Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and the granddaughter of William the Conqueror, led an adventurous life because of her father’s unorthodox plans for her. Betrothed to German Emperor Henry V at the age of seven for political reasons, the child left England to be reared in the German courts.

It’s interesting to note that this Matilda married the son of Henry IV, the same person who tormented Matilda, the Countess of Tuscany, a generation before. Both women had to fight to maintain control over land. Ironically, Empress Matilda had to invade her own country to regain her throne.

There are arguments that Empress Matilda shouldn’t have been considered in contention for the throne of England. It was, and still is, inherited through the males no matter their birth position in the family. However, Henry I of England had only one legitimate heir live to adulthood – Matilda. Her twin brother died in a shipwreck. Her supporter, Robert, was illegitimate. Meanwhile, her cousin Stephen lurked on the sidelines.

Henry did not want his line to end, so he called together the rich, powerful, and religious and asked them to swear to support his choice for an heir to the throne – Empress Matilda. Stephen, in a sense dethroned before he had a chance to rule, was the first to drop to his knee and swear fealty to the Empress. Others followed suit. A few years later King Henry repeated the performance. Again Stephen swore to support Matilda. Robert swore again to help his half-sister. Matilda, now widowed from the German emperor, was hustled off to marry a man younger than she – Geoffrey of Anjou – who had vast holdings in Europe.

Unfortunately, King Henry I died while Matilda was in Europe, and Stephan snatched the throne. Matilda, incensed, could do nothing immediately. She first had to gather an army, to lead her men to rescue Geoffrey who had been badly injured by a pole-ax, and to fight off enemies.

In 1139, Matilda finally landed on the shores of England. She was home and fighting mad. Robert and her supporters went after Stephen. He was captured by Robert and brought before Matilda to answer charges. Whether she should’ve put Stephen to death for treachery is still argued today. Had she done that, his supporters, led by his wife, another Matilda, would have attacked with a vengeance. Unfortunately Stephen’s forces captured Robert. Rather than let Robert die, Matilda traded Stephen for her half-brother. This action created 19 years of anarchy and neatly split the country down the middle: Matilda controlled the western part of England and Stephen the eastern. Matilda created coins and charters as did Stephen. So who ruled England? It depends on whom you ask or how you define “England.” I prefer Matilda since she was a direct descendent of Henry I. Of course, Henry was the third son of William the Conqueror.

A tangled web no matter how it’s spun.

Read Part I here.

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