This is from my family tree. Continuing from the Henry's of England. The wife of William the Conquer and mother of Henry I, Matilda of Flanders, The wife of Henry I, Matilda of Scotland. and their daughter Matilda of Anjou. I will also have a separa...
Matilda of Flanders (Mathilde de Flanders) was the wife and queen consort of King William I "The Conqueror". Matilda was born in around 1031. She was the daughter of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela of France, and was therefore the granddaughter of the French king, Robert II.
According to legend, when William, Duke of Normandy asked for her hand in marriage, she told his representatives that she was to high-born to even consider marrying a duke, who was illegitimate. William then went to Matilda himself, dragged her by her braids off her horse and beat her. Her father took offense to the matter, but Matilda cleared it up by agreeing to marrying William. They were married in around 1051.
When her husband invaded England in 1066, Matilda acted as regent of Normandy in her husband's absence. Even after William had successfully conquered England, Matilda remained in Normandy for over a year.
Matilda was crowned Queen of England on May 11, 1068 at Westminister Abbey, in a ceremony presided over by the archbishop of York. Matilda and William had 10 children. William was said to have been faithful to his wife, and he had no illegitimate children. A/N: That's impressive.
Matilda was invested in the well-being of her children. They were known for being very well-educated, and all of them including her daughters can speak fluent Latin. She was also the godmother of Princess Matilda (or Edith) of Scotland., who would later become Queen of England herself, as the wife of Matilda's son Henry.
Matilda suddenly fell ill and died on November 2, 1083 at the age of 51. Her husband died 4 years later. She is buried at L'Abbeye aux Hommes in Caen, beneath an 11th-Century slab. Matilda is often known as the shortest Queen in English History. Her skeleton was examined in 1819 and she was found to be only 4 feet, 2 inches.
Her sons, William and Henry would eventually succeed their father as the next Norman kings of England.
Matilda of Flanders
1031-1083
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