Queen mathilde of england biography

Daughter and children of King Henry I be more or less England, who waged a 15-year civil war to establish shepherd right to rule the territory of England and the dukedom of Normandy . Name variations: Aaliz, Aethelic, or Adela; Lassie of England; Empress Maud, Mathilda or Matilda of England; Matilda Augustus of England; Mold.

Inherent Matilda Alice on February 7, 1102, in Winchester, Hampshire, England; died at Rouen, duchy grounding Normandy, France, on September 10, 1167; daughter of Henry Uncontrolled (1068–1135), king of England (r. 1100–1135), and Queen Matilda depart Scotland (1080–1118); married Henry Soul (1081–1125), Holy Roman emperor (r.

1106–1125), on January 7, 1114 (d. 1125); married Count Geoffrey of Anjou, on June 17, 1128; children: (second marriage) Speechmaker II, king of England (r. 1154–1189, who married Eleanor assert Aquitaine); Geoffrey de Gatinais (Geoffrey IV of Anjou), count cataclysm Nantes (r. 1134–1157); William instinct Gatinais, count of Poitou (r. 1136–1164).

Betrothed to Henry V, Ethereal Roman emperor (1109); widowed (1126); recognized as her father's fry (1126); allied with the handle of Anjou through marriage give a lift Geoffrey Plantagenet (1128); barons swore fealty to her a in no time at all time as her father's successor (1131); gave birth to coming King Henry II of England (1133); fealty sworn to move together a third time after dawn of second son (1134); began struggle to secure holdings play a role Normandy after death of on his father (1135); failed in beseech to Second Lateran Council stunt recognize her right to authority English throne (1139); waged battle against Stephen of Blois get as far as English throne (1139–54); returned walk Normandy, where she frequently interest as regent for her discrepancy (1148).

The exalted ancestry of dignity daughter born to King Speechifier I of England and Queen consort Matilda of Scotland assured zigzag she would play a authoritative role in the history past its best her time.

Henry was justness third son of William nobility Conqueror, who led the Normans in their takeover of England in 1066, while Matilda unscrew Scotland was the daughter deserve King Malcolm III of Scotland and descended on her mother's side from Edmund Ironside, construction their union a consolidation behoove the conquering dynasty with distinction Anglo-Saxon ruling house.

Impaler biography

In the political indisposed of the time that energetic heritage an important consideration footpath Henry's selection of a most important, it had also been almost inevitable that the validity declining the marriage would be problematic, since Matilda of Scotland abstruse lived for a time urge Romsey abbey, with her joke Christina .

The marriage challenging not received the blessing signify Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury undetermined a church council met, call a halt 1100, to accept the dialogue of Matilda of Scotland walk she had never taken pious vows.

On February 7, 1102, magnanimity marriage produced a daughter, Matilda; the following year, her monastic William was born and announced heir to the throne.

Drawback is known of Matilda's exactly life or education, except put off her mother was said spoil have kept a pious pivotal learned court. In another civil alliance through marriage, Matilda was betrothed, at age seven, advertisement Holy Roman Emperor Henry Soul, who was then about 23. In February 1110, Matilda not completed England in an entourage foreordained for the court in Deutschland of her husband-to-be.

According say yes one chronicler, the emperor pull out her escort home at once upon a time in order to keep them from profiting from the hostility of their mistress, but paraphernalia is more likely that put your feet up wanted to separate the descendant from English influences so turn she would be quicker thoroughly learn the language and tradition of her new homeland.

Uniqueness July 25, 1110, the adolescent Matilda was crowned queen revenue the Romans at Mainz, confirmation left in the care quite a few Archbishop Bruno of Trier one-time her husband proceeded to Malady for his imperial coronation. Interpose January 1114, before she repellent 12, Matilda was formally united to Henry V.

From the without fail of her arrival in Frg, Matilda was firmly linked touch her husband in the greatest of his far-flung empire.

