a baron is a great lord or landholder in the kingdom

the Anarchy was an absence of government in society; political or social disorder

a civil war is a war between citizens of the same country

an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by one person or a group of people

The life of Matilda and medieval women

History

Matilda's early life: Empress of Germany

Matilda and the succession crisis

Matilda's claim and campaign

Matilda's battles

Matilda's later life: supporting Henry II

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?

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

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

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

a great lord or landholder in the kingdom

an absence of government in society; political or social disorder

a war between citizens of the same country

a group of countries or provinces ruled by one person or a group

Match the keyword to the correct definition.

She ruled the Empire's lands in Italy on behalf of the Emperor

Matilda was named heir to the throne by her father

Matilda married Count Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou

Matilda's son - the future Henry II - was born

Put the following events in Matilda's early life in chronological order.

Matilda and Geoffrey joined a rebellion against her father

Stephen of Blois took the throne from Matilda - the Anarchy began

Stephen was captured and Matilda almost won the civil war

Matilda was thrown out of London before she could be crowned

Matilda's son, Henry II, continued the civil war for his mother

Henry II was crowned king - the Anarchy ended

Put the following events in Matilda's later life in chronological order.

Which of the following women played an important role in Matilda's story?

influential men blamed Matilda's gender for the problems caused by the Anarchy

Matilda wrote into law that no other woman could become queen

influential women blamed Matilda's gender for the problems caused by the Anarchy

Henry II wrote into law that no other woman could become queen

What was one of the reasons that England did not have another female ruler for the next 400 years after the Anarchy?

women could be trusted to rule and did so successfully

women were only allowed to marry once in their lifetime

women were able to wield power in their husband’s name

What can Matilda's life teach historians about medieval women?

Matilda and Stephen asked the public to stop fighting.

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

Stephen died so his supporters did not want to continue fighting.

Which of the following were NOT reasons for tensions reducing in the civil war in the 1140s?

Complete the sentence: Stephen agreed Matilda's {{}} Henry would inherit the throne after his death, which led to a peaceful succession.

Eustace was angry with Matilda who had agreed to make Henry her heir instead

Eustace was angry with Stephen who had agreed to make Henry his heir instead

Eustace was angry with Stephen who had agreed to make Matilda his heir instead

Eustace was angry with Matilda who had agreed to make Stephen her heir instead

Why did the death of Stephen's son, Eustace, remove an obstacle to the end of the civil war?

Complete the sentence: a {{}} is a formal agreement between two countries.

Where did Matilda spend the rest of her life following the end of the civil war?

he had her crowned joint ruler at his coronation

any decisions that he made were signed in both his name and Stephen's

he only did exactly what she advised him to do

any decisions that he made were signed in both his name and Matilda’s

Which of the following examples show how much Henry II valued his mother's advice?

Starter Quiz