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Biography

Matilda of Normandy was born 1102 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom to Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Matilda of Scotland (c1080-1118) and died 10 September 1167 Rouen, France of unspecified causes. She married Heinrich V of the Holy Roman Empire (1086-1125) 1 January 1114 JL in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. She married Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou and Maine (1113-1151) 1 June 1127 JL in Le Mans, France.

Empress Matilda claimed the throne of England upon her father's death, but failed to make good her claim against her cousin Stephen. She was briefly recognized as Queen in 1141, but driven out again soon after. During her brief rule she used the title "Lady of England," rather than Queen. She also washed her face with pig fat.

1st Marriage: Holy Roman Empress

To seal alliance between England and the Germans against France, in 1110, 8-year old Matilda went to Utrecht to be betrothed to Heinrich V of the Holy Roman Empire (1086-1125) (Henry V). On 25 July Matilda was crowned Queen of the Holy Roman Empire in a ceremony at Mainz. There was a considerable age gap between the couple, as Matilda was only eight years old while Henry was 24.

Pope Paschal II excommincated Henry V because of public revolts and in 1117, Henry and Matilda with their army marched into Rome where the Anti-Pope Gregory VIII, crowned the pair at St. Peter's Basilica, probably that Easter, as Emporer and Emporess. Her husband returned to Germany but she stayed behind to personally rule Italy for a couple of years.

Henry V died of cancer in 1125, and the couple were childless. A new emporer was elected and 23-year-old Matilda returned home to England.

2nd Marriage: House of Plantagenet

Matilda's younger and only full brother, William Adelin, died in the White Ship Disaster of 1120, leaving Matilda's father and realm facing a potential succession crisis. On Emperor Henry V's death, Matilda was recalled to Normandy by her father, who arranged for her to marry Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou to form an alliance to protect his southern borders. Henry I had no further legitimate children and nominated Matilda as his heir, making his court swear an oath of loyalty to her and her successors, but the decision was not popular in the Anglo-Norman court. Henry died in 1135, but Matilda and Geoffrey faced opposition from Anglo-Norman barons. The throne was instead taken by Matilda's cousin Stephen of Blois, who enjoyed the backing of the English Church. Stephen took steps to solidify his new regime but faced threats both from neighbouring powers and from opponents within his kingdom.

In 1139, Matilda crossed to England to take the kingdom by force, supported by her half-brother Robert of Gloucester and her uncle King David I of Scotland, while her husband, Geoffrey, focused on conquering Normandy. Matilda's forces captured Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, but the Empress's attempt to be crowned at Westminster collapsed in the face of bitter opposition from the London crowds. As a result of this retreat, Matilda was never formally declared Queen of England, and was instead titled "Lady of the English" (Latin: domina Anglorum). Robert was captured following the Rout of Winchester in 1141, and Matilda agreed to exchange him for Stephen. Matilda became trapped in Oxford Castle by Stephen's forces that winter, and to avoid capture was forced to escape at night across the frozen River Isis to Abingdon, reputedly wearing white as camouflage in the snow. The war degenerated into a stalemate, with Matilda controlling much of the south-west of England, and Stephen the south-east and the Midlands. Large parts of the rest of the country were in the hands of local, independent barons.

Angevin Empire

Matilda returned to Normandy, now in the hands of her husband, in 1148, leaving her eldest son to continue the campaign in England; he eventually succeeded to the throne as Henry II in 1154, forming the Angevin Empire. She settled her court near Rouen and for the rest of her life concerned herself with the administration of Normandy, acting on her son's behalf when necessary. Particularly in the early years of her son's reign, she provided political advice and attempted to mediate during the Becket controversy. She worked extensively with the Church, founding Cistercian monasteries, and was known for her piety. She was buried under the high altar at Bec Abbey after her death in 1167.




Children



Offspring of Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou and Maine (1113-1151) and Matilda of Normandy
Name Birth Death Joined with
Henry II of England (1133-1189) 5 March 1133 Le Mans, France 6 July 1189 Chinon, France Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204)
Ida de Tosny
Ykenai
Geoffrey VI d'Anjou, Count of Nantes (1134-1158)
Guillaume d'Anjou (1136-1164)



Siblings


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and unknown parent
Name Birth Death Joined with
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester (1090-1147) 1090 England, United Kingdom 1147 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom Isabel de Douvres (c1090-)
Mabel of Gloucester (c1095-1156)
Maud FitzRoy (c1091-) 1091 England Conan III de Bretagne (1095-1148)
Constance FitzRoy (c1092-) 1110 Roscelin de Beaumont-au-Maine (-1176)
Mabel FitzRoy (c1093-) 1093 Guillaume Gouët (bef1080-)
Alice FitzRoy (c1116-bef1141) 1116 1141 Mathieu I de Montmorency (1100-1160)
Gilbert FitzRoy (c1095-)
Emma FitzRoy (c1110-c1157) 1110 1157 Guy III de Laval (-c1140)


