bethwoodvilles:Queens of England + Matilda of Boulogne (1105-1152)Matilda of Boulogne was born in 11
bethwoodvilles:Queens of England + Matilda of Boulogne (1105-1152)Matilda of Boulogne was born in 1105 in Boulogne, France. Her parents were Eustace III, Count of Boulogne and Mary, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret, making Matilda the first cousin of her husband’s rival, Empress Matilda. She married Stephen of Blois, Count of Mortain, in 1125. Stephen already held large estates in England and combined with what Matilda inherited they became one of the wealthiest couples in the country. After her father’s death the same year of her marriage, Matilda became suo jure Countess of Boulogne but she and Stephen ruled jointly. During the reign of Henry I, the count and countess had two children, a son, Baldwin, and a daughter, Matilda. Both died young.On the death of Henry I in 1135, Stephen took advantage of Boulogne’s seaports and rushed to England. He beat his rival, Empress Matilda, and was crowned king. Matilda was heavily pregnant at the time and crossed the Channel after giving birth to a son, Eustace, who would eventually succeed her as Count of Boulogne. Matilda was crowned queen on Easter, March 22, 1136.During the civil war known as the Anarchy, Matilda was her husband’s strongest supporter. When England was invaded in 1138, she called troops from Boulogne and Flanders, besieged Dover Castle, and went north to Durham where she made a treaty with David I of Scotland in 1139. When Stephen was captured in February 1141, she played a critical role in keeping the king’s cause alive. She generated sympathy and support from Stephen’s most loyal followers and raised an army with the help of William of Ypres. While Empress Matilda was waiting in London to prepare her coronation, Matilda and Stephen’s brother, Henry of Blois, chased her out of the city. Empress Matilda then besieged Henry of Blois at Winchester, causing Matilda to command her army to attack the besiegers. Her army captured the Empress’s half-brother, Robert of Gloucester. The two Matildas attempted negotiation but neither was willing to compromise. They ended up simply exchanging Robert and the king. Stephen began re-establishing his authority and he and Matilda both had a fresh coronation at Christmas 1141.It should be significant that during their marriage, Stephen had no illegitimate children. Considering this and Matilda’s actions during the Anarchy, it’s said that the couple had great devotion for each other.Matilda died in May 1152 of a fever and was buried at Faversham Abbey which she and her husband founded. (x) -- source link