a treaty is a formal agreement between two countries

Matilda's later life: supporting Henry II

History

Matilda's early life: Empress of Germany

Matilda and the succession crisis

Matilda's claim and campaign

Matilda's battles

The life of Matilda and medieval women

In this unit, pupils analysed how gender affected attitudes towards leaders and claimants for the throne in medieval England. In 'Elizabeth I: why has Elizabeth been represented so differently?' students will consider the different ways in which a 16th century female monarch was represented, including how gender continued to affect perceptions of women in power.

In 'The Norman Conquest: how do we know about the impact of the Conquest on England?', pupils studied the significance of a succession crisis. In this unit, pupils will deepen their understanding of contested successions by considering how gender affected attitudes towards leaders and claimants for the throne in medieval England.

In this unit, pupils analyse the historical significance of Empress Matilda's life. They use her life as a lens to consider the lives of noble women in medieval England.

Medieval women: what can we learn from Matilda about women in medieval England?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

What keyword describes a formal agreement between two countries?

She was bored of fighting and wanted to return.

She needed a break from fighting and a holiday.

Why was Matilda forced to relocate to Normandy in 1148?

Many of the barons had grown tired of the constant fighting.

Matilda and Stephen asked the public to stop fighting.

Many barons began making individual peace treaties.

Why did tensions in the civil war reduce in the 1140s?

What was the name of Matilda's eldest son?

What was the name of Stephen's son who he had tried repeatedly to have crowned alongside him in order to secure the succession?

Stephen's son died removing an obstacle to the end of the civil war.

Stephen died allowing a peaceful succession for a new king.

Matilda died allowing a peaceful succession for a new king.

a war between citizens of the same country

somewhere that it is being surrounded by people trying to capture it

somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so

an absence of government and order in society

Match the keyword to the correct definition.

Empress Matilda was forced to leave London by a mob

Put the following events of the Anarchy in chronological order.

She gave her supporters lands and titles.

Many of her loyal supporters were also effective soldiers.

She had experience in managing the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire.

In which ways was Matilda considered to be a successful ruler at the time?

Who was one of Empress Matilda's most important supporters?

Complete the following sentence: The Rout of {{}} resulted in the destruction of much of Matilda's forces, as well as the capture of Robert of Gloucester.

She refused to surrender and instead took command of Stephen’s forces.

She rescued him from imprisonment in Bristol Castle.

She and her followers reclaimed London after the mob removed Empress Matilda.

She renewed Henry of Blois’ allegiance.

How was Queen Matilda of Boulogne, Stephen's wife, important during the Anarchy?

Matilda's later life: supporting Henry II

Lesson outcome

Content guidance