Difference between revisions of "Matilda of Scotland" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox British Royalty|majesty|consort
 
{{Infobox British Royalty|majesty|consort
 
| name = Matilda of Scotland
 
| name = Matilda of Scotland
 
| title = Queen consort of the English
 
| title = Queen consort of the English
 
| image = Edith_Matilda_of_Scots.JPG
 
| image = Edith_Matilda_of_Scots.JPG
| size  = 150px
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| size  = 100px
| reign = 11 November 1100 – 1 May 1118
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| reign = November 11, 1100 – May 1, 1118
 
| spouse = [[Henry I of England|Henry I]]
 
| spouse = [[Henry I of England|Henry I]]
| issue = [[Matilda of England]]<br />[[William Adelin]]
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| issue = [[Empress Matilda]]; [[William Adelin]]
 
| royal house = [[House of Normandy]]<br />[[House of Dunkeld]]
 
| royal house = [[House of Normandy]]<br />[[House of Dunkeld]]
 
| father = [[Malcolm III of Scotland]]
 
| father = [[Malcolm III of Scotland]]
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|}}
 
|}}
  
'''Matilda of Scotland''' (born Edith; c. 1080  – 1 May 1118) was the first wife and [[queen consort]] of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], she gave birth to four children, the two who survived, were a daughter, also named Matilda, (1102-1167), and [[William Adelin]], (1103-1120), called the [[Duke of Normandy]].  
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'''Matilda of Scotland''' (c. 1080  – 1 May 1118) was the first wife and [[queen consort]] of King [[Henry I of England]]. The daughter of Scottish royalty, Matilda also brought to her marriage with Henry the promise of children connected to the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty and thus a union of the British and Norman lines. Their marriage faced a temporary obstacle, however, in that she had been raised in a convent, but a synod of bishops headed by [[Anselm of Canterbury]] determined that she had never taken vows as a nun.
  
A well-educated woman, she brought both religious and cultural improvements to the court, and acted as vice-regent when her husband Henry was away from England.  
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A well-educated woman, Matilda brought both religious and cultural improvements to the court and acted as vice-regent when her husband Henry was away from England. She also commissioned the ''Gesta regum Anglorum'' of [[William of Malmsbury]], considered to be one of the most important early histories of England.
 
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From Matilda's descendants the Plantagenet royal line was established when her grandson, [[Henry II]] became king of England.
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Matilda gave birth to four children, the two who survived: A daughter, also named Matilda, (1102-1167), and [[William Adelin]], (1103-1120), called the [[Duke of Normandy]]. Her daughter Matilda, better known as [[Empress Maud]], married [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor]] and was ultimately named as Henry II's heir, but was unable to hold the throne during the English civil unrest known as [[The Anarchy]]. From Matilda's descendants, the [[Plantagenet]] royal line was established when her grandson, [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], became king of England.
  
 
==Early life==
 
==Early life==
Matilda was born around 1080 in [[Dunfermline]], the daughter of King [[Malcolm III of Scotland|Malcolm III]] and [[Saint Margaret of Scotland]].<ref>Saint Margaret was canonized in the year 1250 by Pope [[Innocent IV]] on account of her personal holiness and fidelity to the Church. She would personally serve orphans and the poor every day before she herself would eat, and would rise at midnight to attend church services every night.</ref> She was christened Edith, and [[Robert Curthose]]<ref>Robert Curthose (short stockings) or Robert II (c. 1051 or 1054–10 d. 1134) was the Duke of Normandy from 1087 until 1106 and an unsuccessful claimant to the throne of the Kingdom of England.</ref> stood as godfather at her christening. The English queen [[Matilda of Flanders]] (her future mother-in-law) was also present at the font and may have been Matilda's godmother. Matilda was said to have blond hair and blue eyes and was attractive.
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Matilda was born in [[Dunfermline]] (Dùn Phàrlain) on the east coast of Scotland, the daughter of King [[Malcolm III of Scotland|Malcolm III]] and the future [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Saint Margaret]]. She was named Edith at her christening, where Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy and an unsuccessful claimant to the throne of England, stood as her godfather. The English queen [[Matilda of Flanders]], her future mother-in-law, was also present at the ceremony and may have been Matilda's godmother. Matilda had blond hair and blue eyes and was said to be very attractive.
  
