Empress: Matilda of England 1102-1167

Mary and Elizabeth Tudor, Mary and Anne Stuart, Victoria and Elizabeth have all reigned as queens of Great Britain and Ireland.  Now, English succession laws will make it easier for a female of future generations to become queen.  Had Charlotte been born before George, she and not he, would be the next heir after her grandfather and father.  But there was a time when it wasn't so easy.  Contrary to what some may have learned in history, Mary Tudor wasn't the first ruling Queen of England.

That honor, or perhaps dubious distinction, belongs to Matilda or Maude of England 1102-1167, daughter of Henry I, granddaughter of William the Conqueror, wife of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and Mother of Henry II.  Matilda grew up in a large family.  Her father had several children by different mistresses, but only two or possibly three by his Queen, Matilda of Scotland.  These were William Adelin, Matilda, and possibly a younger brother Richard.  In 1109, Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, requested her hand in marriage.  They were betrothed in 1111 and Matilda was crowned Queen of the Romans that year, but due to her young age, they wouldn't be married and begin living together until 1114. 

Almost at once, Matilda was plunged into the business of helping Henry V rule his troublesome collection of kingdoms, duchies and other entities.  He was perpetually at war with one or the other of them.  Matilda followed him on his campaigns, attended counsel meetings, and issued writs and decrees in her own name.  Henry was adamant that she be accorded the title of Empress, even holding coronations for her in several cities.  The Pope objected, just one of many conflicts that Henry and the Pope had over the course of Henry's reign.  Henry died of cancer in 1125, leaving Matilda a childless widow, but one with considerable political and military experience and a mind and will of her own.  Her options at that point were to return home, find another husband or take the veil.  Matilda, who was now rightful heir to the English crown after her brother William Adelin's death in the White Ship incident in 1120, decided to return home.  She stayed for the time being at her father's court in Normandy while he and his new wife hoped for more children.  When none seemed to be coming, Henry I secured the nominal support of the barons for his daughter to succeed him.

Enter Geoffrey of Anjou, aka Geoffrey Plantagenet.  There had been offers from other more powerful royals and nobles but Henry knew that the trouble spot in his plans would be Normandy, where women were barred from becoming queen regnant in their own right.  If Matilda wanted either England or Normandy, she would have take it by force.  She would also have to have a husband to throw his own support behind her and possibly that of the King of France.  Matilda herself was underwhelmed by the idea.  Geoffrey was only the son of a Count who had not yet succeeded to his father's title.  Geoffrey was still a teenager, with twelve years age difference between Matilda and himself.  Geoffrey's father left to claim the Kingdom of Jerusalem and gave his title over to Geoffrey.  Matilda came around to her father's plan and the two were married in 1128.

The marriage ended up like one would expected.  Within months of their wedding, Matilda had left her husband.  Her father urged her to patch things up and she returned to Geoffrey in 1131.  In 1133, her first son was born, the future Henry II.  Two other sons followed.  In 1135, Henry I died and the barons quickly renounced their oaths to Matilda, favoring Stephen of Blois, an adult male who was the son of Henry I's sister and Matilda's aunt, Adele.  Matilda and Geoffrey wanted to return to England to claim the throne there but first they had to pacify Normandy.  That gave Stephen a chance to make his move, consolidating his hold on the crown through the support of the English clergy, who weren't in favor of a Queen of England.  Geoffrey eventually managed to bring Normandy to order, forcing Stephen to concentrate on England.

In 1138, one of Matilda's half-brothers, Robert of Gloucester, revolted against Stephen while her cousin, David I of Scotland, invaded the North of England.  Matilda and Geoffrey invaded England and a contentious civil war known as the Anarchy began, with both Stephen and Matilda claiming to be the rightful ruler of England.  While Stephen held London, Matilda established her court in Gloucester.  The two fought each other on and off for the next several years, with Matilda finally capturing Stephen in 1341 after the Battle of Lincoln.  Even with Stephen under wraps, her hold on the throne was dicey, with parts of England a lawless no man's land.  The English clergy refused to back Matilda as Queen and, with their instigation, several key barons also refused to swear allegiance.   In 1142, forces loyal to Stephen besieged Oxford Castle and nearly captured Matilda.  She escaped and set up her court at Devizes.  As stalemate ensued and wore on, Henry was growing up and taking more of the lead in securing his mother's kingdom.

In 1148, Matilda decided to return to France, leaving the consolidation of England to her son.  Henry consolidated his hold on the realm and was proclaimed King in 1154.  Henry, male, married and with a viable future ahead of him, was a more attractive candidate to the barons and clergy of England than his mother.  Matilda settled in Rouen and concentrated her efforts on administering Normandy.  She wasn't ready to retire from public life just yet.  Henry counted on his mother to back him up in Normandy and looked to her for advice in policy matters.  She would later attempt to mediate between Henry II and Archbishop Thomas Becket, but wasn't successful in the end.  She continued to play her part in diplomatic efforts until her death.