Empress Matilda: The Woman Who Nearly Became England's First Queen

Empress Matilda, a figure often remembered for a dramatic winter escape from Oxford Castle, was a resilient and clever woman who came close to becoming England's first reigning queen, according to a new biography by Professor Elisabeth van Houts.

Van Houts, of the University of Cambridge, seeks to move beyond exaggerated accounts of Matilda's life, particularly the well-known story of her escape during a siege by her cousin and rival, Stephen of Blois, in 1142. While chronicles depict her and three knights rappelling down Oxford Castle walls under heavy snowfall, van Houts suggests Matilda likely left through a less-guarded gate during a period of lax watch.

Born in 1102, Matilda was the sole daughter of King Henry I and Matilda of Scotland. At the age of eight, she was betrothed to Henry V, the Holy Roman Emperor, who was nearly two decades her senior. Their marriage took place in 1114, and Matilda quickly became an essential figure in the emperor's life.

Following Henry V's death in 1125, Matilda returned to England. Her father, King Henry I, arranged her marriage to the 14-year-old Geoffrey of Anjou. With the death of his only son in 1120, Henry I declared Matilda his successor and made the nobility swear allegiance to her as the next in line to the throne.

However, upon Henry I's death in 1135, his nephew Stephen seized the throne before Matilda could assert her claim. This led to a civil war, often referred to as 'the Anarchy,' which lasted from 1138 to 1153. The conflict between Stephen and Matilda's forces was prolonged, eventually resulting in a stalemate. The Treaty of Westminster in 1153 recognized Matilda's son as Stephen's successor. He was crowned King Henry II of England in 1154, after Stephen's death.

Matilda retired to Normandy and passed away in 1167. Contemporary writers described her as imperious and haughty, characteristics van Houts attributes partly to misogyny of the era, highlighting Matilda's redoubtable, resilient, and clever nature.

Van Houts' biography, "Empress Matilda," published by Yale University Press, is expected to become a definitive text on her life, particularly for general readers.