When she was about six years old, Matilda and her sister Mary were sent to [[Romsey]], England, where their aunt [[Cristina, daughter of Edward the Exile|Cristina]] was abbess. During her stay at Romsey and [[Wilton]], Matilda was much sought-after as a bride; she turned down proposals from both [[William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey]], and [[Alan Rufus]], Lord of Richmond. Hermann of Tournai even claims that [[William II of England|William II Rufus]] considered marrying her. She was out of the monastery by 1093, when [[Anselm]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], wrote to the [[Bishop of Salisbury]] ordering that the daughter of the king of Scotland be returned to the monastery that she had left.
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When she was about six years old, Matilda and her sister Mary were sent to [[Romsey]], England, where their aunt [[Cristina, daughter of Edward the Exile|Cristina]] was abbess. In the later years of her stay at Romsey and also at [[Wilton]], Matilda was much sought-after as a bride. She turned down proposals from both [[William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey]], and [[Alan Rufus]], Lord of Richmond. [[William II of England]] may also have considered marrying her. In 1093, while in her early teens Matilda left the abbey for a time, and the future Saint [[Anselm]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], grew concerned for her protection, wrote to the [[bishop of Salisbury]] to order the daughter of the king of Scotland to be returned to the monastery.
  
 
==Marriage==
 
==Marriage==
[[Image:Henry I of England - Illustration from Cassell's History of England - Century Edition - published circa 1902.jpg|thumb|right|180px|'''Henry I''' depicted in ''Cassell's History of England'' (1902)]]
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[[Image:Henry I of England - Illustration from Cassell's History of England - Century Edition - published circa 1902.jpg|thumb|right|180px|'''Henry I''' depicted in ''Cassell's History of England'' (1902).]]
After the death of king [[William II of England|William II Rufus]] in August 1100, Henry quickly seized the royal treasury and the royal crown. His next task was to marry, and Henry's choice fell on Matilda. Because Matilda had spent most of her life in a nunnery, there was some controversy over whether or not she had been veiled as a nun and would thus be ineligible for marriage.  
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After the death of king [[William II of England]] in August 1100, Henry I quickly seized the royal treasury and the crown. His next task was to marry, and his choice fell on Matilda. Because she had spent most of her life in a nunnery, however, there was some controversy over whether or not she had taken vows as a [[nun]] and would thus be ineligible for [[marriage]].  
  
Henry sought permission for the marriage from Archbishop Anselm, who returned to England in September 1100 after a long exile (from William II). Professing himself unwilling to decide so weighty a matter on his own, Anselm called a council of bishops in order to determine the legality of the proposed marriage. Matilda testified to the archbishop and the assembled bishops of the realm that she had never taken holy vows. She insisted that her parents had sent her and her sister to England for educational purposes, and that her aunt Cristina had veiled her only to protect her "from the lust of the [[Normans]]." Matilda claimed she had pulled the veil off and stamped on it, and her aunt beat and scolded her most horribly for this. The council concluded that Matilda had never been a nun, nor had her parents intended that she become one, and gave their permission for the marriage.
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Henry sought permission for the marriage from [[Anselm of Canterbury]], who had returned to England in September 1100 after a long exile during William II's reign. Professing himself unwilling to decide so weighty a matter on his own, Anselm called a council of [[bishop]]s in order to determine the legality of the proposed [[marriage]]. Matilda testified to the assembled bishops that she had never taken vows as a [[nun]]. She insisted that her parents had sent her and her sister to England only for educational purposes, and that her aunt Cristina had veiled her only to protect her "from the lust of the [[Normans]]." Matilda claimed at one point she had even pulled the veil off and stamped on it, and her aunt beat and scolded her most horribly for this. The council concluded that Matilda had never been a nun, nor had her parents intended that she become one, and gave their permission for the marriage.
  
