Eleanor of Aquitaine was married as soon as her father died

Before her father passed away, Duke William worried for Eleanor's safety since he knew she would be a highly sought-after unmarried woman. King Louis VI of France was named as Eleanor's protector. When William passed away in 1137, King Louis VI was quite ill, but he moved quickly to make sure that his son, Prince Louis, would wed Eleanor in the same year. Eleanor was 15 years old and Louis was 17 when they got married in Bordeaux's Saint-André Cathedral. Soon after, King Louis VI passed away, and his son succeeded him as king of France the next year.

Her formal education included Latin as well as Provencal, the language of Aquitaine. On Good Friday 1137, in the city of Compostella while on pilgrimage, Duke William X passed away. She probably had blond hair and blue eyes, which at this time were considered marks of extraordinary good looks. After their wedding, on August 8, both Eleanor and Louis were consecrated duke and duchess of Aquitaine. News reached them during the betrothal banquet that Louis' father, king Louis VI had died a week earlier. On December 25, 1137 Eleanor was crowned queen of France.