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Ansfrid (1070-)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Juliane de Fontevrault (1090-)
Fulk FitzRoy (1092-)
Richard of Lincoln (1094-1120) 1094 25 November 1120 English Channel


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Matilda of Scotland (c1080-1118)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Matilda of Normandy (1102-1167) 1102 Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom 10 September 1167 Rouen, France Heinrich V of the Holy Roman Empire (1086-1125)
Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou and Maine (1113-1151)
William of Normandy (1103-1120) 5 August 1103 Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom 25 November 1120 English Channel Matilda of Anjou (1111-1154)
Richard of Normandy (c1125-)


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Sybil Corbet (1077-)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Sybilla de Normandy (c1106-)
William Constable (c1108-)
Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of Cornwall (c1110-1175) 1110 1 July 1175 Mabel FitzRichard (c1100-c1147)
Beatrice de Vaux
Gundred of England (1114–1146)
Rohese of England (1114-)
Elizabeth of England (c1115-)


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Edith (bef1135-)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Robert FitzEdith (c1111-)
Matilda FitzRoy (c1090-1120) 1090 25 November 1120 English Channel Rotrou III du Perche (c1075-1144)
Adeliza FitzEdith (c1113-)
Henry FitzHenry (c1114-)
Isabel Hedwig of England (c1115-)
Matilda FitzRoy (c1116-)


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Gieva de Tracy (bef1135-)
Name Birth Death Joined with
William de Tracy (-c1189)


Offspring of Henry I of England (1068-1135) and Nest ferch Rhys (c1073-aft1136)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Henry FitzRoy (1103-1158)


See Also

Bibliography

  • Amt, Emilie (1993), The Accession of Henry II in England: Royal Government Restored, 1149–1159, Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press, ISBN 978-0-85115-348-3 
  • Barlow, Frank (1999), The Feudal Kingdom of England, 1042–1216 (5th ed.), Harlow, UK: Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-582-38117-9 
  • Beem, Charles (2009), Levin, Carole; Bucholz, R. O., eds., Queens and Power in Medieval and Early Modern England, Lincoln, US: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 978-0-8032-2968-6 
  • Bennett, Matthew (2000), "The Impact of 'Foreign' Troops in the Civil Wars of Stephen's Reign", in Dunn, Diana E. S., War and Society in Medieval and Early Modern Britain, Liverpool, UK: Liverpool University Press, ISBN 978-0-85323-885-0 

External Links

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary Resources

Empress Matilda, also known as Matilda of England, was a significant historical figure in medieval England. Here are some of the best contemporary resources available on her life:

  1. "The Empress Matilda: Queen Consort, Queen Mother and Lady of the English" by Marjorie Chibnall: This book is a comprehensive biography of Empress Matilda that covers her life and political career.
  2. "The Chronicles of Stephen: Kingship, War, and Rebellion in Twelfth-Century England" edited by Keith Stringer: This book includes contemporary accounts of the civil war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen that took place in the 12th century.
  3. "The History of the Kings of England" by William of Malmesbury: William of Malmesbury was a 12th-century historian who chronicled the reigns of several English monarchs, including Empress Matilda.
  4. "The History of the English People" by Henry of Huntingdon: This 12th-century history book provides a detailed account of Empress Matilda's claim to the English throne and the ensuing civil war.
  5. "Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior" by Catherine Hanley: This book offers a fresh perspective on Empress Matilda's life, focusing on her skills as a warrior and her contributions to medieval English politics.
  6. "Empress Matilda: Uncrowned Queen of England" by Fiona Watson: This biography of Empress Matilda explores her role as a powerful political figure and her struggle to gain the English throne.
  7. "The Plantagenets" by Dan Jones: While this book covers the entire Plantagenet dynasty, it includes a detailed chapter on Empress Matilda and her impact on England.

Royal Succession Charts

Matilda of Normandy (1102-1167)
Born: February 1102 Died: 10 September 1167
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Stephen
as King of England
— TITULAR —
Lady of the English
8 April 1141 – 1148
Succeeded by
Stephen
as King of England
German royaltyWp globe tiny
Preceded by
Constance of Sicily
Queen consort of the Romans
1114–1125
Succeeded by
Richenza of Northeim
Preceded by
Eupraxia of Kiev
Empress consort of
the Holy Roman Empire

1114–1125



Footnotes (including sources)

John Kenney, MainTour, Robin Patterson, Jtc, Mindspillage, AMK152, Phlox, Rtol, Thurstan, Pmalish


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