Matilda and Henry seem to have known one another for some time before their marriage &mdash; twelfth century English historian [[William of Malmesbury]] states that Henry had "long been attached" to her, and eleventh and twelfth century English chronicler [[Orderic Vitalis]] says that Henry had "long adored" Edith's character. Through her mother she was descended from king [[Edmund Ironside]] and thus [[Alfred the Great]], and was a great-niece of [[Edward the Confessor]] and the old line of the kings of Wessex; the marriage represented a union between the new Norman rulers of England and the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty. This was very important as Henry wanted to help make himself more popular with the English people and Matilda represented the old English dynasty to the English people. In their children the Norman and Anglo-Saxon dynasties would be united. Another benefit of the marriage was that England and Scotland became politically closer; three of her brothers served as kings of Scotland and were unusually friendly to England during this period.
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Matilda and Henry seem to have known one another for some time before their marriage. Twelfth century English historian [[William of Malmesbury]] states that Henry had "long been attached" to her, and the chronicler [[Orderic Vitalis]] says that Henry had "long adored" her character. Through her mother, Matilda was descended from king [[Edmund Ironside]] and thus from [[Alfred the Great]]. She was also a great-niece of [[Edward the Confessor]] and the old line of the kings of Wessex. The marriage represented a union between the new Norman rulers of England and the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty. This was important, as Henry hoped to make himself more popular with the English people, and in his and Matilda's children, the Norman and Anglo-Saxon dynasties would be united. Another benefit of the marriage was that England and Scotland became politically closer. Three of Matilda's brothers served as kings of Scotland at different times and were known to be unusually friendly to England.
  
 
==Queen==
 
==Queen==
After Matilda and Henry were married on November 11, 1100 at [[Westminster Abbey]] by Anselm, she was crowned as "Matilda," a fashionable Norman name. She gave birth to a daughter, Matilda, in February 1102, and a son, William, in November 1103, two other children died in infancy. As queen, she maintained her court primarily at [[Westminster]], but accompanied her husband in his travels all across England, and, circa 1106–1107, probably visited [[Normandy]] with him. Well educated at both convents of Romsey and Wilton, she could increase the quality of literature and culture at court in the twelfth century. As a devout queen she could also exercise both lay and ecclesiastical patronage. She was a member of Henry's ''[[curia regis]]'', and also served in a vice-regal capacity when Henry was away from court until 1118 when her son, William, was old enough to serve in her stead.  
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Matilda and Henry were married by Anselm on November 11, 1100 at [[Westminster Abbey]]. No longer to be known as Edith, she was crowned "Matilda," a fashionable Norman name. She gave birth to a daughter, also named, Matilda, in February 1102, followed by a son, William, in November 1103. Two other children died in infancy.
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As queen, she maintained her court primarily at [[Westminster]], but accompanied her husband in his travels all across England. She is thought to have visited Normandy with her husband in 1106–1107. She was a member of Henry's ''[[curia regis]]'' (council of tenants-in-chief). She also served in a vice-regal capacity when Henry was away from court until 1118, when her son, William, was old enough to serve in her stead.  
 
[[Image:Westminster.abbey.northentrance.arp.500pix.jpg|thumb|right|200px| The North entrance of Westminster Abbey]]
 
[[Image:Westminster.abbey.northentrance.arp.500pix.jpg|thumb|right|200px| The North entrance of Westminster Abbey]]
Her court was filled with musicians and poets; she commissioned a monk, probably [[Thurgot]], to write a biography of her mother, [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Saint Margaret]]. She was an active queen, and like her mother was renowned for her devotion to religion and the poor. Historian [[William of Malmesbury]] (1080/1095–c. 1143) describes her as attending church barefoot at [[Lent]], and washing the feet and kissing the hands of the sick. She also administered extensive dower properties and was known as a patron of the arts, especially music.
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Well educated at the convents of Romsey and Wilton, Matilda increased the quality of literature and culture at court. Her court was filled with musicians and poets. She commissioned a monk, probably [[Thurgot]], to write a biography of her mother. Like her mother, she was renowned for her devotion to religion and the poor. The twelfth century historian [[William of Malmesbury]] described her as attending church barefoot at [[Lent]], washing the feet and kissing the hands of the sick. She also administered extensive [[dower]] properties and was known as a patron of the arts, especially music.
  
