About Matilda of Flanders:
Known for: Queen of England from 1068; wife of William the Conqueror; occasionally his regent; was long reputed to be the artist of the Bayeux tapestry, but scholars now doubt that she was directly involved
Dates: about 1031 - November 2, 1083
Also known as: Mathilde, Mahault
Family, Background:
- Father: Baldwin V of Flanders
- Mother: Adele (Alix) of France, a daughter of Robert II of France, formerly married to Richard III of Normandy, brother of Hugh Capet, King of France
- Brothers: Baldwin, Robert
Marriage, Children:
Husband: William, Duke of Normandy, who later was known as William the Conqueror, William I of England
Children: four sons, five daughters survived childhood; eleven children total
Children include:
- William Rufus (1056-1100), King of England
- Adela (about 1062-1138), married Stephen, Count of Blois
- Henry Beauclerc (1068-1135), King of England
More About Matilda of Flanders:
William of Normandy proposed marriage to Matilda of Flanders in 1053, and, according to legend, she first refused his proposal. He is supposed to have pursued her and thrown her on the ground by her braids in reaction to her refusal (stories differ). Over her father's objections after that insult, Matilda then accepted the marriage. As a result of their close relationship -- they were cousins -- they were excommunicated but the Pope relented when each built an abbey as penance.
After her husband invaded England and took the kingship, Matilda came to England to join her husband and was crowned queen in Winchester Cathedral. Matilda's descent from Alfred the Great added some credibility to William's claim to the English throne. During William's frequent absences, she served as regent, sometimes with their son, Robert Curthose, assisting her in those duties. When Robert Curthose rebelled against his father, Matilda served alone as regent.
Matilda and William separated, and she spent her last years in Normandy separately, at l'Abbaye aux Dames in Caen -- the same abbey she had built as penance for the marriage, and her tomb is at that abbey. When Matilda died, William gave up hunting to express his grief.
Matilda of Flanders Trivia:
Matilda of Flanders was very short, perhaps just over four feet tall.
