Matilda of england biography of george hamilton

Basing her campaign in Oxford, Matilda battled, sieged, and even made an elaborate escape during her enduring efforts to claim the English throne. Matilda would have been the first English Queen to rule in her own right, had she been crowned in She was the first woman to be named as heir to the English throne and she fought fiercely for her succession.

Enter, Mary Tudor — Bloody Mary as she would come to be known, who, unlike Matilda was officially anointed and was crowned Queen in Henry I nominated his daughter Matilda as his successor and heir to the English throne, as his only living legitimate child. Henry had his court swear an oath to support Matilda, but there had never been a female heir to the English throne before and they agreed reluctantly.

Upon the death of Henry I in , Matilda inherited the throne and was set to become the first Queen of England. But her cousin Stephen of Blois contested her right to the throne and formed a coup, whereby he raced to Winchester to be crowned first. Matilda contested the rule of her cousin Stephen and marched to Oxford to base her campaign at Oxford Castle.

Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony.

Matilda fought for her own succession to the throne throughout the year civil war. Stephen had the church on side through his younger brother Henry, the bishop of Winchester and the support of the nobles. Matilda and Stephen battled it out, up and down the country. During The Anarchy, King Stephen was captured, imprisoned, and deposed. Coins were issued in her name and arrangements were made for her coronation.

In the build up to the coronation it was customary for the upcoming monarch to grant tax concessions and favours to the public.