Matilda,
the daughter of Henry I and Edith of Scotland,
was born in 1102. In 1114 she married the Emperor Henry V but returned
to England after his death in 1125.
Although he acknowledged being the father of over twenty children,
Henry I decided that Matilda, his only
legitimate child left alive, should be his heir. Matilda's position
was reinforced when she married Geoffrey of Anjou in 1128. A son,
Henry, was born five years later.
Matilda's cousin, Stephen, swore an oath
recognizing her as heir to the English throne. However, when Henry
I died in December 1135, Stephen broke his promise and quickly
had himself crowned king of England.
At the time of her father's death, Matilda
was with her husband in Normandy. It
was not until 1139 that Matilda landed in England with her army. Stephen
was eventually captured at the battle of Lincoln (February, 1141).
When Matilda went to be crowned the first queen of England, the people
of London rebelled and she was forced to
flee from the area.
Stephen's army captured Matilda's half-brother, Robert of Gloucester.
An exchange of prisoners was agreed, and Stephen obtained his freedom.
The civil war continued until the signing of the Treaty of Winchester
in November, 1153. This treaty recognised Matilda's eldest son, Henry,
as the next king of England. In return, Matilda agreed that Stephen's
son, William, would be allowed to keep his family lands in France.
Matilda returned to Normandy and remained
there with Henry until her death in 1167.
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
