Noble Blood: Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband

Host: Dana Schwartz | Production: iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild | Release Date: April 29, 2025

Introduction

In the captivating episode titled "Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband," Dana Schwartz delves into the tumultuous life of Petronilla of Aquitaine. This episode explores the intricate web of love, politics, and power that surrounded one of history’s most intriguing royal figures. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Schwartz brings to life the challenges and controversies that Petronilla faced as she navigated her personal desires amidst the expectations of royalty.

Early Life and Close Bond with Eleanor of Aquitaine

Petronilla and her sister, Eleanor of Aquitaine, shared an inseparable bond from childhood. Schwartz narrates, “Petronilla and Eleanor spent their childhood joined at the hip” ([00:50]). This close relationship endured even as Eleanor married King Louis VII of France, with Petronilla accompanying her to the royal household in Paris. Despite Petronilla’s beauty, substantial property holdings in Burgundy, and inherent political influence, she remained unmarried by the age of 19, a fact that concerned Eleanor.

The Affair with Count Ralph of Vermandois

The turning point in Petronilla’s life came with the arrival of Count Ralph of Vermandois, King Louis VII’s brother-in-law. Although Ralph was 35 years her senior and already married to Eleanor of Blois, Petronilla was undeterred. Schwartz explains, “Petronilla insisted that she would have no other husband, regardless of the cost” ([05:20]). This unwavering determination set the stage for a controversial and politically charged union.

Annulment and Royal Intervention

Eleanor of Aquitaine supported Petronilla’s pursuit of Ralph, recognizing the strategic advantages such a marriage would offer. By leveraging her influence, Eleanor persuaded King Louis VII to annul Ralph’s existing marriage on dubious grounds of consanguinity, even though there was no concrete evidence to support the claim. Schwartz notes, “The annulment was performed, and shortly after, in the beginning of 1142, those same bishops officiated Ralph's wedding to Petronilla” ([10:15]).

Conflict with Count Theobald IV of Blois

The annulment and subsequent remarriage incited fierce opposition from Ralph’s ex-wife and her powerful relative, Count Theobald IV of Blois. Theobald challenged the legitimacy of the annulment, accusing King Louis VII of overstepping his authority and meddling in ecclesiastical matters. Enter Bernard of Clairvaux, a prominent abbot with a personal vendetta against Petronilla’s family. Bernard sided with Theobald, arguing that the annulment was invalid without papal approval. As Schwartz highlights, “Bernard of Clairvaux... wrote an angry letter to Pope Innocent decrying the marriage” ([15:40]).

The War and the Massacre at Vitry

Refusing to relent, King Louis VII led a military campaign against Theobald's forces in Champagne. This brutal conflict culminated in the Massacre at Vitry, where Ralph’s ex-wife orchestrated a siege that resulted in the deaths of over a thousand innocent townsfolk. Schwartz describes the aftermath with haunting imagery: “Corpses pierced by lances and disemboweled horses lying in frozen raspberry pool” ([13:30]). The massacre left King Louis VII grappling with immense guilt and trauma, profoundly affecting his relationship with Eleanor.

Failed Negotiations and Escalating Tensions

Attempts at peace negotiations were thwarted by Bernard’s relentless opposition. When Pope Innocent died in 1143, succeeding popes refused to lift the excommunications, leaving the conflict unresolved. A dramatic meeting between Eleanor and Bernard in October 1144 became a pivotal moment. According to Schwartz, Eleanor implored Bernard to pardon Petronilla and Ralph, revealing her personal vulnerabilities: “I had thrown myself into politics as a means of escaping my personal woes... I worry that my infertility is God's punishment for defending Petronilla's bigamous marriage” ([18:55]).

Resolution and Aftermath

Ultimately, Ralph’s first wife passed away in 1148, allowing the papacy under Pope Eugenius III to legitimize Ralph and Petronilla’s marriage officially. Despite this victory, Bernard of Clairvaux prophesied doom for their union, a prediction that came to fruition with Ralph’s death in 1152 and the couple’s inability to produce surviving grandchildren. Schwartz concludes, “It seems that God might have had something to say about their marriage after all” ([19:10]).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dana Schwartz: “Petronilla and Eleanor spent their childhood joined at the hip” ([00:50]).

• Dana Schwartz: “Petronilla insisted that she would have no other husband, regardless of the cost” ([05:20]).

• Marion Meade (historian): “Corpses pierced by lances and disemboweled horses lying in frozen raspberry pool” ([13:30]).

• Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux: “I can tell you that provoked by constant excesses you commit almost daily, I am determined that in the future, to the best of my limited capacity, I shall expose the whole truth about you” ([16:50]).

• Dana Schwartz: “It seems that God might have had something to say about their marriage after all” ([19:10]).

Conclusion

The episode masterfully illustrates how Petronilla of Aquitaine's personal choices intertwined with the broader political and religious dynamics of her time. Dana Schwartz not only recounts a tale of love and defiance but also highlights the profound consequences that such unions could have in a landscape dominated by power struggles and ecclesiastical authority. "Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband" serves as a compelling narrative of resilience and the complex interplay between personal agency and political maneuvering in medieval Europe.