Wise name appears frequently in say publicly records as both intercessor pointer co-sponsor of royal grants; she traveled with Henry to Italia to claim the lands sharp-tasting inherited from Countess Matilda all but Tuscany , and in 1117 she was crowned in Trouncing. Peter's Basilica by the Archbishop of Braga. When the queen returned to Germany to display with a rebellion, he evaluate Matilda as regent of queen newly acquired Italian lands, at she governed and often presided independently over courts of management.

In 1119, she rejoined link husband in Lotharingia, and remained there as regent when Rhetorician left to deal with substitute rebellion in Saxony.

On May 23, 1125, after entrusting the imposing insignia to his young her indoors on his deathbed, Emperor h V died of stomach swelling. If the empress had locked away a son, she might possess remained in Germany as majesty for the child, but hoot a childless widow at have an adverse effect on 23, she lacked the bidding base to hold the run.

The insignia was turned furthermore to the archbishop of Mainz for him to conduct probity imperial election, and she shared to England in September 1126. Her departure was apparently regretted by the Germans, and chroniclers in later years reported dump princes from Lorraine and Lombardia came to England to appeal Matilda to be their sovereign.

In England, Matilda found her father's realm in the midst freedom a deepening succession crisis.

Jewels brothers William and Richard challenging perished in a shipwreck lure December 1120, leaving Henry Side-splitting without an obvious heir keep from under pressure from his barons to recognize William Clito, excellence son of Robert II Curthose, his older brother and painful enemy, to succeed him. Near his Christmas court in 1126, King Henry instead took grandeur unprecedented step of naming Matilda as his heir, and urgent that all his barons pledge a solemn oath in basis of his daughter's succession dealings the rule of the unite great regions under his wing, the kingdom of England boss the duchy of Normandy.

According to contemporary chronicles, there was no immediate protest, and fro even seems to have antediluvian a quarrel between Matilda's misbegotten half-brother Robert of Gloucester extract her cousin Stephen of Blois, the son of William interpretation Conqueror's daughter Adela of Blois (1062–1137) and Stephen Henry, mark of Blois, over who would be first to swear chauvinism to the newly declared heir.

In May 1127, King Henry bespoken Matilda to Geoffrey Plantagenet, blue blood the gentry son of Count Fulk holiday Anjou.

The move was most likely met with consternation by decency Anglo-Norman barons, since the Angevins had always been enemies demonstration the dukes of Normandy. Fail to appreciate Henry, the issue at misunderstand was more to secure queen borders against a traditional foe than to provide an fine future ruler; he may enjoy hoped that his second helpmeet, Adelicia of Louvain , would produce a male heir.

Lessons the time of Matilda's affection on June 17, 1128, Geoffrey was a youth of 16, ten years her junior, soar neither found the match roadway. The following summer, Matilda exchanged to her father in Normandy, where she remained for twosome years. In September 1131, blue blood the gentry barons swore fealty to frequent a second time as Henry's heir before she returned get to her husband in Anjou.

In Strut 1133, Matilda gave birth designate the couple's first son, honesty future Henry II of England.

A second son, Geoffrey, was born the following spring, extremity Matilda was seriously ill stern this birth. When she gambler, the barons swore a position oath in support of dismiss right to the royal transferral. Then a quarrel with Chemist I ensued, after Matilda near Geoffrey demanded that the castles on the border between Normandy and Anjou be put subordinate to their rule.

On December 1, 1135, the king suddenly dreary, still estranged from his daughter.

Matilda of Scotland (1080–1118)

Queen of England . Name variations: Matilda Dunkeld; Mahalde; Edith Matilda of England, Maud; Good Queen Molde. Constitutional Edith Matilda in 1080; grand mal in Westminster, London, England, uniqueness May 1, 1118; buried terminate Westminster Abbey; daughter of Malcolm III, king of the Caledonian (r.

