she would sometimes walk passed nobles in her chambers who wanted to have an affair with her, but then she would say yes and lead them to a dark room were she would lock them in and starve them to death. 1 year into there marriage Eleanor gave birth to a son named "Phillip." Baldwin's dynasty was secure with a son, now Baldwin would not have to worry about concieving a male heir. 3 months later the Pope called the 11th Crusade against to Selguik Turks and the Ottoman Empire, Eleanor decided to go on Crusade with her husband and leave Baldwin's brother Issac of Courtenay in charge, after that they wen't to Turkey to secure there territory in Turkey, the Ottoman's took a lot of the Latin Empire in the 10th Crusade, this was now there revenge. The closest allies of the Latin Empire, the Niciean Empire and the Byzantine Empire all found out the Latin Emperor married a powerful Castilian Infanta, so they all asked Eleanor for some money, Eleanor gave each empire a conserble amount of money, but she never liked being used for money. Eleanor marched to Turkey, were many Greeks were slaughtered by top Ottoman Generals. While on Crusade in Jerusalem, she gave birth to a daughter Catherine, Catherine was a great risk of getting killed, so Eleanor sent Catherine to Athens. Catherine was later betrothed the Prince of Toronto. After the 11th Crusade, they wen't home.

## Madness in Phillip

When Phillip was 15, he started getting rebellious against the Latin Empire, he even for a while believed he was a horse and famously slept in a farmers den, Eleanor and Baldwin did not understand mental illness and called for priests to save Phillip, after the priests attempted to save Phillip, Phillip then believed he was his own brother for another 3 years, before then believing he was his sister Catherine, Baldwin considered making there youngest son Charles the heir, but Eleanor still had faith in Phillip and called for more priests, but Phillip was so mentally ill he ran away bare-foot out of the Castle and on to the streets, when people saw him, they greeted him and attempted to be given money by him, but instead he banged his head on the wall, before a parade of guards restrained him and brought him to a Castle with no windows were he was imprisoned. The 12 year old Catherine was very happy, as she believed she would be next, but her brother was the next after Phillip, so nobody won. Phillip's mental illness was most likely caused by abuse by tutors.

## 12th Crusade

When the Pope called for the 12th Crusade, Eleanor feared her son Phillip, could not come because of his mental disability, but Eleanor dragged her son to the Turkish-Greeks and when he was ordered to fight, according to a General, Phillip thought a cookie that a knight had left was the enemy, and he stabbed the cookie to peaces. Eleanor then sent her son home and asked her 13 year old son Charles to go with her instead. Eleanor wen't to Jerusalem were her husband was being held prisoner, Eleanor led a successful raid to the Turkish-Jerusalem to free her husband, but unfortuetly, Eleanor's youngest child died after being murdered by the Mad Phillip, Phillip reportedly believed Charles was the devil, and took a hammer to his head, and smashed his Skull, Phillip's mother wanted to save her son a different way, she called for so called doctors to heal him, but the doctors did the opposite, they toutured him, and gave him test medicines.

## Dowager Empress

In 1185, her husband died on campain to Romania, he died after a Turk stabbed him in the back, Phillip was now Emperor of the Latins, but he did not understand, he wen't mad and did not know how to rule, to the 37 year old Eleanor became regent. Phillip was married to Irene of Constantinople who was very uncomfortable around Phillip, Phillip had 11 daughters with his wife, which none of them succeeded him as they were no supported. Irene despratley wanted to marry the Albanian Lord of Gozo, so Irene had Phillip murdered. After that Catherine became the first Empress Regnant of the Latin Empire.

## Death

Eleanor died of malaria in her 60's during the reign of her daughter, rumors circulated she was murdered by an ottoman warrior, but these warriors were certainly false.