Matilda, the Empress [1104-1167] -- Lady
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HRE of Germany (1114-1125)
Countess of Anjou
Domina Anglorum
Queen Consort
Queen Mother
a/k/a
English, Lady of the: MatildaMatilda Augusta
Matilda the Good
Maud, Empress
Mold, Empress
Ęthelic, Aaliz
A remarkable woman.
Her father, ¤King Henry I, named her his heir after her brother ¤William was drowned in the White Ship disaster (1120). When her father died, however, she was out of the country and her cousin, ¤Stephen of Blois usurped the throne. There followed several years of inconclusive civil war, and Matilda gained the throne when she captured Stephen in February, 1141. She was named "Lady of the English", but did not press for outright coronation as Queen, as this would be unprecedented and would likely not be accepted by the barons.
In any case, her arrogance and tactless demands for money provoked the citizenry to chase her away to Oxford before she could be crowned queen. Normandy had been in her husband ¤Geoffrey's possession since 1144, and she retired there in 1148, remaining near Rouen to watch over the interests of her eldest son, who became duke of Normandy in 1150 and ¤King Henry II of England in 1154. She spent the remainder of her life in Normandy exercising a steadying influence over Henry II's continental dominions.
Buried at Rouen, her epitath reads:
"Great by birth, greater by marriage, greatest in her offspring.
Here lies the daughter, wife, and mother of Henry." IS/publishing/Celeb/people/NORM123.htm.IH">
Chronology |
1114-1125 | HRE of Germany |
Bookmarks (off-site links) |
- Works by
- Analyses, critiques and interpretations
- Letters from Matilda, Queen of England, to Saint Anselm Presents a plea from the Queen to the Archbishop of Canterbury trying to persuade him to end his fasting. Written around the year 1100.
- Works about
- Biographical
- Specific periods, events, aspects
- Empress Matilda: British Monarchs
- GENUKI: Empresses
- Matilda - Britannica.com
- Queen Matilda
- Matilda, called the Empress Maud (1102-1167)
- Stephen and Maud Mentions a few of her more thrilling escapes from Stephen's grasp.
- Matilda, queen of England
- Genealogy
- Memorials, tributes, shrines
- Bibliographies and Link Farms
- Medieval Women Writers - Matilda
- Empress Matilda, Queen of England 1141-1167 Overstates her reign. She was forced to yield to Stephen in November 1141 and fled the country, for a reign of 9 months.
- Book Review: The Forgotten Queen (by Haley Elizabeth Garwood) : BH
- Biographical
- Historical context, background
- English Anarchy & Geoffrey de Mandeville - Scourge of the Fens
- Border Discoveries Online: Heritage & Garden Tours in Britain besieged by Stephen in the civil war with Matilda
- An illustrated tour of the church of St. Peter's, Nottingham - part 1 A massacre of Stephen's supporters occurred here in 1140
- Historical Timeline
- EMPRESS MATILDA TIME LINE AND BIOGRAPHY LINKS
- The Wiltshire Web - Edington Priory Mathilda was given shelter in Cricklade
- Stephen's Claim to the Throne
- Gallery
Associated |
- Father: ¤Henry I Beauclerc [1068-1135] King of England
- Cousin: ¤Stephen of England [~1096-1154] English monarch, King of England
- Son: ¤Henry II Curtmantle [1133-1189] English monarch, King of England
- Husband: ¤Geoffrey V [1110-1151] Founder of the Plantagenet dynasty, Duke of Normandy
- Brother: ¤William the Ętheling, Duke of Normandy [<1108-1120]
