Spanish royals cause a stir

While Denmark had it easy picking a name for their heir and Belgium and Sweden used recent history to inspire choices, other European monarchies have delved a bit deeper into their pasts and caused a bit of a stir while doing it.  In Spain, the choice of Leonor for the first child of heir to the throne, Felipe, came totally out of the blue.

 

Infanta Leonor of Spain with her parents, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, and the King and Queen of Spain.  Her cousin, Pablo Urdangarin, stands in front of King Juan Carlos.

But once the surprise had passed, a long list of Spanish royal Eleanors came to light as role models for a future queen.  The name first entered the House of Castile in 1177 when Eleanor, the second daughter of Henry II of England and his queen consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine, married Alfonso VIII.  The new Queen of Castile wielded considerable political power and she enjoyed a successful reign until her husband died in 1214 when she herself became ill, dying soon afterwards .  Her name was passed to her granddaughter and the royal families played queen consort swap, this new Eleanor of Castile arriving in England to marry Edward I and become queen consort.

Eleanor of Castile was the great granddaughter of the first Eleanor, the Duchess of Aquitaine who became Queen Consort of France and then of England.

 

 

No one is quite sure what the name Eleanor means with some linking it to the name Helen or Elena.  It was most likely a name created for that great medieval monarch, Queen Consort Eleanor of Aquitaine, who ruled England as consort from 1154 to 1189 and then exerted her influence as Queen Dowager until her death in 1204.  She was the mother of two kings, a young king, two queens and a duchess among others and her power was unrivalled by many men let alone women.

 

 



Eleanor of Aquitaine was a power player of epic proportions - her control of her lands, her tenants and the men around her has never really been rivaled

 

 

Eleanor's mother was Aenor and it's thought she was named after her, the world 'alia' meaning other being tagged on the front of her name to give Aliaenor or the other Aenor.  Whatever it's origins, her influence meant that it was picked up and used by noble families across western Europe.  It survived as a royal name well into the 18th century with a Queen of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora, bringing it to prominence again.  Her unique place as a Queen Regnant who became a Queen Consort, being forced to abdicate in favour of her husband, adds another legend to the name.

 

 



 

Ulrika Eleonora was Queen Regnant of Sweden from 1718 to 1720

 

 

Given how long her influence has lasted, Eleanor of Aquitaine is a pretty formidable role model for any young royal.  But the presence of another future queen with the name might be enough to put the Cambridges of using it for a first born daughter who will one day be queen of her country.