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Individual Record for: Matilda DE BRITTANY (female)

Source:

bulkeley.txt

Notes:

Heir to her father's (Henry I) throne but was usurped by Stephen Matilda 's son, Henry of Anjou, forced the barons to recognize him as the he ir to the throne upon the death of Stephen.



Matilda is the Latin form of Maud, and the name of the only surviving legi timate child of King Henry I. She was born in 1101, generally it is sa id at Winchester, but recent research indicates that she was actually bo rn at the Royal Palace in Sutton Courtenay (Berkshire). In somethi ng of a political coup for her father, Matilda was betrothed to the Germ an Emperor, Henry V, when she was only eight. They were married on 7th Ja nuary, 1114. She was twelve and he was thirty-two. Unfortunately, the re were no children and on the Emperor's death in 125, Matilda was recall ed to her father's court. Matilda's only legitimate brother had been kill ed in the disastrous Wreck of the White Ship in late 1120 and she was n ow her father's only hope for the continuation of his dynasty. The baro ns swore allegiance to the young princess and promised to make her queen a fter her father's death. She herself needed heirs though and in April 112 7, Matilda found herself obliged to marry Prince Geoffrey of Anjou and Mai ne (the future Geoffrey V, Count of those Regions). He was thirteen, s he twenty three. It is thought that the two never go on. However, despi te this unhappy situation, they had three sons in four years. Being abse nt in Anjou at the time of her father's death on December 1, 1135, possib ly due to pregnancy, Matilda was not in much of a position to take up t he throne which ahd been promised her and she quickly lost out to her fast -moving cousin, Stephen. With her husband, she attempted to take Normand y. With encouragement from supporters in England, long-standing civil w ar from the powerbase of her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, in the We st Country. After three years of armed struggle, she at last gained the u pper hand at the Battle of Lincoln, in February 1141, where King Stephen w as captured. However, despite being declared Queen or "Lady of the Englis h" at Winchester and winning over Stephen's brother, Henry of Blois, the p owerful Bishop of Winchester, Matilda alienated the citizens of London wi th her arrogant manner. She failed to secure her coronation and the Londo ners joined a renewed push from Stepehn's Queen and laid siege to the Empr ess in Winchester. She managed to escape to the West but while commandi ng her rear guard, her brother was captured by the enemy. Matilda was obl iged to swap Stephen for Robert on November 1, 1141. Thus the King soon r eimposed his Royal authority. In 1148, after the death of her half-brothe r, Matilda finally returned to Normandy, leaving her son, who, in 154, wou ld become Henry II, to fight on in England. She died at Rouen on Septemb er 10, 1169 and was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, though some of her entrai ls may possibly have been later interred in her father's foundation at Rea ding Abbey.



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or Maud, 1102-67, queen of England, daughter of Henry I of England. Hen ry arranged a marriage for her with Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, and she w as sent to Germany, betrothed, and five years later (1114) married to hi m. Empress Matilda was popular in Germany and seemed more German than Engl ish, but after her husband?s death (1125) she returned to England. Since h er only legitimate brother had died (1120), her father devoted himse lf to securing for her the succession to the English throne, and the baro ns did in fact recognize her as Henry?s heir in 1127. In 1128 she marri ed Geoffrey IV of Anjou, to whom she bore three sons, the eldest being t he future Henry II. Both she and her marriage were unpopular in England, h owever, and on Henry I?s death in 1135 the barons gave their support to Ma tilda?s cousin Stephen, who seized the throne. In 1139, Matilda, aid ed by her half-brother Robert, earl of Gloucester, undertook to recover t he throne. After the defeat and capture of Stephen in 1141, she was elect ed ?Lady of the English?; but her arrogance alienated supporters, and t he captive Stephen had to be freed in a prisoner exchange for Glouceste r. Before the end of the year her forces were routed at Winchester, and t he same powerful clergy who had enthroned her then deposed her and declar ed for Stephen. The struggle continued, but never greatly in her favo r. In 1148 she withdrew; her son Henry inherited her claim to the throne a nd was recognized as heir in 1153. Matilda spent her remaining years in No rmandy and became noted for her charity.

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright b 2001 Columbia Univer sity Press.

Matilda is the Latin form of Maud, and the name of the only surviving legi timate child of King Henry I. She was born in 1101, generally it is sa id at Winchester, but recent research indicates that she was actually bo rn at the Royal Palace in Sutton Courtenay (Berkshire). In somethi ng of a political coup for her father, Matilda was betrothed to the Germ an Emperor, Henry V, when she was only eight. They were married on 7th Jan uary 1114. She was twelve and he was thirty-two. Unfortunately there we re no children and on the Emperor's death in 1125, Matilda was recall ed to her father's court. Matilda's only legitimate brother had been kill ed in the disastrous Wreck of the White Ship in late 1120 and she was n ow her father's only hope for the continuation of his dynasty. The baro ns swore allegiance to the young
Princess and promis ed to make her queen after her father's death. She her self needed heirs though and in April 1127, Matilda found herself oblig ed to marry Prince Geoffrey of Anjou and Maine (the future Geoffrey V, Cou nt of those Regions). He was thi rteen, she twenty-three. It is thought th at the two never got on. However, despite this unhappy situation they h ad had three sons in four years. Being absent in Anjou at the time of h er father's death on 1st December 1135, possibly due to pregnancy, Matil da was not in much of a position to take up the thro ne which had been pro mised her and she quickly lost out to her fast-moving co usin, Stephen. Wi th her husband, she attempted to take Normandy. With encouragement from su pporters in England long-standing Civil War from the powerbase of her half -brother, Robert of Gloucester, in the West Country. After three yea rs of armed struggle, she at last gained the upper hand at the Battle of L incoln, in February 1141, where King Stephen was captured. However, despi te b eing declared Queen or "Lady of the English" at Winchester and winni ng over S tephen's brother, Henry of Blois, the powerful Bishop of Winches ter, Matilda alienated the citizens of London with her arrogant manner. S he failed to secu re her coronation and the Londoners joined a renewed pu sh from Stephen's Quee n and laid siege to the Empress in Winchester. S he managed to escape to the West, but while commanding her rearguard, h er brother was captured by the enemy. Matilda was obliged to swap Steph en for Robert on 1st November 1141. Thus the King soon reimposed his Roy al authority. In 1148, after the death of her half-brother, Matilda final ly returned to Normandy, leaving her son, who, in 1154, would become Hen ry II, to fight on in England. She died at Rouen on 10 th September 1169 a nd was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, though some of her entrails may possib ly have been later interred in her father's foundation at Reading Abbey.


Notes Source: bulkeley.txt

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