Hello everyone, I am Captain Nemo, welcome aboard the Nautilus, Captain Nemo takes you on a journey through the oceans of knowledge.
On 2 February 1141, King Stephen of England lost the Battle of Lincoln and was captured by his cousin Matilda. Matilda then proclaimed herself Queen of England and prepared to travel to London for her coronation. But Stephen's wife, Queen Mathilde of England, turned the tide by not only defeating her cousin Matilda, but also redeeming her husband Stephen from her and keeping Stephen on the throne. How did Mathilde turn the tide, the captain told you in detail.
First, born into the nobility
Mathilde of Boulogne
In 1105, Mathilde of Boulogne was born into an aristocratic family in the Kingdom of France, the daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne, and Mary, Princess of Scotland, so she received a good aristocratic education from an early age, had a strong and knowledgeable personality, and also laid the foundation for her to grow into an outstanding female statesman and military figure.
Two, marry Steve
Stephen
In 1125, under the arrangement of her uncle King Henry I of England, Mathilde married Stephen, the nephew of the King of England. Eustace III then retired to monasticism and died shortly thereafter. Thus Mathilde not only became Countess of Boulogne, but also inherited a large inheritance and territory from her father, and together with her husband Stephen became the richest nobleman in England.
Three, become queen of England
Henry I
In 1135, King Henry I of England died, and he repeatedly demanded the allegiance of England and Normandy to his daughter Matilda (Lady Joofrois V, Count of Anjou, France). Although Stephen had declared allegiance to his cousin Matilda, he had a covetous desire for the throne. Although Mathilde was also Matilda's cousin and cousin, she resolutely decided to support her husband Stephen to seize the throne.
Mathilde, with his control over the port of Boulogne (France's closest port to England), preemptively sent her husband Stephen to London. Stephen was then crowned King of England with the support of his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester, and others, and Mathilde was crowned Queen of England in 1136.
Mathilda
The feud between Jovroy V and Henry I (Matilda chose to support her husband, Jophroy V), resulting in Matilda's delay in making his way to England and missing the opportunity to refuse to recognize Stephen as king of England, and a war of succession broke out with him. King David I of Scotland was the uncle of both Matilda and Mathilde, but decided to take advantage of the looting and declared his support for Matilda. Invasion of England. Mathilde thus became her husband Stephen's staunchest supporter, helping him fight against Matilda and David I.
David I
Mathilde was well aware of the situation in Europe at that time, so he first prevented Matilda from landing in England with the powerful fleet of the Boulognebes, and then, with good relations with the Flemish countries, recruited mercenaries from there and let them fight for the King. In 1138 there was a rebellion in England, and the rebels declared their support for Matilda as queen. Mathilde then destroyed the rebels who occupied The Castle of Dover, and then sent Boulogne's fleet to conquer Dover, temporarily preventing Matilda from invading England through Dover. Mathilde then made peace with his uncle David I, causing the Scottish withdrawal.
Fourth, turn the tide
War of the English Succession
In 1139, Matilda led an army into England, making the war between the two sides larger and larger. In February 1141, Stephen suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Lincoln and was captured by Matilda. The situation was very unfavorable to Mathilde, so she obtained the support of William of Ypres, the commander of the Flemish mercenaries, and the English nobles, and became the leader of the Stephens. Mathilde then gained the support of the commoners of London and reconciled with Henry, Bishop of Winchester (who broke with his brother Stephen for clergy appointments and supported Matilda in favor of matilda), cementing Stephen's rule.
Situation in Britain and France
In June, Matilda led an army to drive away Matilda, who had come to London for coronation, which greatly improved the situation. In September, Mathilde led an army to victory at the Battle of Winchester, capturing Robert, Earl of Gloucester (brother of Matilda, illegitimate son of Henry I, who had no right to inherit the throne). Since Robert was an important commander of Matilda's army, Mathilde exchanged him for her husband Stephen from Matilda. Mathilde then went on to assist Stephen in his fight against Mathilda and to secure his son Eustace's succession to the throne until his death in 1152.
In general, Matilda was a very talented queen of England, not only helping her husband Stephen to arrive in England first and making him the king of England; but also trying to use her connections and power to recruit troops to fight for Stephen; when Stephen was captured, she could continue to lead the army to fight Matilda, keep Stephen's throne and redeem her, which can be said to be a very outstanding woman.