From Melissa Snell,
Your Guide to Medieval History.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Geoffrey & Philippa Chaucer: He is considered the quintessential medieval English poet. She was his devoted wife for more than twenty years. While they were wed Geoffrey Chaucer led a busy, successful life in service to the king. After her death, he endured a solitary existence and wrote his most notable works, including Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales.

Henry Plantaganet & Eleanor of Aquitaine: At the age of 30, the bold, beautiful Eleanor of Aquitaine was divorced from her husband, the meek and mild King Louis VII of France, and married the brash young 18-year-old Henry Plantaganet, future king of England. The two would have a tempestuous marriage, but Eleanor bore Henry eight children -- two of them kings.

Henry Tudor & Elizabeth of York: After his defeat of Richard III, Henry Tudor became king, and he sealed the deal by marrying the daughter of an undisputed king of England (Edward IV). But was Elizabeth really happy married to the Lancastrian enemy of her Yorkist family? Well, she gave him seven children, including the future king Henry VIII.

Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn: After decades of marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which produced a daughter but no sons, Henry VIII threw tradition to the wind in pursuit of the captivating Anne Boleyn. His actions would ultimately result in a split with the Catholic Church. Sadly, Anne also failed to give Henry an heir, and when he tired of her, she lost her head.

John of England & Isabella: When John married Isabella of Angoulême, it caused some problems, not least because she was engaged to someone else.

Justinian & Theodora: Considered by some scholars to be the greatest emperor of medieval Byzantium, Justinian was a great man with an even greater woman behind him. With Theodora's support, he reclaimed significant portions of the western empire, reformed Roman law and rebuilt Constantinople. After her death, he achieved little.

Lancelot & Guinevere: When political necessity joins a young woman to a king, should she ignore the dictates of her heart? Guinevere didn't, and her passionate affair with Arthur's greatest knight would lead to the downfall of Camelot.

Louis IX & Margaret: Louis was a saint. But he was also a mama's boy. He was only 12 when his father died, and his mother Blanche served as regent for him. She also chose his wife. Yet Louis was devoted to his bride Margaret, and together they had 11 children, while Blanche grew jealous of her daughter-in-law and died with her nose out of joint.

Merlin & Nimue: Arthur's most trusted advisor may have been a wizard, but Merlin was also a man, susceptible to the charms of women. Nimue (a.k.a.Vivien, Nineve or Niniane) was so charming she was able to ensorcel Merlin and trap him in a cave, where he was unable to help Arthur in his time of darkest trouble.

Petrarch & Laura: Like Dante and Boccaccio, founder of Renaissance Humanism Francesco Petrarca had his muse: the lovely Laura. The poems he dedicated to her inspired poets of succeeding generations, most notably Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser.

Philip of Spain & Bloody Mary: Poor Mary, the Catholic queen of England, loved her husband madly. But Philip couldn't stand the sight of her. To make matters worse, the largely Protestant population of her country simply would not convert back to Catholicism, and they resented the presence of a Catholic foreigner in Mary's household. Heartsick and stressed, Mary had several hysterical pregnancies and died at the age of 42.

More couples on page three.

Think you know your famous couples? Try the Medieval Couples Quiz.