Matilda of Flanders

Matilda, or Maud, was born circa 1031 to Baldwin V, Count of Flanders and Adèle of France, the only daughter in a brood of five. While diminutive (reputedly only 4'2"), she was strong willed.

When Duke William II of Normandy sent his representative to ask for Matilda's hand in marriage, she refused him. She was, after all, the granddaughter of King Robert II (the Pious) of France, and a seventh generation direct descendant of Alfred the Great. The Duke, on the other hand, was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy and Helerva of Falaise, a tanner's daughter. And while, for lack of a legitimate son, Robert I had named William is heir, he was then still known as William the Bastard.

But the real reason behind her refusal might have been that Matilda was in love with the English ambassador to Flanders, a Saxon named Brihtric, who declined her advances. Whatever the truth of the matter, years later, while acting a Regent for William in England, Matilda used her authority to confiscate Brihtric's lands and throw him into prison, where he died.

William, however, would not be denied. As the tale goes, he rode all the way from Normandy, found Matilda on her way to church, and in front of her stunned attendants, dragged her from her horse by her long braids and threw her down on the street before riding off. Another version of the story states that he found her in her father's house, threw her (again by her braids) to the ground in her room, and beat her soundly before leaving. Her father, naturally, took offense but before blood could be shed, Matilda agreed to marry the Duke.

Despite a papal ban on the ground of consanguinity (they were distant cousins), Matilda and William were married in 1053. By all accounts, they had a happy marriage. William is said to have been a faithful and loving husband, and their union produced four sons and six daughters.

In 1066, William the Bastard became William the Conqueror, and two years later, Matilda was crowned Queen of England in Westminster. During the ceremony she was said to be sharing in power with her husband and the people were said to be fortunate to be ruled by the ability and wisdom of the queen.

Matilda of Flanders

When, in 1077, her eldest son Robert rebelled against his father, Matilda secretly send him money and at Easter 1080, she engineered a reconciliation, which would last until her death, three years later. William then became tyrannical, and people blamed it on his having lost her.

All sovereigns of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom have been descended from her, as is the present Queen Elizabeth II.