[MR] Wikipedia: Empress Maude of England

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends,

On this day in 1141, Empress Matilda (aka Empress Maude, or "Matilda, 
Lady of the English") became the first female ruler of England: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Matilda .

Empress Matilda was the granddaughter of William the Conqueror, and 
widow of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, which accounts for the 
"Empress" title. When her brother William of Adelin perished in the 
White Ship Disaster ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Ship ), 
Matilda became the heir of her father Henry I of England. Upon Henry's 
death, some Anglo-Norman Barons and the church refused to accept a woman 
as ruler, and backed her cousin Stephen of Blois ( 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen,_King_of_England ). England was 
torn by years of civil war and stalemate during a period known as "The 
Anarchy". In a brokered settlement, Matilda's son, yet another Henry, 
inherited the throne as Henry II upon Stephen's death in 1154.

Didn't know about Matilda? Didn't you watch the BROTHER CADFAEL 
mysteries on PBS? :~) The conflict forms the background for most of the 
Cadfael stories.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot