Who better to kick off "Who's Who This Week" in Women's History Month than the lady generally regarded as the most powerful woman in High Medieval Europe? None other than the indomitable Eleanor of Aquitaine, of course! Her personal holdings gave her leverage in both her marriages -- first to the King of France, then to the King of England -- and she had some influence on the history of both countries. With the help of her daughter, Marie, Eleanor sponsored the Courtly Love literary movement.

Eleanor of Aquitaine even went on Crusade.

Find out more about the extraordinary Eleanor of Aquitaine in these resources:

• Who's Who Profile of Eleanor
• Love Blossoms: The Origins of Courtly Love
• Portrait of Eleanor
• Eleanor in Print
• Eleanor on the Web

The graphic is from Queens of England, published in 1894. It is in the public domain.

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