"It causes pleasure to see the queen whom no woman equals in beauty of body or face, hiding her body, nevertheless, in a veil of loose clothing. Here alone, with new modesty, wishes to conceal it, but what gleams with its own light cannot be hidden and the sun, penetrating his clouds, hurls his rays." She also had "fluent, honeyed speech."
-Marbodius of RennesBorn: c. 1080 Dumferline, Scotland
Died: 1 May 1118 (aged 38) Westminster Palace
Buried: Westminster Abbey
House: House of Dunkeld
King Malcolm Canmore III, of Scotland and St. Margaret of Scotland |
The Life of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland was later written for Matilda possibly by Turgot of Durham. It refers to Matilda's childhood and her relationship with her mother. In it, Margaret is described as a strict but loving mother. She did not spare the rod when it came to raising her children in virtue, which the author presupposed was the reason for the good behavior Matilda and her siblings displayed, and Margaret also stressed the importance of piety.
Christina Aetheling, Abess |
Alan Rufus, Lord of Richmond |
She had left 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. She did not return to Wilton and until 1100, is largely unaccounted for in chronicles.
Marriage
Henry I, King of England |
Matilda and Henry seem to have known one another for some time before their marriage — William of Malmesbury states that Henry had "long been attached" to her, and Orderic Vitalis says that Henry had "long adored" her character. It is possible that Matilda had spent some time at William Rufus's court and that the pair had met there. It is also possible Henry was introduced to his bride by his teacher Bishop Osmund. Whatever the case, it is clear that the two at least knew each other prior to their wedding. Additionally, the chronicler William of Malmesbury suggests that the new king loved his bride.
St. Margaret of Scotland |
England after Harold, and, through her mother, Matilda was descended from Edmund Ironside and thus from the royal family of Wessex, which in the 10th century had become the royal family of a united England. This was extremely important because although Henry had been born in England, he needed a bride with ties to the ancient Wessex line to increase his popularity with the English and to reconcile the Normans and Anglo-Saxons. In their children, the two factions would be united, further unifying the new regime. Another benefit was that England and Scotland became politically closer; three of Matilda's brothers became kings of Scotland in succession and were unusually friendly towards England during this period of unbroken peace between the two nations: Alexander married one of Henry I's illegitimate daughters and David lived at Henry's court for some time before his accession.
Matilda had a small dower but it did incorporate some lordship rights. Most of her dower estates were granted from lands previously held by Edith of Wessex. Additionally, Henry made numerous grants on his wife including substantial property in London. Generosity aside, this was a political move in order to win over the unruly Londoners who were vehement supporters of the Wessex kings.
Queen
After Matilda and Henry were married on 11 November 1100 at Westminster Abbey by Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury, she was crowned as "Matilda," a hallowed Norman name. By courtiers, however, she and her husband were soon nicknamed 'Godric and Godiva'. These two names were typical English names from before The Conquest and mocked their more rustic style, especially when compared to the flamboyance of William II.
Matilda |
William, Adelin |
During the English investiture controversy (1103-07), she acted as intercessor between her husband and archbishop Anselm. She wrote several letters during Anselm's absence, first asking him for advice and to return, but later increasingly to mediate.
Works
Waltham Abbey |
Her court was filled with musicians and poets; she commissioned a monk, possibly Thurgot, to write a biography of her mother, Saint Margaret. She was an active queen and, like her mother, was renowned for her devotion to religion and the poor. William of Malmesbury describes her as attending church barefoot at Lent, and washing the feet and kissing the hands of the sick. Matilda exhibited a particular interest in leprosy, founding at least two leper hospitals, including the institution that later became the parish church of St Giles-in-the-Fields. She also administered extensive dower properties and was known as a patron of the arts, especially music.
After Matilda died on 1 May 1118 at Westminster Palace, she was buried at Westminster Abbey. The death of her son, William Adelin, in the tragic disaster of the White Ship* (November 1120) and Henry's failure to produce a legitimate son from his second marriage led to the succession crisis of The Anarchy.
*The White Ship Disaster
The White Ship sinking |
The White Ship was a vessel that sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur, on 25 November 1120. Only two of those aboard survived. Those who drowned included William Adelin, the only surviving legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England. William Adelin's death led to a succession crisis and a period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy.
Legacy
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. Matilda is also thought to be the identity of the "Fair Lady" mentioned at the end of each verse in the nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down. The post-Norman conquest English monarchs to the present day are related to the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex monarchs via Matilda of Scotland as she was the great-granddaughter of King Edmund Ironside, see House of Wessex family tree.
Issue
Matilda and Henry had issue
Matilda and Henry had issue
1. Euphemia (July/August 1101), died young
2. Matilda of England (c. February 1102 – 10 September 1167), Holy Roman Empress, Countess consort of Anjou, called Lady of the English
3. William Adelin, (5 August 1103 – 25 November 1120), sometimes called Duke of Normandy, who married Matilda (d.1154), daughter of Fulk V, Count of Anjou.
4. Elizabeth (August/September 1104), died young
How is Matilda related to the Clarks?
Stuart Benson Clark>Anne Garnett Emory>Theodosia Blakey Garnett>Reuben B. Garnett>Elizabeth Rogers>Joseph Rogers>Peter Rogers>Giles Rogers>John Rogers>Thomas Rogers>Thomas Matthew Rogers>Bernard Rogers>Rev. John Rogers>Thomas John Rogers>Thomas John Rogers, Sr.>Thomas Rogers>John FitzRogers>John FitzRogers>Elizabeth DeHoland>Maude La Zouche>Alan La Zouche>Eleanor Longespee>Stephen Longespee>William Longespee>Henry II Plantaganet, King og England>Matilda (Maude), Queen of England> Matilda (Edith) Canmore of Scotland, Queen of England (25th Great Grandmother of SBC)
How is Matilda related to the Clarks?
Stuart Benson Clark>Anne Garnett Emory>Theodosia Blakey Garnett>Reuben B. Garnett>Elizabeth Rogers>Joseph Rogers>Peter Rogers>Giles Rogers>John Rogers>Thomas Rogers>Thomas Matthew Rogers>Bernard Rogers>Rev. John Rogers>Thomas John Rogers>Thomas John Rogers, Sr.>Thomas Rogers>John FitzRogers>John FitzRogers>Elizabeth DeHoland>Maude La Zouche>Alan La Zouche>Eleanor Longespee>Stephen Longespee>William Longespee>Henry II Plantaganet, King og England>Matilda (Maude), Queen of England> Matilda (Edith) Canmore of Scotland, Queen of England (25th Great Grandmother of SBC)
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