Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband

Summary

Noble Blood: Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband

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

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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.

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Transcript

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[Dana Schwartz]

To Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grim and Mild from Erin Manke. Listener discretion advised. In 1141, Eleanor Vaquitaine went with her little sister Petronilla on a summer holiday in Poitou. This wasn't unusual, as the two were inseparable throughout their lives. Petronilla and Eleanor spent their childhood joined at the hip. Even when Eleanor got married to the king of France, Louis vii, Petronilla joined her household following her from Orleans to Paris. But Eleanor was a little worried about her little sister. By 11:41, Petronilla had reached, as historian Marion Mead puts it, the spinsterly age of 19 without finding a husband. Petronilla was an attractive bachelorette. She was known for her beauty, she had plenty of property to her name in Burgundy, and she wielded political power by nature of her position in the royal court. But no one had come calling on her, and she remained single. That was all about to change. On this trip, Petronilla's brother in law, Louis vii, had brought along the dashing Count Ralph of Vermandois, Senchel of France. Petronilla and Ralph had actually met before at Louis and Eleanor's wedding. But it wasn't until this trip that sparks really began to fly. Even though he was 35 years older than Petronilla and had one eye missing from battle, Ralph was known for being quite the seducer. According to a contemporary, he was always dominated by lust. Petronilla also had a reputation for possessing a strong sex drive and few inhibitions. In the words of Marion Mead, as the court noticed them getting closer and closer, it was clear that this affair was hardly platonic. It seemed after all this time, Petronilla had found her winning suitor. But there was one big problem. Ralph of Vermandois was already married. His wife was Eleanor of Blois, either a sister or a niece of Count Theobald IV of Blois, one of the most powerful nobles in France. That, too, did nothing to deter Petronilla, who insisted that she would have no other husband, regardless of the cost. I'm Dana Schwartz, and this is noble blood. Even though it was certainly controversial to set up her sister with a married man, Eleanor of Aquitaine actually supported Petronilla's union. If you discount the whole already married thing, Ralph was a good match for Petronilla as a close relative of the king and one of the most powerful lords in France. Moreover, a marriage between Petronilla and Ralph would have several political advantages. Eleanor hated Theobald, the relative of Ralph's current wife, and she took particular pleasure in the thought of potentially alienating him from the royal family. Her sister's union would also shore up King Louis succession plan, because if Eleanor failed to produce a child, Ralph could have claimed the ducal title. Better that he be married to Eleanor's little sister to keep the title and power within the close family, so to speak. Besides, if Petronilla married Ralph, Eleanor would get to keep her sister nearby. And so Eleanor encouraged Ralph to have his current marriage annulled. And she worked on getting her own husband to throw his weight behind that decision. At Eleanor's prompting, King Louis agreed to the match. And so, with the royal blessing, Ralph left his wife and moved in with Petronilla. Now all they needed to do was wait for Ralph's annulment to be officially granted. At the end of 1411, Louis found three bishops, one of whom was Ralph's own brother, who were willing to perform the annulment on grounds of consanguinity. They alleged that Ralph and his soon to be ex wife shared a common ancestor, rendering their marriage forbidden, even though there was no actual evidence that proved it. No matter. The annulment was performed, and shortly after, in the beginning of 1142, those same bishops officiated Ralph's wedding to Petronilla. But the happy couple wouldn't have long to enjoy the honeymoon phase. Ralph's ex wife moved in with her powerful relative, Count Theobald IV of Ploix, who was not at all pleased with the way the situation had unfolded. Theobald drew up documents aiming to reverse the bishop's decision. He alleged that Ralph's annulment and remarriage were invalid because Ralph had not asked for the Pope's permission and had in fact gone behind the Church's back by appealing to King Louis instead. Louis, by conscripting three bishops to perform the annulment, was flouting the authority of the Church and interfering with what was clearly a spiritual matter. Bernard of Clairvaux, a powerful abbot, intervened in the conflict on the side of Count Theobald. But Bernard wasn't exactly unbiased. A decade earlier, he had actually beefed with Eleanor and Petronilla's father, Duke William X, because the duke initially refused to support Pope Innocent ii. This only fueled Bernard's resentment of Ralph's marriage to Petronilla, and he wrote an angry letter to Pope Innocent decrying the marriage. That summer, the Pope arranged a church council in Champagne. He sent over a papal legate from Rome to preside over the council, who in the end, reaffirmed the validity of Ralph's first marriage and excommunicated Ralph, Petronilla and the three bishops who had performed the annulment. Louis and Eleanor were incensed. Separating Ralph and Petronilla could potentially cause even more drama now in the royal household. Because Petronilla was pregnant, Louis refused to acknowledge the legate's sentence, which he saw as a threat to his authority. He would stop at nothing to keep Ralph and Petronilla together and to get revenge on Theobald, even if it meant turning to war. In January 1143, Louis VII led an army into Champagne. This was Theobald's domain, and Louis aimed to punish him for meddling in the Petronilla and Ralph affair. Louis took refuge in an encampment on the La Fortia hills, watching his troops march towards Theobald's castle. Arrows rained down on Louis forces from the castle towers, but his archers fired back by launching flaming arrows over the walls. The castle burst into flames, which soon engulfed the entire town. Townspeople took shelter in the parish church, but soon it caught fire as well, burning to death. Several hundred people trapped inside, among them many women and children. By the end of the battle, over a thousand people had died. It was a gruesome scene. According to Marion Meade, Louis army