Matilda wrote many letters, many of which still exist. The bulk of her correspondence was with Anselm who was the ranking ecclesiastic of England. She wrote to Pope [[Paschal II]], Thurgot, a monk of Durham, Ivo, bishop of [[Chartres]], emperor [[Henry V]], and Hildebert, bishop of Lavardin. And some of their responses survive as well as letters from Marbod, bishop of Rennes and Herbert of Losinga, bishop of Norwich. Anselm went into exile in 1097 while William Rufus was king, but was recalled by Henry in 1100, but then went back into exile a second time, from 1103-06, during which time Matilda continued to write to him and to plead his case to Pope Paschal II and others.<ref>[http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/woman/64.html Columbia University, Missouri: Epistolae] Retrieved January 30, 2009.</ref>
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Matilda wrote many letters, a number of which still exist. The bulk of her surviving correspondence was with Anselm, the ranking ecclesiastic of England. Anselm went back into exile a second time from 1103-06 as a result of a dispute with Henry, during which time Matilda continued to write to him and to plead his case to Pope [[Paschal II]] and others.<ref>Columbia University, Missouri, [http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/woman/64.html Epistolae.] Retrieved January 30, 2009.</ref> In addition to writing to the pope, she also corresponded with the monk Thurgot of Durham, Bishop Ivo of [[Chartres]], Emperor [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]], and Bishop Hildebert of Lavardin. Some of their responses also survive.
  
Matilda died on May 1, 1118 at [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster Palace]], and was buried at [[Westminster Abbey]].
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Matilda died on May 1, 1118 at [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster Palace]] which her husband, Henry had built for her, and was buried at [[Westminster Abbey]].
  
==Children of Matilda==
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==Children==
Matilda and Henry had four children but only two survived: a daughter also named Matilda, know also as [[Maud of England]], (1102-1167), [[List of Holy Roman Empresses and German queens#Salian Dynasty|Holy Roman Empress consort]], also [[Count of Anjou|Countess consort of Anjou]], called ''Lady of the English''. Matilda and Henry betrothed their daughter Matilda when she was seven years old to [[Henry V]], [[Holy Roman Emperor]], and from her marriage to Henry, she became [[Empress Matilda]] or Maud. The couple had no known children. When widowed, she was married to [[Geoffrey V, count of Anjou]], and bore three sons, the eldest of whom, later became king [[Henry II]], of England.  
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[[Image:Empress matilda.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Empress Maud]], daughter of Matilda of Scotland]]
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Matilda and Henry's daughter, also named Matilda, is better known as [[Empress Matilda]] or Maud, (1102-1167), [[List of Holy Roman Empresses and German queens#Salian Dynasty|Holy Roman Empress consort]] and [[Count of Anjou|countess consort of Anjou]]. She was called the ''Lady of the English''. Matilda and Henry betrothed the younger Matilda to [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor]] when she was seven years old. The imperial couple had no children, however.
  
Matilda and Henry's second child was [[William Adelin]], (1103-1120), sometimes called [[Duke of Normandy]].  
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Matilda and Henry's second child was [[William Adelin]], (1103-1120), sometimes called [[Duke of Normandy]]. In order to secure the loyalty of Anjou, a long-time rival of Normandy, Matilda and Henry betrothed William to another [[Matilda of Anjou]], eldest daughter of Count Fulk V of Anjou, in February 1113. The marriage finally took place in June 1119 in Lisieux, having been prolonged due to the queen's death. Just a year later, young William died in the [[White Ship]] tragedy of November 25, 1120.
[[Image:Empress matilda.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Empress Matilda, daughter of Matilda of Scotland]]
 
In order to secure the loyalty of Anjou, a long-time rival of Normandy, Matilda and Henry betrothed William to another [[Matilda of Anjou]], eldest daughter of Count Fulk V of Anjou in February 1113 near Alençon. Queen Matilda died in 1118 probably postponing the marriage of her son which finally took place in June 1119 in Lisieux. Just a year later, young William died in the White Ship tragedy of November 25, 1120, William had dashed back to rescue his illegitimate half-sister from the sinking ship, the Countess of Perche; and they with several others threw themselves into a small rescue dinghy which collapsed and everyone was drown.<ref>William of Malmesbury, from Marion Meade, ''Eleanor of Aquitaine''.</ref> William's wife was on another ship at the time of the wreck, and survived him to become a nun and eventually, Abbess of [[Fontevrault]].  
 
