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| Depiction by unknown artist (c. 1800s) |
Birth name: Mathilde de Baudouinides
Born: c. 1105, Boulogne, County of Boulogne, Kingdom of France
Father: Eustace III, Count of Boulogne
Mother: Princess Mary of Scotland
House: Flanders
Nationality: French
Religion: Catholicism
Consort of: Stephen
Reign: 22 December 1135 - 03 May 1152 (16 years)
Coronation: 22 March 1136
Predecessor: Adeliza of Louvain or Geoffrey of Anjou 'The Fair' *disputed*
Successor: Geoffrey of Anjou 'The Fair' *disputed* then Eleanor of Aquitaine
Contender: Geoffrey of Anjou
Died: 03 May 1152 (aged 46), Hedingham, Essex, Kingdom of England
Cause: Unknown illness
Burial: Faversham Abbey
Motto: N/A
Spouse(s):
- King Stephen of England (m. 1125 - 1152)
Children:
- With King Stephen of England
- Lord Baldwin of Blois (c. 1126 - c. 1135)
- Matilda, Countess of Meulan (c. 1127 - 1141)
- Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne (c. 1130 - 1153)
- William I, Count of Boulogne (c. 1135 - 1159)
- Marie I, Countess of Boulogne (c. 1136 - 1182)
She was described as being beautiful.
Character:
Throughout her life, Matilda was very intelligent and a talented tactician. She was able to lead and command armies, and was incredibly loyal and supportive of her husband's claim to the English throne.
Though she only ever claimed to be acting on behalf of her husband, this was likely another result of her intelligence, knowing that as a woman during that era, she had to be very careful of the things she did and say; displaying too much independence would have gotten her into trouble.
Regardless, we can see in today's age that Matilda was very much a warrior queen.
Biography:
Matilda was born some time around 1105 in Boulogne, Kingdom of France. She was the only child of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne, and his wife, Princess Mary of Scotland. From her mother's side, Matilda was a descendent of the powerful royal Scottish house of Dunkeld, as well as from the Anglo-Saxon kings of England.
Not much is known about her early life, but she likely received a decent education since she was well known for her intelligence.
In 1125, she married Stephen of Blois, Count of Mortain, and the nephew of King Henry I of England. Her father retired not long afterwards, and she became the Countess of Boulogne in her own right, with both she and Stephen joining their lands together. The two of them would also go on to have five children together, though their eldest son would die at a young age, along with their eldest daughter some years later.
Stephen's uncle, King Henry I of England, died in 1135, without any surviving legitimate male heirs. It is argued that Henry I recognised his eldest legitimate daughter, Empress Matilda, as his heir and rightful monarch upon his death. However, some, including Stephen, argued that Henry I had instead named Stephen as his heir.
Regardless, upon learning of his death, Stephen quickly rushed to England before his cousin, Empress Matilda, could, and seized the throne of England for himself. Matilda did not immediately follow her husband, as she was heavily pregnant at the time, and only joined him once she had given birth to their son, William. Matilda was then officially crowned as the Queen Consort of England.
Her husband's seizure of the throne would lead to The Anarchy, and Matilda would continue to support Stephen's claim to the crown. England fell into civil war, and Matilda aided in the recruitment of troops against Empress Matilda.
Unfortunately, in 1141, her husband would be captured in the Battle of Lincoln, and Matilda raised troops to come to his rescue. She managed to capture the Empress' half-brother, and the two of them eventually exchanged prisoners, and Stephen was released, where he began his rule once again.
Though Empress Matilda would continue to claim the throne of England for years afterwards, she would never come as close to seizing the throne as she had done in 1141.
Eleven years later in 1152, Matilda fell ill with a fever before eventually passing away.
Rule:
She was supportive of her husband's reign from the very beginning. She successfully raised armies from her homeland, Boulogne, and even commanded them. She was able to negotiate the release of her husband when he was captured, and drive Empress Matilda out of England.
Matilda was also a skilled diplomat in her organisation of a treaty with the King of Scotland.
While consort, she was also a strong support of the Knights Templar, and founded two temples within England.
She also founded the Royal Foundation of St Katherine charity for the poor, sick, and disabled.
Trivia:
- N/A
Quotes:
N/A
Sources & Further Reading:
British Histories. (2026). 329. Matilda of Boulogne. British Histories. https://britishhistories.com/f/329-matilda-of-boulogne
Dark, P. A. (2005). The career of Matilda of Boulogne as countess and queen in England, 1135-1152. University of Oxford. https://doi.org/10.5287/ora-d5wzrqqke
Epistolae: Matilda of Boulogne, queen of England. (2026). Epistolae - Columbia University Libraries. https://epistolae.ctl.columbia.edu/woman/12.html
MatildaofBoulogne.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. (2010). Wikimedia.org. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MatildaofBoulogne.jpg
Strickland, A., & Strickland, E. (2010). MATILDA OF BOULOGNE, QUEEN OF STEPHEN. Lives of the Queens of England, 106–165. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511736414.004
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