left, quote, behind a carpet of ravaged fields and smoking villages, corpses pierced by lances and disemboweled horses lying in frozen raspberry pool. King Louis watched from his encampment, filled with guilt and grief. For many days after, he would not get out of bed, refusing to speak. He returned to Paris, ashamed and depressed, haunted by the massacre. Eleanor was dismayed to find her husband so traumatized by the event that had taken place at Vitry. The king would wake up in the middle of the night seeing, sobbing, or spend hours of the day staring into space, completely numb. Eleanor tried to convince him that the massacre was not his fault and that this war against Theobald was warranted, given that it protected the honor of their family. But Louis was not convinced. He didn't think that victory over Count Theobald had called for so much bloodshed and so much innocent blood. Bloodshed. Still, he went back to Champagne and the war continued and his army marched through the countryside. After months of fighting, Louis and Eleanor presented a peace treaty to Count Theobald. The royal couple promised to restore his possessions if he reversed Ralph and Petronilla's excommunication and allowed them to marry. Abbot Bernard again stepped into the conflict, suggesting that Pope Innocent accept Louis and Eleanor's demands for long enough for Louis to recall his troops and then reinstate Petronilla and Ralph's excommunication immediately after he wrote. Thus artifice would be outwitted by artifice and peace obtained without the tyrant gaining anything. Sure enough, according to Bernard's plan, the Pope undid the excommunication and Louis extracted his troops from Theobald's territory. Then the Pope asked Ralph to leave Petronilla. Ralph refused, and the Pope excommunicated them both. Again. Louis, in a frenzy, sent his army back to Champagne, and the war continued. Bernard wrote Louis a letter condemning him for the destruction he had wrought, writing, 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. I have spoken harshly because I fear an even harsher fate for you. By the summer of 1143, it seemed as though the conflict would never be resolved. Louis VII refused to back down, and Theobald was threatening to involve the entire north of France in the war. The enmity between Louis and Theobald grew even stronger when Louis accused Theobald of hypocritically flouting the Church's rules by setting up consanguineous marriages for his relatives, Bernard fired back at Louis. How has the king got the effrontery to try so hard to lay down laws for others about consanguinity when it is clear that he himself is living with his cousin with the third degree? There actually was nothing to back up his allegation that Louis and Eleanor were related. But Bernard figured that if Louis and Eleanor could make up false rumors, he could too. Any attempt to resolve this impasse stalled when Pope innocent died on September 24, 1143. There was the opportunity for his successor to lift the second excommunication on Petronilla and Ralph and finally put an end to this conflict. But the new pope refused. In early 1444, Bernard arranged a peace conference that devolved into chaos when a baron accused Louis of being Ralph's puppet. Finally, in October 1144, Eleanor of Aquitaine headed towards a deserted chamber of the Abbey of St. Denis to meet privately with Bernard of Clairvaux. We don't know whether Louis or Bernard or even the queen herself had been the one to call the meeting, but its results would determine once and for all if the war would continue. It was in Eleanor's hands. Despite being two of the most powerful figures in France before this meeting, Bernard and Eleanor of Aquitaine had actually never met. When they were in the same room together, they had regarded each other from a distance. Bernard was suspicious of women in general, seeing them as snares of Satan. Legend has it that Bernard once looked at an attractive girl and was filled with such shame that he threw himself into an icy pond and stayed there until he almost froze. Because no one else was in the room during this meeting between Bernard and Eleanor, we don't know for sure how things went down. That said, one of Bernard's hagiographers recorded an account of what happened as the more powerful one in the room. Allegedly, Eleanor started off emphatically, pleading her case, trying to convince Bernard to pardon Petronilla and Ralph and allow them to marry. But over the course of their conversation, Bernard took the other hand. Bernard ordered Eleanor to stop interfering in political matters. Perhaps shocked by his harshness, or perhaps realizing that her sister's marriage was a lost cause, Eleanor allegedly burst into tears. She explained that she had thrown herself into politics as a means of escaping her personal woes. She had a miscarriage during the first months of her marriage and had not gotten pregnant since. She worried that her infertility was God's punishment for defending Petronilla's bigamous marriage. She asked Bernard if he could plead to God on her behalf to grant her a child. Bernard replied that if she convinced Louis to make peace with Theobald, she would have a child. Within weeks, Louis removed his troops from Theobald's territory, while the Pope continued to hold his ban on Petronilla and Ralph's union. Even though Eleanor did not successfully campaign for her sister's marriage, she did get something she wanted. In 1145, Eleanor conceived and gave birth to a daughter, Marie, Countess of Champagne. Meanwhile, even though Ralph and Petronilla were still excommunicated, they tried to remain in the good graces of the Church by establishing religious houses. Eleanor and Louis continued to press the couple's case before they left on Crusade in 1147. Finally, when Ralph's first wife died in 1148, Pope Eugenius III recognized the validity of Ralph and Petronilla's marriage. This good news was likely a relief to Petronilla, Ralph, Eleanor and Louis, who had all been fighting tirelessly for the couple's official recognition for years. But Bernard of Clairvaux couldn't help but interfere one more time. He responded with two ominous that their marriage would not last long and that their children would have no children of their own. Both of these predictions would ultimately come true. Ralph died just four years later on October 14, 1152, and though the couple had three children, they would not have any grandchildren. Their son died in his early 20s, and their two daughters married four times between them, but did not produce any children of their own. It seems that God might have had something to say about their marriage after all, that's the story of Petronilla of Aquitaine. 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[Dana Schwartz]

