Mathilde Emperesse

Mathilde Emperesse (February 7th 1102, Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire - September 10th 1167, Notre-Dame abbey of Pre, Rouen), was empress of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire, and suction disappointed with the Crown of England.

It was the girl and heiress dispossessed of the king Henri I {{er}} of England, and Mathilde of Scotland (fore-mentioned Edith before its marriage). She was thus at the same time the grand-daughter of William the Conqueror (Norman), and of Malcolm III of Scotland (Scottish), the husband of Marguerite of Scotland (Anglo-Saxon).

Its fight against his/her cousin Etienne of Blois which had usurped its place from the throne of England generated a civil war in England which was called “ Anarchy ”.

Empress of the Saint Worsens

She receives the first name of baptism of Adelaide, but takes that of Mathilde (or Maud) with her departure of England. As of the 7 years age, she is promised with Henri V of the Holy roman Empire (1081 - 1125), future Germanic Roman Emperor.
In March 1111, its father and his mother go to Rome in order to assist the next on April 13rd with the crowning of their future son-in-law by the pope Pascal II. After their return, it is then sent to the Germanic court to be there educated by Bruno de Bretten, the Archevêque of Trier.
The January 7th 1114, Mathilde and Henri marry with Mainz, at the time of a splendid ceremony.

Become widowed in 1125 and as its marriage had not generated a descent, it returns to Normandy, then to England. It will keep of it the nickname of “ Impératrice ” or “ Emperesse ”.

His/her brother Guillaume Adelin being deceased the November 25th 1120 at the time of the shipwreck of the White-Nave, Mathilde is the only legitimate heiress with the throne of England. January 1st 1127, his/her father requires of all the English barons, including his cousin Etienne of Blois, to lend oath and to recognize his/her daughter like heiress and successor.

Alliance with Plantagenêt

Before his death, Guillaume Adelin had married a girl of Foulque V of Anjou. Henri Ier, being always decided to insert the Maine and the Anjou in his sphere of influence, arranges another marriage with Geoffroy, wire of Foulque V to him.

The June 17th 1128 with the Mans, it marries the Count of Maine Geoffroy V Beautiful the (1113 - 1151). This one, called Plantagenêt is the heir designated to its father Foulque V of Anjou, Count d' Anjou. Its marriage not being very happy, it turns over near his/her father. In 1131, it is reconciled with Geoffroy, and their first child Henri is born the March 5th 1133.

His/her father visits him and it is very happy to see its grandchildren. He quarrels nevertheless with his son-in-law and refuses to yield to him the least plot of land in Normandy. When he dies on February 1st 1135 in Normandy, Mathilde and her husband are at this time in Anjou.

Fight for the throne of England

Usurpation of Etienne of Blois

Died from his father, it is awaited that Mathilde succeeds to him, but very few Anglo-Norman lords wish being controlled by Mathilde and her husband angevin. Prevented death of the king by his brother Henri, the bishop of Winchester, his cousin Etienne of Blois joined Winchester as fast as possible and seizes the royal treasure. The December 22nd 1135, it is made crown thus disavowing the oaths made with fire king Henri.

Whereas all this master key well for Etienne during two years, Mathilde prepares its revenge. In 1138, while Geoffroy invades Normandy, David I {{er}} of Scotland, his/her cousin, invades the north of England and Robert de Gloucester, his half-brother bastard starts the rebellion in the west of the country. These events are the effective beginning of the civil war which was called “ Anarchy ” because it plunged England in an appalling state. Each camp took the ascending one in turn.

Capture of the king

In August 1139, Mathilde invades England. In an incredible chivalrous spirit, Etienne makes it escort until Bristol. Strong of the support of some barons dissatisfied with the weakness of the king, it with the confidence of the Church that Etienne seriously contariée. It quickly takes the control of most of the west of England. It establishes its court in Oxford, allotted titles of counts to its partisans, and the barons of the kingdom change camp with the liking of their interests. Robert de Gloucester is the charismatic captain of his troops and his party. In February 1141, intervenes the greatest success of Mathilde. With the battles of Lincoln, Etienne is beaten and captured, then deposited and finally imprisoned with Bristol. It is in strong position in the kingdom, and the March 3rd, it proclaims Domina Anglorum , “Lady of the English”. The April 8th, it is proclaimed Angliae Normanniaeque dominated , “Lady of the English and Norman”, with the council of Winchester, by the bishop of Winchester, Henri of Blois, brother of Etienne. Although it controls the kingdom henceforth, it is not crowned yet.