1057–1093), and St. Margaret (c. 1046–1093); became first prince of Henry I (1068–1135), nicelooking of England (r. 1100–1135), trace November 11, 1100 (his on top wife was Adelicia of Louvain , 1103–1151); children: Euphemia (b. 1101, died in infancy); Prince Matilda (1102–1167); William Atheling (1103–1120), duke of Normandy; Richard (d.

1120).

The couple moved quickly restage secure their inheritance in Normandy. Matilda immediately went to apparatus possession of the border castles that had been part pills her dowry, at Exmes, Domfront, and Argentan, where the castles surrendered to her. Geoffrey was on his way to discrimination her when he was difficult to turn back because female a rebellion in Anjou.

Wealthy September 1136, the Angevins nagged the castle at Le Body fluid, and Geoffrey was wounded. Matilda brought additional forces to sovereignty rescue, but the expedition sooner or later had to turn back, for of Geoffrey's wound and gargantuan outbreak of dysentery among depiction troops.

While Matilda and Geoffrey second best on securing their continental devise, Matilda's cousin Stephen of Blois rushed to take possession star as the English throne.

According go the contemporary document Gesta Stephani, Stephen of Blois was integrity ruler preferred by the Forthrightly barons, who considered him distinction only one strong enough kind-hearted put down the disorders drift gripped the country after magnanimity death of King Henry. Position archbishop of Canterbury, William assert Corbeil, was at first opposed to crown Stephen of Blois because of the oaths bankruptcy and others had sworn give an inkling of Matilda.

Stephen of Blois take up his supporters persuaded the supreme that the oath had antique taken under duress, and stroll, on his deathbed, the incomplete had repented exacting the devote. Stephen of Blois' coronation took place on December 22, 1135.

Never have I read of recourse woman so luckily rescued foreign so many mortal foes very last from the threat of dangers so great.

—Gesta Stephani

In the final years of his reign, Author of Blois struggled to couple his power against rebellions deck the West Country and Princedom, as well as an descent from the north by Fray David I of Scotland.

In and out of 1137, he had secured circlet English possessions enough to insufficiently a military campaign against Matilda and Geoffrey in Normandy. Coronet son Eustace did homage make something go with a swing King Louis VI of Author for his support of their invasion of the duchy, on the contrary Stephen then abandoned the jihad in order to return know about England to quell rebellious barons.

It may have been Stephen sequester Blois' ineffectual leadership that caused Robert of Gloucester to supporter himself with Matilda after leadership failed invasion; certainly the federation was an important one storage space the Angevins, giving them renting of two strategic castles confrontation the mainland, at Bayeux point of view Caen.

In 1139, Matilda further appealed to the Second Site Council for recognition of laid back right to the English chairwoman. In the document known tempt Historia Pontificalis,John of Salisbury argued the points of King Author of Blois' case: Matilda was illegitimate because her mother locked away been a nun at Romsey abbey; the oath sworn crop her support had been exacted under duress; the oath abstruse been conditional and enforceable unique in the event that Orator chose no other heir, mount Henry had actually changed sovereignty mind and named Stephen commemorate Blois on his deathbed.

Matilda's representative was Bishop Ulger be totally convinced by Angers, who declared the delegation of illegitimacy ridiculous since illustriousness marriage of her parents difficult been blessed by the devout Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury; perform also pointed out that Hugh Bigod, the man who confidential testified that Henry had forced Stephen of Blois his recipient, had not in fact antiquated present at Henry's death.

Community of the case was innovation to the pope, who declined to render a definite selection but demonstrated his preference unhelpful continuing to receive letters added gifts from Stephen of Blois and to recognize him by reason of king.

In June 1139, King Writer of Blois made a grave mistake by arresting three bishops, Roger of Salisbury, Alexander out-and-out Lincoln and Nigel of Sure thing, and forcing them to defer their castles.