  
Henry finally designated their daughter, Matilda, dowager [[Holy Roman Empress]], as his heiress, marrying her to his son's brother-in-law [[Geoffrey V of Anjou]], (Plantagenet) and forcing his Barons to swear to uphold her rights; but on his death, the Barons reneged on their oaths on the grounds of coercion, and chose Henry's nephew, [[Stephen of Blois]]. The death of Queen Matilda's only son, William, and Henry's failure to produce a legitimate son from his second marriage to [[Adeliza of Louvain]] led to the succession crisis in English history known as [[The Anarchy]]. But finally, Matilda's grandson, [[Henry II]] Plantagenet became king in 1154. He married the powerful, [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] and they had 11 children, two becoming kings of England themselves, [[Richard the Lionheart]], and [[John I]], firmly establishing the Plantagenet royal line.
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Henry failed to produce a legitimate son from his second marriage to [[Adeliza of Louvain]] and ultimately designated Maud as his heiress, marrying her to his son's brother-in-law [[Geoffrey V of Anjou]], (Plantagenet) and requiring his barons to swear to uphold her rights. On his death, however, the Barons reneged on their oaths and chose Henry's nephew, [[Stephen of Blois]] as king. The ensuring succession crisis in English history is known as [[The Anarchy]].
  
It is interesting to note that there were three Matilda's in this royal family, Queen Matilda (Matilda of Scotland), her daughter, Empress Matilda (Matilda of England) and her daughter-in-law Matilda of Anjou.
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Matilda's grandson, [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] Plantagenet finally became king in 1154. He married the powerful, [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] and they had 11 children, two becoming kings of England themselves, [[Richard the Lionheart]], and [[John I]], firmly establishing the Plantagenet royal line.
  
 
==Legacy==
 
==Legacy==
Queen Matilda, like a few queen consorts, such as [[Phillipa of Hainault]], ruled England as a vice-regent while the king was away. Matilda did so until her son, William, was of age. She commissioned at least two histories, a life of her mother, [[Saint Margaret]], from a monk of Durham, and an extended history of her family, the ''Gesta Regum Anglorum'', from another monk, the historian, [[William of Malmesbury]], which was finished after her death and presented to her daughter, empress Matilda.
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Queen Matilda commissioned two histories, the life of her mother, [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Saint Margaret]], and an extended history of her family, the ''Gesta Regum Anglorum,'' of [[William of Malmesbury]], which was finished after her death and presented to her daughter, Empress Maud.
  
She was a pious woman and tried to care for the less fortunate of her realm for which the people christened her 'Good Queen Mold'. She died in 1118 at the age of 41 and was buried in [[Westminster Abbey]] beside [[Edward the Confessor]], her ancestor. After her death, she was remembered by her subjects as "Matilda the Good Queen" and "Matilda of Blessed Memory," and for a time sainthood was sought for her, though she was never canonized.
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Matilda was not only an able queen and occasionally vice-regent of England, but also a pious woman who cared for the less fortunate of her realm. When she died at the age of 41, she was buried in [[Westminster Abbey]] beside her ancestor, [[Edward the Confessor]]. After her death, she was remembered by her subjects as "Matilda the Good Queen" and "Matilda of Blessed Memory." For a time, sainthood was sought for her, although she was never canonized.
  
From her grandson, [[Henry II]], the Plantagenet royal line was established. He married [[Eleanor of Aquitatine]] with whom he had 11 children. Most of the royal houses of Europe were married into the Plantagenet royal family thanks to the diligence of Eleanor.
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From her grandson, [[Henry II]], the Plantagenet royal line was established.
  