Today in 1131, Eleanor and Petronilla's father, Duke William X of Aquitaine, refused to support Pope Innocent after a conflict about papal succession. Bernard of Clairvaux, a fierce supporter of Pope Innocent, headed to Aquitaine to change his mind. According to legend, Bernard invited Duke William to a mass at the Church of La Caudrae. William stood by the door since he was under threat of excommunication because of his refusal to align with the new pope. In a dramatic flourish right as communion was being passed out, Bernard marched right up to the duke and begged him not to despise God as he did God's servants. At that moment, William fell to his knees and pledged his allegiance to Pope Innocent. Dramatic as that scene sounds, it's unlikely that it actually happened. In reality, Duke William didn't yield to Pope innocent authority until 1135, but this image of Duke William's conversion became a common motif in Catholic art. Depictions of Bernard placidly offering the Eucharist while William is fainting or falling over appear in churches and museums throughout Europe. In most of these images, William's crown lies on the ground as a symbol of his submission. It makes for a pretty good painting. Noble Blood is a production of iHeartRadio and Grim and Mild from Erin Manke. Nobleblood is hosted by me, Dana Schwartz, with additional writing and research by Hannah Johnston, Hannah Zwick, Courtney Sender, Amy Hite and Julia Milani. The show is edited and produced by Jesse Funk, with supervising producer Rima Il Kayali and executive producers Aaron Menke, Trevor Young and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

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