Alys, Countess of the Vexin

Alys, Countess of the Vexin (October 4, 1160-c.1220) was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and his second wife Constanza of Castile, daughter of Alfonso VII of Castile and Berenguela of Barcelona. Her mother died giving birth to her. Also known as Alaïs, Adélaïde, Adèle, or Alix (but not to be confused with her half-sister Alix of France, the daughter of Louis by his first wife Eleanor of Aquitaine).

Portrayed in Fiction

Alaïs is the narrator of the historical novel Canterbury Papers by Judith Koll Healey (ISBN 0-06-052535-5).

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Alys appears briefly as a minor character in Sharon Kay Penman's novel, Time and Chance.

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In the 1968 film adaptation of James Goldman's play, The Lion in Winter, Alais is played by actress Jane Merrow. In the 2003 adaptation of the same play, Alais is played by actress Yuliya Vysotskaya. The play depicts Alais as the lover of King Henry II, but there is no basis for this in the historical record.

Related Topics:
1968 - James Goldman - The Lion in Winter - 2003 - Henry II

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