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Birth:          ABT Feb 1102 London, England
Death:          10 Sep 1167 Notre Dame, Rouen,  France
Burial:         Bec Abbey, Le Bec-Hellouin, Eure, France

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Matilda
Empress Matilda (c. 7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167), also known as the 
Empress Maude,[nb 1] was the claimant to the English throne during the civil war 
known as the Anarchy. The daughter of King Henry I of England, she moved to 
Germany as a child when she married the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. She 
travelled with her husband into Italy in 1116, was controversially crowned in St. 
Peter's Basilica, and acted as the imperial regent in Italy. Matilda and Henry had no 
children, and when Henry died in 1125, the crown was claimed by Lothair II, one of 
his political enemies.

Meanwhile, Matilda's younger brother, William Adelin, died in the White Ship disaster 
of 1120, leaving England facing a potential succession crisis. On Henry V's death, 
Matilda was recalled to Normandy by her father, who arranged for her to marry 
Geoffrey of Anjou to form an alliance to protect his southern borders. Henry I had no 
further legitimate children and nominated Matilda as his heir, making his court swear 
an oath of loyalty to her and her successors, but the decision was not popular in the 
Anglo-Norman court. Henry died in 1135 but Matilda and Geoffrey faced opposition 
from the Norman barons and were unable to pursue their claims. The throne was 
instead taken by Matilda's cousin Stephen of Blois, who enjoyed the backing of the 
English Church. Stephen took steps to solidify his new regime, but faced threats both 
from neighbouring powers and from opponents within his kingdom.

In 1139 Matilda crossed to England to take the kingdom by force, supported by her 
half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, and her uncle, King David I of Scotland, while 
Geoffrey focused on conquering Normandy. Matilda's forces captured Stephen at the 
Battle of Lincoln in 1141, but the Empress's attempt to be crowned at Westminster 
collapsed in the face of bitter opposition from the London crowds. As a result of this 
retreat, Matilda was never formally declared Queen of England, and was instead titled 
the Lady of the English. Robert was captured following the Rout of Winchester in 
1141, and Matilda agreed to exchange him for Stephen. Matilda became trapped in 
Oxford Castle by Stephen's forces that winter, and was forced to escape across the 
frozen River Isis at night to avoid capture. The war degenerated into a stalemate, with 
Matilda controlling much of the south-west of England, and Stephen the south-east 
and the Midlands. Large parts of the rest of the country were in the hands of local, 
independent barons.

Matilda returned to Normandy, now in the hands of her husband, in 1148, leaving her 
eldest son to continue the campaign in England; he eventually succeeded to the 
throne as Henry II in 1154. She settled her court near Rouen and for the rest of her 
life concerned herself with the administration of Normandy, acting on Henry's behalf 
when necessary. Particularly in the early years of her son's reign, she provided 
political advice and attempted to mediate during the Becket controversy. She worked 
extensively with the Church, founding Cistercian monasteries, and was known for her 
piety. She was buried under the high altar at Bec Abbey after her death in 1167.
Childhood[edit]

Matilda was born to Henry I, King of England and Duke of Normandy, and his first 
wife, Matilda of Scotland, possibly around 7 February 1102 at Sutton Courtenay in 
Oxfordshire.[1][nb 2] Henry was the youngest son of William the Conqueror, who had 
invaded England in 1066, creating an empire stretching into Wales. The invasion had 
created an Anglo-Norman elite, many with estates spread across both sides of the 
English Channel.[3] These barons typically had close links to the kingdom of France, 
which was then a loose collection of counties and smaller polities, under only the 
minimal control of the king.[4] Her mother Matilda was the daughter of King Malcolm III 
of Scotland, a member of the West Saxon royal family, and a descendant of Alfred the 
Great.[5] For Henry, marrying Matilda of Scotland had given his reign increased 
legitimacy, and for her it had been an opportunity for high status and power in 
England.[6]

Matilda had a younger, legitimate brother, William Adelin, and her father's relationships 
with numerous mistresses resulted in around 22 illegitimate siblings.[nb 3] Little is 
known about Matilda's earliest life, but she probably stayed with her mother, was 
taught to read, and was educated in religious morals.[7][nb 4] Among the nobles at her 
mother's court were her uncle David, later the King of Scotland, and aspiring nobles 
such as her half-brother Robert of Gloucester, her cousin Stephen of Blois and Brian 
Fitz Count.[9] In 1108 Henry left Matilda and her brother in the care of Anselm, the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, while he travelled to Normandy; Anselm was a favoured 
cleric of Matilda's mother.[10] There is no detailed description of Matilda's 
appearance; contemporaries described Matilda as being very beautiful, but this may 
have simply reflected the conventional practice among the chroniclers.[11]
Death[edit]

Matilda died on 10 September 1167, and her remaining wealth was given to the 
Church.[214][nb 20] She was buried under the high altar at the abbey of Bec-Hellouin 
in a service led by Rotrou, the Archbishop of Rouen.[215] Her tomb's epitaph included 
the lines "Great by birth, greater by marriage, greatest in her offspring: here lies 
Matilda, the daughter, wife, and mother of Henry", which became a famous phrase 
among her contemporaries.[216][nb 21] This tomb was damaged in a fire in 1263 and 
later restored in 1282, before finally being destroyed by an English army in 1421.[217] 
In 1684 the Congregation of St. Maur identified some of her remaining bones and 
reburied them at Bec-Hellouin in a new coffin.[217] Her remains were lost again after 
the destruction of Bec-Hellouin's church by Napoleon, but were found once more in 
1846 and this time reburied at Rouen Cathedral, where they remain.[217]

Parents
____ Henry I "Beauclerc" (1070 - 1 Dec 1135)
OF SCOTLAND Matilda "Atheling" (ABT 1079 - 1 May 1118)

Siblings
____ Elizabeth (ABT 1101 - )
____ Matilda (Maud) (ABT Feb 1102 - 10 Sep 1167)

Marriage To PLANTAGENET Geoffrey V "Le Bon" (24 Aug 1113 - 7 Sep 1151)
    m. 22 May 1127 

Notes
her second

Parents
____ Fulk (Foulques) V "le Jeune" (1092 - 13 Nov 1143)
OF MANS (DU MAINE) Ermendgarde (Erembourge) (Ermentrude) (1096 - 1126)

Children by PLANTAGENET Geoffrey V "Le Bon" 24 Aug 1113 - 7 Sep 1151
PLANTAGENET Henry II "Curt Mantel" (5 Mar 1133 - 6 Jul 1189)

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