Matilda of Flanders, the
daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, was born in about 1030.
William the Conqueror sought to marry
Matilda in 1049. At first Pope Leo IX refused permission claiming
that the couple were too closely related. Permission was finally granted
in 1051. In return, Matilda had to agree to pay for the building of
the Holy Trinity for nuns at Caen.
Matilda
gave birth to nine children. Seven of these
survived: Robert
Curthose,
Richard (killed in a hunting accident in 1075), Cecily, William
Rufus, Agatha, Henry
Beauclerk and Adela.
In 1066
William
the Conqueror invaded
England. Matilda, with the help of Roger de Beaumont, ruled Normandy
in his absence. In December, 1067, her son Robert
became the
regent of Normandy. Matilda
was crowned queen of England on 11th May 1068 but spent most of her
life in France.
In 1077 Matilda's eldest
son, Robert
Curthose,
suggested that he should become the ruler of Normandy
and Maine. When William the Conqueror
refused, Robert rebelled and attempted to seize Rouen. The rebellion
failed and Robert was forced to flee and established himself at Gerberoi.
William besieged him there in 1080 but Matilda managed to persuade
the two men to end their feud.
After a long illness Matilda
of Flanders died in Normandy on 3rd November 1083. She was buried
in her church in Caen. Her tomb was richly adorned and is in the middle
of the choir.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
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