 
{{s-start}}
 
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Dunkeld]]||c. 1080|1 May|1118}}
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{{s-hou|[[House of Dunkeld]]||c. 1080|May 1|1118}}
 
{{s-roy|en}}
 
{{s-roy|en}}
 
{{s-bef| before = [[Matilda of Flanders]]}}
 
{{s-bef| before = [[Matilda of Flanders]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[List of English consorts|Queen consort of England]] | years = 11 November 1100–1 May 1118|}}
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{{s-ttl|title = [[List of English consorts|Queen consort of England]] | years = November 11, 1100–May 1, 1118|}}
 
{{s-aft|after = [[Adeliza of Louvain]]}}
 
{{s-aft|after = [[Adeliza of Louvain]]}}
 
{{end}}
 
{{end}}
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==References==
 
==References==
* [[Marjorie Chibnall|Chibnall, Marjorie]]. ''The Empress Matilda: Queen Consort, Queen Mother, and Lady of the English'', Blackwell, 1992. ISBN 9780631157373
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* Chibnall, Marjorie. ''The Empress Matilda: Queen Consort, Queen Mother, and Lady of the English.'' Blackwell, 1992. ISBN 9780631157373.
* Hollister, Warren C. and Amanda Clark Frost. ''Henry I'', New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 9780300088588
+
* Hollister, Warren C., and Amanda Clark Frost. ''Henry I.'' New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 9780300088588.
* Huneycutt, Lois L. "Matilda of Scotland: A Study in Medieval Queenship"." Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2003. ISBN 9780851159942
+
* Huneycutt, Lois L. ''Matilda of Scotland: A Study in Medieval Queenship.'' Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2003. ISBN 9780851159942.
* Meade, Marion. From William of Malmesbury, in ''Eleanor of Aquitaine'', London: Phoenix, 2002. ISBN 9781842126189
+
* Meade, Marion. From William of Malmesbury, in ''Eleanor of Aquitaine.'' London: Phoenix, 2002. ISBN 9781842126189.
* Parsons, John Carmi and Bonnie Wheeler. ''Medieval Mothering'', New York: Garland Pub., 1996. ISBN 9780815323419
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* Parsons, John Carmi, and Bonnie Wheeler. ''Medieval Mothering.'' New York: Garland Pub., 1996. ISBN 9780815323419.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
All links retrieved January 29, 2009.
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All links retrieved November 7, 2022.
* [http://epistolae.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/woman/64.html Columbia University, Missouri: Epistolae]
+
* [http://www.explore-parliament.net/nssMovies/06/0644/0644_.htm Matilda of Scotland (1080-1118)] ''Explore parliament''
* [http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Matilda-of-Scotland Nation Master]
 
* [http://www.booksfromscotland.com/Books/Matilda-Of-Scotland-And-The-Development-Of-Medieval-Queenship-9780851159942 Matilda of Scotland and the Development of Medieval Queenship]
 
* [http://www.explore-parliament.net/nssMovies/06/0644/0644_.htm Explore parliament website]
 
  
 
[[Category:biography]]
 
[[Category:biography]]

Latest revision as of 16:52, 7 November 2022

Matilda of Scotland
Queen consort of the English
Edith Matilda of Scots.JPG
Consort November 11, 1100 – May 1, 1118
Consort to Henry I
Issue
Empress Matilda; William Adelin
Royal House House of Normandy
House of Dunkeld
Father Malcolm III of Scotland
Mother Saint Margaret of Scotland
Born c. 1080
Dunfermline, Scotland
Died 1 May 1118 (aged 38)
Westminster Palace
Buried
Westminster Abbey

Matilda of Scotland (c. 1080 – 1 May 1118) was the first wife and queen consort of King Henry I of England. The daughter of Scottish royalty, Matilda also brought to her marriage with Henry the promise of children connected to the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty and thus a union of the British and Norman lines. Their marriage faced a temporary obstacle, however, in that she had been raised in a convent, but a synod of bishops headed by Anselm of Canterbury determined that she had never taken vows as a nun.

