Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)

Main

tree

descendants

ancestors

Matilda of Flanders
Birth:	1031
Death:	2 November 1083 Caen, France
Father:	Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1067)
Mother:	Adèle of France (1009-1079)
Spouse / partner:	William I of England (1027-1087)
Wedding:	1051
Sex:
Edit Facts

• Duchess of Normandy
• Queen of England
• (FR) Matihilde van Vlaanderen

Matilda of Flanders was born circa 1031 to Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1067) and Adèle of France (1009-1079) and died 2 November 1083 Caen, France of unspecified causes. She married William I of England (1027-1087) 1051 ^JL .

Biography

William the Conqueror's wife was Matilda of Flanders. She was born in 1031, the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, and Adela of France. She married William in 1051, at the age of 20.

Matilda was an important figure in William's life and reign. She was a strong and independent woman, who played a significant role in the administration of Normandy and England. She was also a patron of the arts, sponsoring the construction of several churches and monasteries.

Matilda and William had at least nine children together, including Robert, Richard, William Rufus, and Henry I of England. Matilda was known for her devotion to her family, and was a loving mother to her children.

Matilda died in 1083, at the age of 52. She was buried at Caen in Normandy, where William later built the Abbaye aux Dames in her honor. Matilda was an important figure in the history of England and Normandy, and her legacy lives on today.

Marriage and Family

William asked for the hand of Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083), daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders, but Matilda would have none of it.

Purportedly, she was in love with the English ambassador to Flanders, a Saxon named Brihtric, who declined her advances. As for William, she told his emissary that she was far too high-born (being descended from King Alfred the Great of England) to consider marrying a bastard. When that was repeated to him, William, all of 5'10", rode from Normandy to Bruges, found Matilda on her way to church, dragged her off her horse (some said by her long braids), threw her down in the street in front of her flabbergasted attendants, and then rode off. Another version states that William rode to Matilda's father's house in Lille, threw her to the ground in her room (again, by the braids), and hit her (or violently shook her) before leaving.

William convinced Matilda to relent, but the pope opposed the marriage because they were distant cousins. For a period of time all of Normandy was excommunicated along with their duke because William disregarded the pope's advice and married Matilda. In return for the construction of two abbeys, the excommunication of Normandy was lifted.

William and his wife Matilda of Flanders had at least nine children. The birth order of the sons is clear, but no source gives the relative order of birth of the daughters.

1. Robert III, Duke of Normandy (c1051-1134) AKA: Robert Curthose or Robert III - Robert was born between 1051 and 1054, died 10 February 1134. Duke of Normandy, married Sybilla of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey, Count of Conversano. Ruled as Duke of Normandy from 1087 to 1134. Unsuccessful claimant to the throne of England. Defeated by Henry I at Tinchebray in 1106 and spends next 30 years in a dungeon.
2. Richard of Normandy (c1054) - Between 1069 and 1075, Richard died in a hunting accident in the New Forest. He was buried at Winchester Cathedral. In a twist of fate, his younger brother, King William Rufus, and a nephew, also named Richard, were also killed in the New Forest twenty-five years later.
3. Adeliza of Normandy (c1055) -died before 1113, reportedly betrothed to Harold II of England, probably a nun of Saint Léger at Préaux
4. Cecilia of Normandy (c1055) - was born before 1066, died 1127, Abbess of Holy Trinity, Caen.
5. William II of England (c1056-1100) AKA: William Rufus - was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He died after being struck by an arrow while hunting, under circumstances that remain unclear. No offspring. His younger brother Henry hurriedly succeeded him as king.
6. Matilda of Normandy (c1061-1086) - Matilda was born around 1061, died perhaps about 1086. Mentioned in Domesday Book as a daughter of William
7. Adela of Normandy (c1062) - died 1137, married Stephen, Count of Blois.
8. Agatha of Normandy (c1064) - Agatha, the betrothed of Alfonso VI of León and Castile.
9. Constance of Normandy (c1066-1090) - died 1090, married Alan IV Fergent, Duke of Brittany.
10. Henry I of England (1068-1135) - King of England (1108-1135) for many years

Children

Offspring of William I of England (1027-1087) and Matilda of Flanders
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Robert III, Duke of Normandy (c1051-1134)	1051 (Normandy)	10 February 1134 (Cardiff Castle+ Glamorganshire+ Wales)	Sybilla of Conversano (-1103)
Richard of Normandy (c1054)	1054 Normandy	1081 New Forest, Hampshire
Adeliza of Normandy (c1055)	1055 Normandy	1065
Cecilia of Normandy (c1055)	1055 Normandy, France	30 July 1126 Caen, Calvados, France
William II of England (c1056-1100)	1056 Normandy, France	2 August 1100 New Forest, England, United Kingdom
Matilda of Normandy (c1061-1086)	1061 Normandy, France	1086 France
Adela of Normandy (c1062)	1062 Normandy, France	8 March 1138 Marcigny, Saône-et-Loire, France	Stephen II, Count of Blois (c1045-1102)
Agatha of Normandy (c1064)	1064	1079
Constance of Normandy (c1066-1090)	1066	1090	Alain Fergent de Bretagne (c1060-1119)
Henry I of England (1068-1135)	13 June 1068 Selby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom	1 December 1135 St. Denis-le-Fermont near Gisors, Picardy, Lyons-la-Forêt, Eure, France	Ansfrid (1070-) Matilda of Scotland (c1080-1118) Sybil Corbet (1077-) Edith (bef1135-) Gieva de Tracy (bef1135-) Nest ferch Rhys (c1073-aft1136) Isabel de Beaumont (bef1135-) Adeliza of Leuven (1103-1151)

