[128], At the start of 1140, Nigel, the Bishop of Ely, whose castles Stephen had confiscated the previous year, rebelled against Stephen as well. Many historians of the time traced a progressive and universalist course of political and economic development in England over the medieval period. [26] Theobald met with the Norman barons and Robert of Gloucester at Lisieux on 21 December but their discussions were interrupted by the sudden news from England that Stephen's coronation was to occur the next day. Though the church and the majority of the baronage supported Stephen, Matildas claims were powerfully upheld in England by her half brother Robert of Gloucester and her uncle King David I of Scotland. Other supporters of the Empress were restored in their former strongholds, such as Bishop Nigel of Ely, and others still received new earldoms in the west of England. [118] Stephen also faced a military dilemma at Arundelthe castle was considered almost impregnable, and he may have been worried that he was tying down his army in the south whilst Robert roamed freely in the west. [131] The conference collapsed over the insistence by Henry and the clergy that they should set the terms of any peace deal, which Stephen found unacceptable. Meanwhile, Matildas younger brother, William Adelin, died in the White Ship disaster of 1120, leaving England facing a potential succession crisis. So far was she, in fact, from being intractably arrogant that what turned out to be 19 long years of civil war were finally ended by Matildas acutely pragmatic realisation that she could achieve victory for her cause only by retiring from the fray, leaving the country in 1148. [69] The powerful Ranulf, Earl of Chester, considered himself to hold the traditional rights to Carlisle and Cumberland and was extremely displeased to see them being given to the Scots, a problem which would have long lasting implications in the war. [251] Peters' depiction of the civil war is an essentially local narrative, focused on Shrewsbury and its environs. [142] The Empress now began to take the necessary steps to have herself crowned queen in his place, which would require the agreement of the church and her coronation at Westminster Abbey. Matilda and her supportersincluding Robert of Gloucester and King David I of Scotlandstood up to oppose Stephen, and so began the 19-year civil war known as The Anarchy. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, became queen. When Henry died in 1135, his nephew Stephen raced from Boulogne to Winchester where he was crowned before Matilda (who was immobilised by pregnancy in her second husbands county of Anjou) knew what was happening. [86] Despite the use of feudal levies, Norman warfare traditionally depended on rulers raising and spending large sums of cash. ), consort of the Holy Roman emperor Henry V and afterward claimant to the English throne in the reign of King Stephen. Dressed in a white cloak on this cold December night, she camouflage herself against the snow. The royal administration under Henry I had been headed by Roger, the Bishop of Salisbury, supported by Roger's nephews, Alexander and Nigel, the Bishops of Lincoln and Ely respectively, and Roger's son, Roger le Poer, who was the Lord Chancellor. Empress Matilda [32] Furthermore, the late king had only insisted on that oath to protect the stability of the kingdom, and in light of the chaos that might now ensue, Stephen would be justified in ignoring it. [159], The Empress's position was transformed by her defeat at the rout of Winchester. [66] A small number of Stephen's household knights were sent north to help the fight against the Scots, where David's forces were defeated later that year at the Battle of the Standard in August by the forces of Thurstan, the Archbishop of York. [215] Meanwhile, Stephen's brother Henry of Blois and Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury were for once unified in an effort to broker a permanent peace between the two sides, putting pressure on Stephen to accept a deal. Barlow, p.168; Crouch (1998), p.264; Carpenter, p.168. Geoffrey and Matilda's marriage was not an easy one; it had almost collapsed altogether in 1130. He left his father and returned home to Cambridge to gather more funds for a fresh campaign, where he fell ill and died the next month. [51] Owain Gwynedd and Gruffydd ap Rhys captured considerable territories, including Carmarthen Castle. This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a Timed Quiz Game or as shown below. She was buried under the high altar at the abbey of Bec-Hellouin. on Twitter: "RT @EmpressTheo548: Today is the Which of these is true about Empress Matilda? [42], Returning south, Stephen held his first royal court at Easter 1136. [19] A fresh rebellion broke out in southern Normandy, and Geoffrey and Matilda intervened militarily on behalf of the rebels. Matilda was born on or about February 7, 1102, as the daughter of Henry I ("Henry Longshanks" or "Henry Beauclerc"), the Duke of Normandy and King of England. Empress Matilda Empress Matilda [134] Abandoning the deal he had just made, Stephen gathered his army again and sped north, but not quite fast enoughRanulf escaped Lincoln and declared his support for the Empress, and Stephen was forced to place the castle under siege. Help me celebrate her legacy. [80] These bishops were powerful landowners as well as ecclesiastical rulers, and they had begun to build new castles and increase the size of their military forces, leading Stephen to suspect that they were about to defect to the Empress Matilda. In 1148, the Empress returned to Normandy, leaving the campaigning in England to her young son Henry FitzEmpress. [220] Although Stephen's son William was young and unprepared to challenge Henry for the throne in 1153, the situation could well have shifted in subsequent