A well-educated woman, Matilda brought both religious and cultural improvements to the court and acted as vice-regent when her husband Henry was away from England. She also commissioned the Gesta regum Anglorum of William of Malmsbury, considered to be one of the most important early histories of England.

Matilda gave birth to four children, the two who survived: A daughter, also named Matilda, (1102-1167), and William Adelin, (1103-1120), called the Duke of Normandy. Her daughter Matilda, better known as Empress Maud, married Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor and was ultimately named as Henry II's heir, but was unable to hold the throne during the English civil unrest known as The Anarchy. From Matilda's descendants, the Plantagenet royal line was established when her grandson, Henry II, became king of England.

Early life

Matilda was born in Dunfermline (Dùn Phàrlain) on the east coast of Scotland, the daughter of King Malcolm III and the future Saint Margaret. She was named Edith at her christening, where Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy and an unsuccessful claimant to the throne of England, stood as her godfather. The English queen Matilda of Flanders, her future mother-in-law, was also present at the ceremony and may have been Matilda's godmother. Matilda had blond hair and blue eyes and was said to be very attractive.

When she was about six years old, Matilda and her sister Mary were sent to Romsey, England, where their aunt Cristina was abbess. In the later years of her stay at Romsey and also at Wilton, Matilda was much sought-after as a bride. She turned down proposals from both William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, and Alan Rufus, Lord of Richmond. William II of England may also have considered marrying her. In 1093, while in her early teens Matilda left the abbey for a time, and the future Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, grew concerned for her protection, wrote to the bishop of Salisbury to order the daughter of the king of Scotland to be returned to the monastery.

Marriage

Henry I depicted in Cassell's History of England (1902).

After the death of king William II of England in August 1100, Henry I quickly seized the royal treasury and the crown. His next task was to marry, and his choice fell on Matilda. Because she had spent most of her life in a nunnery, however, there was some controversy over whether or not she had taken vows as a nun and would thus be ineligible for marriage.

Henry sought permission for the marriage from Anselm of Canterbury, who had returned to England in September 1100 after a long exile during William II's reign. Professing himself unwilling to decide so weighty a matter on his own, Anselm called a council of bishops in order to determine the legality of the proposed marriage. Matilda testified to the assembled bishops that she had never taken vows as a nun. She insisted that her parents had sent her and her sister to England only for educational purposes, and that her aunt Cristina had veiled her only to protect her "from the lust of the Normans." Matilda claimed at one point she had even pulled the veil off and stamped on it, and her aunt beat and scolded her most horribly for this. The council concluded that Matilda had never been a nun, nor had her parents intended that she become one, and gave their permission for the marriage.

Matilda and Henry seem to have known one another for some time before their marriage. Twelfth century English historian William of Malmesbury states that Henry had "long been attached" to her, and the chronicler Orderic Vitalis says that Henry had "long adored" her character. Through her mother, Matilda was descended from king Edmund Ironside and thus from Alfred the Great. She was also a great-niece of Edward the Confessor and the old line of the kings of Wessex. The marriage represented a union between the new Norman rulers of England and the old Anglo-Saxon dynasty. This was important, as Henry hoped to make himself more popular with the English people, and in his and Matilda's children, the Norman and Anglo-Saxon dynasties would be united. Another benefit of the marriage was that England and Scotland became politically closer. Three of Matilda's brothers served as kings of Scotland at different times and were known to be unusually friendly to England.

Queen

Matilda and Henry were married by Anselm on November 11, 1100 at Westminster Abbey. No longer to be known as Edith, she was crowned "Matilda," a fashionable Norman name. She gave birth to a daughter, also named, Matilda, in February 1102, followed by a son, William, in November 1103. Two other children died in infancy.

As queen, she maintained her court primarily at Westminster, but accompanied her husband in his travels all across England. She is thought to have visited Normandy with her husband in 1106–1107. She was a member of Henry's curia regis (council of tenants-in-chief). She also served in a vice-regal capacity when Henry was away from court until 1118, when her son, William, was old enough to serve in her stead.