Siblings

Offspring of Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1067) and Adèle of France (1009-1079)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Baldwin VI of Flanders (c1030-1070)	1030	1070	Richilde von Egisheim (c1020-1086)
Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)	1031	2 November 1083 Caen, France	William I of England (1027-1087)
Robert I of Flanders (c1032-1093)	1032	13 October 1093 Kassel	Gertrud von Sachsen (1033-1113)
Henry of Flanders (c1035-?)
Richard of Flanders (c1050-1105)	1050	1105

See Also

Bibliography

• Barlow, Frank (2004). "Edward (St Edward; known as Edward the Confessor) (1003x5–1066)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8516. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8516. Retrieved 16 May 2012.  (subscription or UK public library membership required)
• Barlow, Frank (1979). The English Church 1066–1154: A History of the Anglo-Norman Church. New York: Longman. ISBN 0-582-50236-5. 
• Barlow, Frank (2004). "William II (c.1060–1100)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29449. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29449. Retrieved 29 June 2012.  (subscription or UK public library membership required)
• Bates, David (2001). William the Conqueror. Kings and Queens of Medieval England. Stroud, UK: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-1980-3. 
• Bates, David (2004). "William I (known as William the Conqueror)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29448. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29448?docPos=2. Retrieved 26 March 2012.  (subscription or UK public library membership required)
• Canal Sánchez-Pagín, José María (2020). "Jimena Muñoz, Amiga de Alfonso VI" (in es). Anuario de Estudios Medievales 21: 11–40. DOI:10.3989/aem.1991.v21.1103. 
• Carpenter, David (2004). The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066–1284. New York: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-014824-8. 
• Clanchy, M. T. (2006). England and its Rulers: 1066–1307. Blackwell Classic Histories of England (Third ed.). Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 1-4051-0650-6. 
• Collins, Roger (1999). Early Medieval Europe: 300–1000 (Second ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-21886-9. 
• Crouch, David (2005). The Birth of Nobility: Constructing Aristocracy in England and France, 900–1300. New York: Longman. ISBN 0-582-36981-9. 

External Links

• wikipedia:en:Matilda of Flanders
• Matilda van Vlaanderen at Genealogics
• Matihilde van Vlaanderen at thePeerage
• Matilda of Flanders - Geni.com
• Matilda of Flanders at Find A Grave
• English Kings 1066-1603 - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
• Norman Dukes 911-1204 - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

Ancestry Trees

• Alfred the Great (849-899) - Thru Matilda, all of the House of Normandy is a direct descent from English King, Alfred the Great. ( Alfred the Great, Ælfthryth of Wessex (?-929), Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965), Baldwin III of Flanders (940-962), Arnulf II of Flanders (c960-988), Baldwin IV of Flanders (980-1036), Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1067), Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083))
• Rollo Family Ancestry
• Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
• Plantagenet Family Line
• House of Normandy
• Henry II of England's ancestor, number 13.

Contemporary Resources

Here are some of the best contemporary references available on his life:

1. Bayeux Tapestry - Elaborate Record of the life of the Conquest of England
2. Battle of Hastings - 1066 Battle
3. Domesday Book is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. The first draft was completed in August 1086 and contained records for 13,418 settlements in the English counties south of the rivers Ribble and Tees (the border with Scotland at the time).
4. "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle": This is a collection of manuscripts that covers the history of England from the early 9th century to the 12th century, including the reign of William the Conqueror.
5. "The Life of King Edward Who Rests at Westminster" by a Monk Called Aelred: This book is a contemporary biography of King Edward the Confessor, who played an important role in the events leading up to William the Conqueror's invasion of England.
6. "The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio" by Guy of Amiens: This book is a contemporary account of the Battle of Hastings, which was fought in 1066 and resulted in William the Conqueror's victory over King Harold Godwinson.
7. "William the Conqueror: The Norman Impact Upon England" by David C. Douglas: This book is a comprehensive biography of William the Conqueror, providing a detailed account of his life and accomplishments.
8. "The Ecclesiastical History of England" by Orderic Vitalis: This book is a contemporary history of England that covers the reigns of several monarchs, including William the Conqueror.

Royal Succession Charts

Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083) House of Flanders Born: c. 1031 Died: 2 November 1083
Royal titles
Preceded by Adela of France	Duchess consort of Normandy 1053 – 2 November 1083	Vacant Title next held by Sybilla of Conversano
Vacant Title last held by Edith of Mercia	Queen consort of England 25 December 1066 – 2 November 1083	Vacant Title next held by Matilda of Scotland

Footnotes (including sources)

John Kenney, Robin Patterson, AMK152, Phlox, Rtol, Thurstan, MainTour