Empress Matilda Family Tree & Biography (1102-1167)

 

Empress Matilda (1102-1167), born Adelaide, was a member of the House of Normandy. She was the daughter of King Henry I and Edith (Matilda) of Scotland. She was known as Empress Matilda because her first husband was Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Contents

Empress Matilda Family Tree Image
Empress Matilda Family Tree in Table Form
Empress Matilda Short Biography

 

Empress Matilda Family Tree Image showing:

grandparents, parents, sibling, husbands, children and grandchildren

 

Empress Matilda Family Tree in Table Form showing:

grandparents, parents, sibling, husbands, children and grandchildren

 

 

Empress Matilda Short Biography

Early Years – Holy Roman Empress

Empress Matilda was born on 7th February 1102. Christened Adelaide, she was the daughter of King Henry I of England and Edith (Matilda) of Scotland. Her name was changed to Matilda when she married Henry V, Emperor of Germany in 1110, at the age of 8 years. She was crowned Holy Roman Empress by the Pope in 1116.

In 1120, her brother, William Adelin, heir to the throne, died in the White Ship disaster. Matilda was now King Henry I’s only legitimate child and was technically heir to the throne. However, there had never been a Queen of England before and it was unclear whether she would be accepted by the chief magnates, particularly as she was living in Germany. Henry’s wife Edith (Matilda) died in 1118 and Henry married Adeliza of Louvain hoping to father more children.

 

Second Marriage and children

In 1125, Matilda’s husband died and Henry I recalled her to his court. King Henry persuaded his nobles to swear allegiance to Matilda as his heir. He then suggested to Fulk of Anjou that Matilda marry his son, Geoffrey. Matilda reluctantly married 15 year old Geoffrey on 17th June 1128. Their first son, Henry was born in 1133.

Matilda wanted her father to pass some power to her while he was still alive so that it would be easier for her to become Queen, but Henry refused as he hoped that his new wife, Adeliza would become pregnant. When Henry I died, Matilda’s cousin, Stephen of Blois, immediately travelled to England where, with the support of his brother Henry, now Bishop of Winchester, he began to take power in England. On 22nd December, Stephen was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

 

Civil War – The Anarchy

On 21st July 1136, Matilda’s half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, rebelled against Stephen on Matilda’s behalf and declared war beginning a period of civil war known as the Anarchy. Matilda arrived in England in 1139 and the fighting intensified. Stephen was captured at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 and held prisoner. Stephen’s brother, Henry, Bishop of Winchester, who had fallen out with his brother over the ruling of the country gave his support to Matilda. However, when Henry of Blois saw that London refused to support Matilda, he changed allegiance back to his brother.

While Stephen was in custody his wife, Matilda of Boulogne directed his military campaign. On 14th September 1141, Empress Matilda’s half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, was captured. Matilda was unable to continue the fight without her half-brother and refused to surrender to Stephen’s wife. A compromise was agreed where Robert of Gloucester was swapped for King Stephen.

After the death of Robert of Gloucester in 1147, Matilda’s son, Henry Plantagenet continued the fight in his mother’s name. However, neither side made major gains and the war dragged on. Eventually a compromise was reached whereby Stephen would rule for the rest of his life, but after his death Empress Matilda’s son, Henry Plantagenet would become King.

 

Later Years

Matilda lived to see her son crowned King Henry II on 19th December 1154. She had left England for Normandy in 1148 and never returned to England. She died on 23rd May 1167 in Rouen, Normandy.

 

Published October 2024 – Updated – [last-modified]