Yes, Henry II was known throughout his life for having numerous **affairs** and mistresses—contemporary chroniclers and later historians describe him as energetic, restless, and not particularly discreet about extramarital relationships, even by medieval royal standards. This was a source of ongoing tension in his marriage to **Eleanor of Aquitaine**, who was about 11 years his senior (born c. 1122–1124, Henry in 1133). Their relationship started passionately (they married in 1152, had eight children between roughly 1153 and 1166), but it deteriorated over time, with his infidelity playing a significant role—especially as Eleanor entered her 40s and beyond, when childbearing was no longer a factor.
### Henry's Affairs and the Shift as Eleanor Aged
- Henry had affairs from early in the marriage, but they were often discreet initially. By the mid-to-late 1160s (when Eleanor was in her mid-40s and had given birth to her last child around 1166–1167), his behavior became more blatant.
- The most famous and damaging was his long-term relationship with **Rosamund Clifford** (known as "Fair Rosamund"), which began around 1166–1170 and lasted until her death in 1176. Unlike earlier mistresses, Henry openly flaunted this one—he installed her at Woodstock Palace (with legends of a secret maze for privacy), showered her with gifts, and treated her almost like a second queen. Chroniclers suggest he did this partly to provoke Eleanor or assert dominance.
- This public flaunting humiliated Eleanor deeply. Sources indicate that Rosamund's prominence (and the fact that she bore Henry at least two illegitimate sons, though some died young) was a major factor in Eleanor's growing estrangement. By 1168 (Eleanor aged ~44–46), she largely withdrew from the English court and returned to her own lands in **Poitiers** (the capital of Aquitaine), establishing a more independent court there focused on culture, poetry, and her sons—particularly Richard, whom she groomed as her heir in Aquitaine.
- Historians note that as Eleanor aged and no longer had the "duty" of producing heirs, Henry's affairs felt more like a personal rejection rather than just royal prerogative. The power dynamic shifted: she was no longer needed for childbearing or as a constant consort, and his mistresses symbolized her diminishing personal influence over him. This fueled resentment, contributing to her support for the 1173–1174 revolt (where she backed their sons against Henry).
### Locking Her Out of Aquitaine's Rule
Even before her imprisonment, Henry increasingly restricted Eleanor's authority in Aquitaine, despite it being her inherited duchy (she remained Duchess in title, but he asserted overlordship as her husband and king).
- After their marriage, Eleanor did govern Aquitaine actively in the 1150s–early 1160s, traveling there, holding court, and managing affairs while Henry focused on England and Normandy.
- By the late 1160s, as their relationship soured and she spent more time in Poitiers, Henry began overriding her decisions—especially regarding inheritance and control. He wanted Aquitaine firmly under his (or a son's) direct control rather than allowing Eleanor independent rule, fearing it could become a base for opposition.
- The breaking point came with the 1173 revolt: Eleanor actively supported (and likely helped orchestrate) their sons' rebellion from Aquitaine, using her influence there to rally support. When Henry crushed the uprising, he captured her while she was trying to flee to France (disguised as a man, according to some accounts).
- He then **imprisoned** her for the next 15–16 years (1174–1189), mostly in England (e.g., at Salisbury, Winchester, and other castles). During this time, he completely sidelined her from Aquitaine's governance—appointing his own officials and treating the duchy as part of his domain. Even after her childbearing years ended, he didn't restore her autonomy; instead, he tightened control to prevent further challenges.
- Eleanor was only released after Henry's death in 1189 by their son **Richard I**, who restored her influence. She then acted as regent in England while Richard was on crusade, and she regained significant say in Aquitaine's affairs until her death in 1204.
In short, yes—Henry's affairs grew more ostentatious as Eleanor aged, likely exacerbating her sense of being sidelined both personally and politically. His refusal to share meaningful power in Aquitaine (even post-childbearing) stemmed from distrust, a desire for centralized control over the Angevin Empire, and the fallout from her role in the family rebellions. Their marriage, once a powerhouse alliance, became one of the most famously dysfunctional in medieval history.
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