Matilda Queen of England
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However, despite being declared "Lady and Queen of the English" at Winchester and winning over Stephen's brother, Henry of Blois, the powerful Bishop of Winchester, Matilda alienated the citizens of London with her arrogant manner. She failed to secure her coronation and the Londoners joined a renewed push from Stephen's Queen and laid siege to the Empress in Winchester. She managed to escape to the West, but while commanding her rearguard, her brother was captured by the enemy. | However, despite being declared "Lady and Queen of the English" at Winchester and winning over Stephen's brother, Henry of Blois, the powerful Bishop of Winchester, Matilda alienated the citizens of London with her arrogant manner. She failed to secure her coronation and the Londoners joined a renewed push from Stephen's Queen and laid siege to the Empress in Winchester. She managed to escape to the West, but while commanding her rearguard, her brother was captured by the enemy. | ||
| − | Matilda was obliged to swap Stephen for Robert on 1st November 1141 | + | Matilda was obliged to swap Stephen for Robert on 1st November 1141, and the King soon reimposed authority over part of England. The dramatic part of the story is over and the two sides now engage, in various small maneuvers over many years, dragging out the war with no resolution in sight. One more dramatic scene however occurs in 1142. Robert has gone to Normandy to attempt to persuade Geoffrey to lend her personal presence to Matilda's cause. Matilda is in her stronghold at Oxford when Stephen makes a surprise attack. The place is laid under seige and after some time, Matilda determines to make her escape. The ground is white covered with snow, and Matilda clad all in white is lowered from a tower and steals across the lines, escaping to Abingdon six miles away where she obtained horses and rode to safety at Wallingford. Stephen takes Oxford, but the great advantage he could have had is gone. Robert now joins her at Wallingford and has brought with him, her son Henry, now ten years old, who would remain in the stronghold at Bristol under a tutor for the next four years. |
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| + | Meanwhile Geoffrey has gone on the offensive in Normandy and after a rapid campaign, it falls into his hands, with Rouen surrendering Jan 1144. In 1148, after the death of her half-brother, Matilda finally returned to Normandy, leaving her son Henry to fight on in England. In 1152 the Treaty of Wallingford recognised Henry as Stephen's heir. | ||
Matilda died at Rouen on 10th September 1169 and was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, though some of her entrails may possibly have been later interred in her father's foundation at Reading Abbey. | Matilda died at Rouen on 10th September 1169 and was buried in Fontevrault Abbey, though some of her entrails may possibly have been later interred in her father's foundation at Reading Abbey. | ||
