Background
She was born at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire to King Edward II of England and his queen Isabella of France.
She was born at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire to King Edward II of England and his queen Isabella of France.
She was a younger sister of Edward III of England and the second wife of Reginald II of Guelders, "the Black". Eleanor’s maternal grandfather was famous King Philip the Fair. £333 was given for her churching by father.
In 1325, there were negotiations between England and Castile for Eleanor to be betrothed to Alphonso XI of Castile, but this fell through due to the dowry.
Her husband then tried to annul the marriage. He died from a fall from his horse on 12 October 1343.
After the death of her spouse, Eleanor became the regent of Guelders for her nine-year-old son Reginald. Her regency was official and formal, but she had trouble in getting it recognized, and in 1344, she was forced to resign her post as regent.
On 22 April 1355, twelve years after she became a widow, Eleanor died in poverty in a Cistercian convent aged 36.
