At least I know I wasn’t around to remember this one! On this date in 1318, Eleanor of Guelders (Eleanor of Woodstock) was born. She was an English princess and a countess consort of Guelders by marriage. Her birthplace was Woodstock palace in Oxfordshire. She was named after her paternal grandmother, Eleanor of Castile. The most unusual part of her story was the issue of leprosy. She was married to reigning Count of Guelders, Reinoud II “the black.” She had a very unhappy childhood, and she was eager to please her husband. In 1338, her husband got tired of her and sent her away with accusations that she had leprosy. He tried to annul the marriage, and she turned up to contest this situation. She stripped down, thus proving she did not have leprosy. He was forced to take her back, and he died from a fall in October 1343 (serves him right!). She became regent for her 9-year-old son, but there were issues, and her lands were taken. On April 22, 1355, she died at a convent in poverty. She was 36, and she had refused to ask her brother for help. She was buried without pomp and circumstance.
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_of_Woodstock
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26570136
http://www.geni.com/people/Eleanor-of-Woodstock/6000000001057847146
