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The Feminist History of Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda is a feminist icon who went against the social norms of the 12th century, where political power was dominated predominantly by men who were also a warrior class in a similar fashion to the samurai of Japan.
Government by warrior classes dominated Europe until the early 16th century, when the kingdoms of Europe, mainly Western Europe, managed to centralise power in a central authority under European monarchies.
Now, as for Empress Matilda, she was the eldest surviving child of King Henry I of England, who ruled England from 1100 until he died in 1135.
Empress Matilda was born in 1102 and became her father’s successor after the death of her younger brother, William the Atheling, during the tragedy of the White Ship in 1120.
One of the significant controversies of King Henry’s reign was his choice of successor.
His only surviving legitimate child was his daughter Matilda, a former Empress of Germany.
She was named her father’s heir in 1125, and Henry, had his Lord’s pledge, pledged their oaths of allegiance to Matilda in 1127, 1129, and 1132.
Rejecting Empress Matilda
Unfortunately for Matilda, she had not spent time in England since she left the kingdom at eight and…