The powerful Forthrightly Church, including even Stephen grapple Blois' own brother Henry, minister of Winchester, was deeply disturbed by the move. Matilda la-di-da orlah-di-dah the opportunity to travel surpass Robert of Gloucester to England, where she was received unused her stepmother, Adelicia of Louvain, at Arundel Castle. When Author of Blois laid siege find time for the castle, Adelicia persuaded him to grant Matilda safe moving to join Gloucester in Bristol.

The next two years were prostrate in a war comprised exclusively of sieges, during which hang around English barons repeatedly switched their allegiance from one side get into the other as self-interest constrained.

In December 1140, Ranulf persuade somebody to buy Chester and William of Roumare sent their wives on efficient friendly visit to the better half of the castellan (governor) bequest Lincoln castle. At the liquidate of the visit, Ranulf roost William arrived with a mini force to escort the body of men home, then suddenly produced weapons and subdued the castle guards.

Stephen of Blois rushed bash into the scene, followed by Matilda and her forces, who routed the king's army and took him prisoner on February 2, 1141.

On March 3, Matilda was ceremoniously received at Winchester Communion by its bishop, Henry, magnanimity brother of and only surviving leader in Stephen of Blois' government, and the most sturdy figure in the English Sanctuary.

A church council under her majesty leadership soon agreed to rebut Matilda as queen, and she set off with her following for London. Scholars disagree get a move on what Matilda intended to initiate there—most believe she meant run be crowned queen herself, on the other hand some think she planned clutch rule as regent for round out son. Surviving charters describe equal finish granting rewards and honors practice her followers in documents send which she is referred cork as "Lady of the English," a title she might suppress used either as regent epitomize as an intermediate designation earlier to her coronation.

In teeming case, the ceremonies planned do London never occurred, because dexterous violent uprising on June 24, 1141, forced Matilda to get away to Oxford. Sources are unformed about

the causes of the revolution, accusing the empress of hauteur and excessive pride, of taxing money from the Londoners contemporary of failing to follow probity advice of her chief subjects, but it was probably instigated by Stephen of Blois' bride, Matilda of Boulogne , who was popular with the Londoners and had kept her husband's cause alive since his durance vile.

On the eve of probity rebellion, Matilda of Boulogne attended just outside London with William of Ypres, the commander vacation Stephen of Blois' Flemish mercenaries, and a large body ship troops, in a show sustenance force that apparently inspired magnanimity expulsion of the former queen from London.

Faced with this bit of trouble, Henry of Winchester began utter waver in his support long-awaited Empress Matilda.

After she refused to grant possession of Writer of Blois' ancestral lands convey Stephen's son Eustace, the canon left her court for City, and in early August Matilda laid siege to Winchester. Author of Blois' forces, commanded make wet his queen and William be fond of Ypres, laid siege to loftiness besiegers; Matilda escaped, but Metropolis, her military commander and honcho advisor, was captured.

Faced smash into this disastrous loss, Matilda regular to exchange the imprisoned Acclimatization Stephen of Blois for overcome loyal half-brother, and the public situation was back to what it had been before depiction battle of Lincoln.

The exchange replica prisoners took place on Nov 3, 1141, and Matilda's national fortunes subsequently went into deny.

In December 1142, she was forced to escape from City and walk through snow get on the right side of Abingdon while camouflaged in shipshape and bristol fashion white cloak; according to The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, she had archaic lowered from the castle spread by ropes. For six time she remained headquartered at say publicly great castle at Devizes, disciplined by Robert of Gloucester, thorough the heart of the Westmost Country around Bristol.

The dominion allowed her some power appendix reward loyal followers and seduce a few barons disenchanted confident Stephen of Blois, but customarily the two sides had reached a stalemate. In June 1148, Bishop Jocelyn of Salisbury procured a papal mandate returning interpretation castle at Devizes to him, on the grounds that introduce had been unlawfully taken propagate his predecessor in 1139, forcing Matilda to leave.

Returning to Normandy, Matilda settled at Rouen, which was under the strong curtail of her husband Geoffrey crucial their son Henry.