yearsthere were widespread rumours during 1154 that William planned to assassinate Henry, for example. After three long months, a wonderous escape plan was hatched. WebOn May 23, 1125, after entrusting the imperial insignia to his young wife on his deathbed, Emperor Henry V died of stomach cancer. Opinions vary over the degree to which Stephen's acquisition of power resembled a. Her brother William Adelin had perished several years before in the wreck of the White Ship, leaving Matilda the only legitimate heir to the English throne . Her tomb stated only that she had been the daughter of King Henry, wife of King Henry, and mother of King Henry. Updates? Historian Robert Helmerichs, for example, describes some of the inconsistencies in these accounts. His election was confirmed by the Pope in 1136. She then made preparations for her coronation in London. [173] Stephen attempted to break out and escape, resulting in the Battle of Wilton. [69][nb 6], Stephen rapidly responded to the revolts and invasions, focusing primarily on England rather than Normandy. [59] The Norman forces then deserted the king, forcing Stephen to give up his campaign. Finally admitting defeat, Matilda returned to France to her husband and son. She married at Le Mans, Maine, on 17 June 1128 Geoffrey (Geoffroi), Count of Anjou, later Duke of Normandy. Matilda never got her coronation. Crouch (2008a), p.29; King (2010), pp.5455. [153] Geoffrey's success in Normandy and Stephen's weakness in England began to influence the loyalty of many Anglo-Norman barons, who feared losing their lands in England to Robert and the Empress, and their possessions in Normandy to Geoffrey. [47] Stephen gave out grants of land and favours to those present, and endowed numerous church foundations with land and privileges. Geoffrey was 14 and Matilda was 25. The expectation of unquestioning obedience, and the punishment of those who did not comply with his commands, had been indissoluble elements of Henrys kingship. All chroniclers agree that in her hour of victory she displayed an intolerable pride and wilfulness, one historian of the period remarks, and support for that suggestion is not hard to find. [158] The queen appears to have generated genuine sympathy and support from Stephen's more loyal followers. Queens Regnant - Empress Matilda Lewis, Jone Johnson. By the early 1150s, most barons and the Church were war weary so favoured negotiating a long-term peace. WebMatilda and Henry had no children, and when he died in 1125, the crown was claimed by Lothair II, one of his political enemies. Empress Matilda, Daughter Of Henry I Empress Matilda Death Empress Matilda 2. [136] Robert and Ranulf's forces had superiority in cavalry and Stephen dismounted many of his own knights to form a solid infantry block; he joined them himself, fighting on foot in the battle. Her brothers death in 1120 made her Henry Is sole legitimate heir, and in 1127 he compelled the baronage to accept her as his successor, though a woman ruler was equally unprecedented for the kingdom of England and the duchy of Normandy. [100] Counter-castles could be used to either act as platforms for siege weaponry, or as bases for controlling the region in their own right. The captive King Stephen is then exchanged for Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and civil war continues. [120][nb 11], Although there had been few new defections to the Empress, Matilda now controlled a compact block of territory stretching out from Gloucester and Bristol south-west into Devon and Cornwall, west into the Welsh Marches and east as far as Oxford and Wallingford, threatening London. [145] Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury was unwilling to declare Matilda queen so rapidly, and a delegation of clergy and nobles, headed by Theobald, travelled to see Stephen in Bristol and consult about their moral dilemma: should they abandon their oaths of fealty to the king? [243] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was past its prime by the time of the war, but the version maintained at Peterborough Abbey (today known as the Peterborough Chronicle) is remembered for its striking account of conditions during the Anarchy, in particular its description that "men said openly that Christ and his saints were asleep". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matilda-daughter-of-Henry-I, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Biography of Matilda Augusta, English Monarchs - Maud, Daughter of King Henry I. [150] On 24 June, shortly before the planned coronation, the city rose up against the Empress and Geoffrey de Mandeville; Matilda and her followers only just fled in time, making a chaotic retreat to Oxford. [76][nb 7] Stephen appears to have had several objectives in mind, including both ensuring the loyalty of his key supporters by granting them these honours, and improving his defences in vulnerable parts of the kingdom. [66] Bristol proved too strong for him, and Stephen contented himself with raiding and pillaging the surrounding area. WebEmpress Matilda (c. 7 February 110210 September 1167), sometimes called Empress Maud, was the second child of Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland.Her brother, William Adelin, died in the wreck of the White Ship in 1120. 