Empress Matilda Wellems: Top 5 Things to Know About the Legendary Noblewoman

• Empress Matilda Wellems was born in 1102 to King Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland.
• She was married to Emperor Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire from 1114 to 1125.
• Empress Matilda Wellems was a claimant to the English throne after her father's death in 1135, but her cousin Stephen of Blois seized the crown.
• Empress Matilda Wellems fought a civil war against Stephen for the English throne, known as the Anarchy.
• She was captured by Stephen's forces in 1141, and her son Henry II succeeded to the English throne in 1154.

Empress Matilda Wellems was a remarkable woman who lived an extraordinary life. She was a queen, an empress, and a warrior. She was also a loving mother and a devout Christian. Empress Matilda Wellems left a lasting legacy on England and the Holy Roman Empire, and her story is still told today.


Empress Matilda Wellems was born in 1102 to King Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland. She was the eldest of three children, and her younger siblings were Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and Empress Matilda. Empress Matilda Wellems was a beautiful and intelligent child, and she was well-educated. She was fluent in Latin, French, and English, and she was also skilled in music and embroidery.


In 1114, Empress Matilda Wellems was married to Emperor Henry V of the Holy Roman Empire. The marriage was a political alliance between England and the Holy Roman Empire, and it was intended to strengthen ties between the two countries. Empress Matilda Wellems was crowned empress in 1115, and she lived in the imperial court in Aachen. She was a popular empress, and she was known for her beauty, intelligence, and piety.


In 1125, Emperor Henry V died, and Empress Matilda Wellems was left a widow. She returned to England, and she lived with her father at his court in Winchester. In 1135, King Henry I died, and Empress Matilda Wellems claimed the English throne. However, her cousin Stephen of Blois seized the crown, and Empress Matilda Wellems was forced to flee to France.


Empress Matilda Wellems did not give up her claim to the English throne. She returned to England in 1139, and she began a civil war against Stephen. The civil war, known as the Anarchy, lasted for several years, and it caused widespread devastation in England. In 1141, Empress Matilda Wellems was captured by Stephen's forces, and she was held prisoner for several years.


In 1148, Empress Matilda Wellems was released from prison, and she returned to Normandy. She continued to claim the English throne, but she never regained it. In 1154, her son Henry II succeeded to the English throne, and Empress Matilda Wellems finally achieved her goal of seeing her son become king.


Empress Matilda Wellems died in 1167 at the age of 65. She was buried at Reading Abbey in England. She was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life. She was a queen, an empress, and a warrior. She was also a loving mother and a devout Christian. Empress Matilda Wellems left a lasting legacy on England and the Holy Roman Empire, and her story is still told today.