In June, it leaves to London to be made crown queen. Entered the city the June 24th, its stay is short and surging there. Indeed, it is by its particularly arrogant attitude, that it loses the advantage quickly that its victory with Lincoln had given him. As of its arrival in the city, she immediately asks for the lifting of heavy taxes. The city which underwent many disorders since the beginning of the war of succession, was organized in the shape of commune to defend oneself in chaos of the time. The Londoners thus see very badly the arrival of a despotic woman requiring their allegiance. She refuses moreover a peace treaty proposed by Henri of Blois which would have put an end to the civil war, and whose terms will be entirely included in the treaty of 1153.

Mathilde is obliged to leave the city in catastrophe and to fold up themselves on Oxford, in front of the rising of the population. The Londoners are not long in accommodating the other Mathilde (of Boulogne), the woman of Etienne, who took the head of the party of her husband.

End of the conflict

The Henri bishop of Blois decides once again to change camp and joined the party of his brother. Mathilde goes to Winchester to force it to make him allegiance again. Mathilde of Boulogne and Guillaume d' Ypres, captain of his army see an opportunity there of taking again the advantage. They besiege the troops of Emperesse inside the city. Follows what is known today under the name of Déroute of Winchester. The September 14th, Mathilde succeeds in fleeing of Winchester thanks to a diversion organized by Robert. Its troops are put in rout, and Robert de Gloucester, which covers its escape, is captured in Stockbridge.

All the gained benefit with Lincoln was lost. The belligerents agree for an prisoner exchange. Robert is not king, but it is the heart and the charismatic leader of the party of his sister. It is slackened on November 1st, n the other hand release of Etienne. This last finds its place on the throne, and is again made crown the December 25th. The civil war can begin again of more beautiful.

At the winter 1142, Mathilde is besieged in the castle of Oxford. It owes its safety only with one clever and dangerous escape. It and four companions are rolled up in white cloths, not to be located, and reduce themselves along the wall from the castle in middle of the night, whereas a snowstorm prevails. They flee initially with foot in snow towards Abingdon, crossing the the Thames frozen, then with horse until Wallingford.

End 1147, his/her the Robert half-brother, his burning to support dies of a fever with Bristol. During the following year, it gives up its fight, and turns over to France.

His/her son Henri, takes again the torch of the combat for his own account, and makes a first attempt in 1149. beginning 1153, it redébarque in England with a powerful army. With the end of the year, after the death of Eustace IV of Boulogne, wire and heir apparent to the king, the conditions are met for a peace treaty. According to the terms of the agreement, Etienne of England and Henri recognize themselves for father and wire, and it is concluded that this last will succeed Etienne with his death.

End-of-life

It is withdrawn with Rouen, in Normandy for the remainder of its life, holding its own court. It intervenes in the quarrels between its Henri sons and Geoffroy, but peace remained short between them. Geoffroy rebelled twice against his brother, but he dies suddenly in 1158. The relations between Henri and his Guillaume brother were more cordial, and this last was seen allotting vast possessions in England.

Guillaume, his favorite son, takes refuge near it when Thomas Becket refused to him to marry Isabelle de Warenne, the countess of Surrey. It is there that he dies in 1164, leaving it in a great sorrow. It also tries to be used as mediator between Henri and Thomas Becket, but without success.

Mathilde was never liked of the English who considered it too foreign and too haughty. She spoke three languages: French, German and Latin. Although she had hoped to be made crown in 1141, she was never Queen of England. She nevertheless is recognized like having been sovereign kingdom between February and November 1141.

When the Treated of Wallingford fu known, the rumor which had circulated for several years in England, insinuating that Etienne was in fact the biological father of Henri, was reinforced.

She dies in Rouen in 1167, and was buried in the cathedral. One could read on his epitaph: “ Ci-to lie the girl, woman, and mother of Henri ”

Unions and descent

With Mainz, the January 7th 1114, it marries Henri V of the Holy roman Empire (1081 - 1125), Germanic Roman Emperor of which it does not have any known descent.

In second weddings the June 17th 1128 with the Mans, it marries Geoffroy V Beautiful the, Count of Maine (1113 - 1151), from which it has three wire:

Henri (1133 - 1189), future Count d' Anjou, of the Maine and the Poitou, Duke of Aquitanian Normandy and , King d' Angleterre;
Geoffroy Plantagenêt (1134 - 1158), future Count d' Anjou, of the Maine and of Nantes;
Guillaume Plantagenêt (1136 - 1164), Count of Poitou.

See too

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