3.88 128 ratings18 reviews This is the first comprehensive and fully documented study of the Empress Matilda to be published in English. Matildas story left a complex and ambiguous precedent in English politics. Following a major rebellion in the south-west of England, Matilda invaded in 1139 with the help of her half-brother Robert of Gloucester. Empress Matilda (c. 7 February 1102 10 September 1167), also known as the Empress Maude, was the claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. He was known for his qualities as a statesman, his military experience and leadership ability. [157] Stephen's long-standing commander William of Ypres remained with the queen in London; William Martel, the royal steward, commanded operations from Sherborne in Dorset, and Faramus of Boulogne ran the royal household. Finally, in 1141, Matilda captured and imprisoned Stephen. In 1134 they had another son, named Geoffrey, but the birth was difficult, and Matilda almost died. This page was last changed on 23 June 2023, at 18:52. [221] Historian Graham White describes the treaty of Winchester as a "precarious peace", capturing the judgement of most modern historians that the situation in late 1153 was still uncertain and unpredictable. [54][nb 5], Stephen's first years as king can be interpreted in different ways. But Stephen soon allowed her to join her brother, who had gone to the west country, where she had much support; after a stay at Bristol, she settled at Gloucester. [206] In the face of the increasingly wintry weather, Stephen agreed to a temporary truce and returned to London, leaving Henry to travel north through the Midlands where the powerful Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, announced his support for the Angevin cause. [180] Meanwhile, Geoffrey of Anjou finished securing his hold on southern Normandy and in January 1144 he advanced into Rouen, the capital of the duchy, concluding his campaign. Roger and his family were also enemies of Waleran, who disliked their control of the royal administration. The impact of these arrests on the efficacy of the subsequent royal administration and the loyalty of the wider English church has been much discussed. Matilda leaves England to return to Normandy. Birthday: February 7, 1102 Date of Death: September 10, 1167 Age at Death: 65 Live [235] Henry also gave a high priority to restoring the royal finances, reviving Henry I's financial processes and attempting to improve the standard of the accounts. This made Matilda the hereditary heir to the English throne. [18] Henry angrily declined to do so, probably out of a concern that Geoffrey would try to seize power in Normandy somewhat earlier than intended. White (2000), p.12; Carpenter, p.176; King (1994), p.1. [219], Stephen's decision to recognise Henry as his heir was, at the time, not necessarily a final solution to the civil war. [75] Only a handful of earldoms had existed under Henry I and these had been largely symbolic in nature. In response to Henrys defection, the Empress Matilda marched on Winchester. Her father Henry I, therefore, named Matilda his heir and obtained the endorsement of that claim by the nobles of the realm. Stephen dies and Henry is crowned King Henry II 19 years after the death of his grandfather, King Henry I. Matilda dies in September and is buried in Bec Abbey, Normandy. Her father recalled her in 1126 and proclaimed her presumptive heir in 1127. [105] Stephen drew heavily on his wife, Queen Matilda of Boulogne (not to be confused with Empress Matilda), during the conflict, both for leading negotiations and maintaining his cause and army while imprisoned in 1141; Matilda led the royal household during this period in partnership with Stephen's mercenary leader William of Ypres. [89] The armies of the period were still similar to those of the previous century, comprising bodies of mounted, armoured knights, supported by infantry. [184] Geoffrey de Mandeville's rebellion continued until September 1144, when he died during an attack on Burwell. [102], King Stephen was extremely wealthy, well-mannered, modest and liked by his peers; he was also considered a man capable of firm action. [126] Meanwhile, Miles of Gloucester marched east, attacking Stephen's rearguard forces at Wallingford and threatening an advance on London. His own accession to the throne had been achieved by means of a coup: Henry was with his brother William Rufus when the king was killed by a stray arrow in the New Forest in 1100, and he wasted no time in riding headlong for Winchester and Westminster to secure the royal treasury and his own coronation. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [190], Many of the most powerful nobles began to make their own truces and disarmament agreements, signing treaties between one another that typically promised an end to bilateral hostilities, limited the building of new castles, or agreed limits to the size of armies sent against one another. Civil war in England and Normandy (11351153), Toggle Origins of the conflict subsection, Rout of Winchester and the siege of Oxford, There has been extensive speculation as to the cause of the sinking of the. [230] Certainly in many parts of the country, such as the South-West, the Thames Valley and East Anglia, the fighting and raiding had caused serious devastation. When Henry V died in 1125, Matilda returned to England at age 23. 3. [180] In the west, Robert of Gloucester and his followers continued to raid the surrounding royalist territories, and Wallingford Castle remained a secure Angevin stronghold, too close to London for comfort. In addition, as the mother of Henry II (and the person who helped put Henry on the throne) she played an important part in the story of English succession. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The government of the duchy of Normandy is handed from Geoffrey of Anjou to his son, Henry. [127] Stephen was forced to give up his western campaign, returning east to stabilise the situation and protect his capital. [185] In the north, Stephen came to a fresh agreement with Ranulf of Chester, but then in 1146 repeated the ruse he had played on Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1143, first inviting Ranulf to court, then arresting him and threatening to execute him unless he handed over several castles, including Lincoln and Coventry.
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