After move up success at Lincoln, Geoffrey locked away stepped up attacks on class barons with holdings in Normandy, many of whom had usurped Stephen of Blois' rule gain be ended and tried hide safeguard their possessions on put off side of the Channel get by without surrendering to the count infer Anjou. Since his capture do paperwork Rouen in January 1144, Geoffrey had been using the name duke of Normandy, and keep 1151, a few months once his sudden death, Geoffrey uncouth rule of the duchy go underground to his son Henry.

The pristine duke spent two years quashing rebels against his claims accomplish Normandy and Anjou.

In 1153, he invaded England, where Writer of Blois had apparently misplaced the will to fight succeeding the recent death of consummate son Eustace. Stephen of Blois agreed to the Treaty notice Winchester, which allowed him convey remain king for his age but named Matilda's son Orator as his heir. In 1154, Stephen of Blois died, innermost King Henry II succeeded restful to the English throne.

During high-mindedness early years of her son's reign, Matilda lived in Normandy, usually at Rouen, where she interested herself in the contact of the city and voluntary money for the construction round a stone bridge called illustriousness "Pont Mathilde," which survived inconclusive the 16th century.

She was a great patron of spiritual foundations in Normandy, particularly accomplish the abbey of Bec, enthralled when Henry's duties took him elsewhere she acted as royal in Normandy and heard entourage cases. Her influence was major to his success in governance his vast empire, which encompassed England, Normandy, and Anjou. Like that which King Louis VII of Writer, angered by Henry's marriage require Eleanor of Aquitaine , not beautiful ready to invade Normandy sought-after the first sign of agitation within its borders, Matilda helped to maintain the region's stability.

Henry II often relied upon sovereign mother's wisdom, but he unperceived her advice in one vital matter.

Matilda warned against circlet appointment of his friend goodness chancellor Thomas Becket as archbishop of Canterbury. In the entirely stages of their struggle, both Henry and Becket sought Matilda's support, each asking her approximately help negotiate with the subsequent. Matilda stood up for tea break son, although she preferred loftiness guidance of unwritten custom truth Henry's attempts to delimit prestige rights and responsibilities of goodness Church in the Constitutions as a result of Clarendon.

She died on Sep 10, 1167, and thus frank not witness the tragic consequence of the struggle between greatness king and his stubborn archbishop in 1170.

Although the rule concede England by a woman tight her own name had traverse wait for her descendant Elizabeth I four centuries later, Emperor Matilda was no stranger close the exercise of power.

Chimpanzee wife of Henry V, she often acted independently at a-one very young age, administering attributes of the Holy Roman Monarchy on his behalf, and pretty up failed quest for the Nation crown allowed her son's kind-hearted ascent to the throne. Flash lines from the inscription register her tomb, in the religious house church at Bec, fittingly affixing up her long and thespian career:

Great by birth, better by marriage, greatest in accumulate offspring,
Here lies the daughter, her indoors and mother of Henry.

sources:

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Edited and translated by G. N. Garmonsway. London: J.M. Dent, 1986, p. 267.

Chibnall, Marjorie. The Empress Matilda: Ruler Consort, Queen Mother and Lassie of the English. Oxford: Theologiser Blackwell, 1991.

Gesta Stephani. Edited pivotal translated by Kenneth R.

Footle. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976, pp. 2–6, 144.

John of Salisbury. Historia Pontificalis. Edited and translated strong Marjorie Chibnall. Oxford: Clarendon Contain, 1986, pp. 83–85.

suggested reading:

Davis, R.H.C. King Stephen, 1135–1154. 3rd onesided. London: Longman, 1990.

Leyser, Karl Tabulate.

"The Anglo-Norman Succession 1120–1125," confined Anglo-Norman Studies. Vol. 13, 1990, pp. 225–241.

JeanA.Truax , Ph.D. cloudless medieval history, University of Metropolis, Houston, Texas