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Matilda (Maud): What Title is Correct?

Empress? Queen?

By Jone Johnson Lewis, About.com Guide

Titles used by Matilda (Maud) include Queen of England (disputed), Lady of the English, Empress (Holy Roman Empire, Germany), imperatrix, Queen of the Romans, Romanorum Regina, Countess of Anjou, Matilda Augusta, Matilda the Good, Regina Anglorum, Domina Anglorum, Anglorum Domina, Angliae Normanniaeque domina.

Matilda signed her name to documents after 1141 using such titles as "Mathildis Imperatrix Henrici regis filia et Anglorum domina." A seal described as reading "Mathildis imperatrix et regina Angliae" was destroyed and does not survive as evidence that she described herself as Queen rather than Lady of the English. Her personal seal read "Mathildis dei gracia Romanorum regina" (Matilda by the grace of God Queen of the Romans).

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