The North entrance of Westminster Abbey

Well educated at the convents of Romsey and Wilton, Matilda increased the quality of literature and culture at court. Her court was filled with musicians and poets. She commissioned a monk, probably Thurgot, to write a biography of her mother. Like her mother, she was renowned for her devotion to religion and the poor. The twelfth century historian William of Malmesbury described her as attending church barefoot at Lent, washing the feet and kissing the hands of the sick. She also administered extensive dower properties and was known as a patron of the arts, especially music.

Matilda wrote many letters, a number of which still exist. The bulk of her surviving correspondence was with Anselm, the ranking ecclesiastic of England. Anselm went back into exile a second time from 1103-06 as a result of a dispute with Henry, during which time Matilda continued to write to him and to plead his case to Pope Paschal II and others.[1] In addition to writing to the pope, she also corresponded with the monk Thurgot of Durham, Bishop Ivo of Chartres, Emperor Henry V, and Bishop Hildebert of Lavardin. Some of their responses also survive.

Matilda died on May 1, 1118 at Westminster Palace which her husband, Henry had built for her, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

Children

Empress Maud, daughter of Matilda of Scotland

Matilda and Henry's daughter, also named Matilda, is better known as Empress Matilda or Maud, (1102-1167), Holy Roman Empress consort and countess consort of Anjou. She was called the Lady of the English. Matilda and Henry betrothed the younger Matilda to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor when she was seven years old. The imperial couple had no children, however.

Matilda and Henry's second child was William Adelin, (1103-1120), sometimes called Duke of Normandy. In order to secure the loyalty of Anjou, a long-time rival of Normandy, Matilda and Henry betrothed William to another Matilda of Anjou, eldest daughter of Count Fulk V of Anjou, in February 1113. The marriage finally took place in June 1119 in Lisieux, having been prolonged due to the queen's death. Just a year later, young William died in the White Ship tragedy of November 25, 1120.

Henry failed to produce a legitimate son from his second marriage to Adeliza of Louvain and ultimately designated Maud as his heiress, marrying her to his son's brother-in-law Geoffrey V of Anjou, (Plantagenet) and requiring his barons to swear to uphold her rights. On his death, however, the Barons reneged on their oaths and chose Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois as king. The ensuring succession crisis in English history is known as The Anarchy.

Matilda's grandson, Henry II Plantagenet finally became king in 1154. He married the powerful, Eleanor of Aquitaine and they had 11 children, two becoming kings of England themselves, Richard the Lionheart, and John I, firmly establishing the Plantagenet royal line.

Legacy

Queen Matilda commissioned two histories, the life of her mother, Saint Margaret, and an extended history of her family, the Gesta Regum Anglorum, of William of Malmesbury, which was finished after her death and presented to her daughter, Empress Maud.

Matilda was not only an able queen and occasionally vice-regent of England, but also a pious woman who cared for the less fortunate of her realm. When she died at the age of 41, she was buried in Westminster Abbey beside her ancestor, Edward the Confessor. After her death, she was remembered by her subjects as "Matilda the Good Queen" and "Matilda of Blessed Memory." For a time, sainthood was sought for her, although she was never canonized.

From her grandson, Henry II, the Plantagenet royal line was established.


House of Dunkeld
Born: c. 1080; Died: May 1 1118
English royalty
Preceded by:
Matilda of Flanders
Queen consort of England
November 11, 1100–May 1, 1118
Succeeded by: Adeliza of Louvain

Notes

  1. Columbia University, Missouri, Epistolae. Retrieved January 30, 2009.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Chibnall, Marjorie. The Empress Matilda: Queen Consort, Queen Mother, and Lady of the English. Blackwell, 1992. ISBN 9780631157373.
  • Hollister, Warren C., and Amanda Clark Frost. Henry I. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001. ISBN 9780300088588.
  • Huneycutt, Lois L. Matilda of Scotland: A Study in Medieval Queenship. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2003. ISBN 9780851159942.
  • Meade, Marion. From William of Malmesbury, in Eleanor of Aquitaine. London: Phoenix, 2002. ISBN 9781842126189.
  • Parsons, John Carmi, and Bonnie Wheeler. Medieval Mothering. New York: Garland Pub., 1996. ISBN 9780815323419.

External links

All links retrieved November 7, 2022.

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