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    Empress Matilda of England
    Empress Matilda of England
    Empress Matilda of England
    Ebook142 pages1 hour

    Empress Matilda of England

    By Laurel A. Rockefeller

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    About this ebook

    The roaring lioness of England!

    Born in 1102 to King Henry of England and Queen Matilda of Scotland, Matilda's uniquely royal Norman, Saxon, and Scottish heritage was meant to unify an England still divided by her grandfather's conquest in 1066. When the 1120 White Ship Disaster made her the only surviving child of her parents, Matilda suddenly became heiress to the English throne in a time when the old Saxon Witan, not the king's Will, still decided the succession.

    Discover the true story of the first woman to claim the throne of England in her own right and be inspired!

    Includes Matilda's family tree charts, a detailed timeline, and a suggested reading list so you can keep learning.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLaurel A. Rockefeller
    Release dateJan 15, 2017
    ISBN9781370126323
    Empress Matilda of England
    Author

    Laurel A. Rockefeller

    Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller’s passion for animals comes through in everything she writes. First self-published in 2012 as social science fiction author (the Peers of Beinan series), Laurel has expanded her work into the animal care/guide, history, historical fiction, and biography genres.Find Laurel’s books in digital, paperback, and hardcover in your choice of up to ten languages, including Welsh, Chinese, and Dutch. Audio editions are published in all four available languages for audible: English, French, Spanish, and German.Besides advocating for animals and related environmental causes, Laurel A. Rockefeller is a passionate educator dedicated to improving history literacy worldwide, especially as it relates to women’s accomplishments. In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels, travelling to historic places, and watching classic motion pictures and classic television series.

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      Book preview

      Empress Matilda of England - Laurel A. Rockefeller

      Empress Matilda of England

      The exciting true story of the first heiress to the throne of England.

      By Laurel A. Rockefeller

      Cover art derived from the Codex Manasse, 1304

      Title page heraldry (left to right): house Wessex, Angevin England, Empire of the Romans

      This book is a work of narrative history based on events in the life of Empress Matilda of England and constructed using primary and secondary historical sources, commentary, and research.

      Consulted sources appear at the end of this book. Interpretation of source material is at the author’s discretion and utilized within the scope of the author’s imagination, including names, events, and historical details.

      Share the love of this book and the Legendary Women of World History Series by kindly reviewing this book on your blog, website, and on major retailer websites. Your review not only offers this author your feedback for improvement of this book series, but helps other people find this book so they can enjoy it as well. Only a few sentences and a few minutes of your time is all it takes to share the love with those who want to enjoy it too.

      Special thanks to translator Christina Löw for her assistance with the German portions of this book.

      -----

      Check out these related biographies from the Legendary Women of World History Series

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      Mary Queen of the Scots, the Forgotten Reign

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      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      EMPRESS MATILDA FAMILY TREE CHARTS

      PROLOGUE

      CHAPTER ONE: PRINCESS OF ENGLAND

      CHAPTER TWO: HOLY ROMAN EMPRESS

      CHAPTER THREE: THE DEATH OF PRINCES

      CHAPTER FOUR: ANARCHY AND CIVIL WAR

      EPILOGUE

      PRAYERS IN LATIN AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS

      TIMELINE

      SUGGESTED READING AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

      ABOUT THIS SERIES

      EMPRESS MATILDA FAMILY TREE CHARTS

      PROLOGUE

      Thomas Becket glided up the Thames to the White Tower, the polished white stones of the castle shining in the light rain. As the boat docked he carefully strode up the path to the heavy gate. Instantly recognized by the guards he walked through confidently, navigating the palace expertly. Princess Matilda greeted him playfully, Thomas! You are back!

      I am. How are you and your brothers?

      Father is cross with Richard again.

      Becket laughed, I’m not surprised. How old is he now?

      Four.

      And you are five now, Matilda?

      I’m almost six. I’m a big girl, proclaimed Matilda proudly.

      Becket laughed, And so you are, Matilda. And so you are!

      I can fight with a sword you know, offered Matilda. I am better at it than Richard. I am better than any boy!"

      You are named for your grandmother; of course you are!

      I don’t understand.

      Don’t you know about your grandmother and all the things she did before you were born? Your father was part of much of it you know. He helped his mother fight for her birth right.

      What is a birth right?

      It means what you are entitled to because of who your parents are or what family you are born into. Your grandmother Matilda was the only one of her father’s children from his marriage to Queen Matilda of Scotland to outlive him.

      My name is Matilda, my grandmother’s name is Matilda, and her mother’s name was Matilda too?

      Yes, that’s right.

      Will you tell me the story, Thomas? Please!

      I need to find your father. Take a walk with me and I will tell you the story as we walk.

      CHAPTER ONE: PRINCESS OF ENGLAND

      …then my father bravely raised his sword and killed the murderous Macbeth to take back the throne of Scotland and found our new Canmore dynasty, finished Queen Matilda, her Scottish accent thick and melodic as she finished her story.

      Wide-eyed the six-year-old Princess Matilda stood up excitingly, How old were you mummy when all this happened?

      I was not even a glimmer in the eye of my father, lass. My father killed Macbeth in the year of our lord ten fifty-seven to become king the next year. I was not born until the year of our lord ten eighty. My mother Margaret of Wessex was from England and was the second wife of my father after his first wife died. So you see lass, I was not around when my father became the hero of all of Scotland, explained the queen.

      Do you think I can become a hero too? asked Matilda.

      I do not see why not. Of course I would not tell your father this of course; he might have other plans for you and as the princess royal he might give you duties that are different from what you want for yourself. My mother certainly did not want to become queen of Scotland, you know. She wanted to be a bride of Christ and live in a nunnery all her life. But if she had done that I would not be born and you would not be born. So always thank God for everything that comes in your life. You never know what blessings God has in mind for you when you quiet your heart, listen, and obey what God tells you.

      You sent for me, Your Majesty? asked Princess Matilda with a deep bow to her father on his throne. Now eight years old, Matilda was already nearly as confident, strong, and as head strong as the king.

      Smiling, King Henry motioned for Matilda to rise and approach him. Dutifully Matilda stepped closer to the king before kneeling at his feet. King Henry raised her face to look into her eyes, I have just heard from the ambassador sent here from the new emperor of the Romans, Heinrich the Fifth. You are to be officially betrothed in a formal ceremony two days from now.

      To whom am I to be wed, Sire?

      To the emperor himself, no less. England needs allies on the continent. King Louis of France covets Normandy and will most certainly invade our lands at the first opportunity. To protect England and Normandy we need the Empire of the Romans on our side and from all reports, Emperor Heinrich is a formidable warrior like your grandfathers.

      May I ask how old the emperor is?

      Twenty-four.

      Surely I am too young to perform wifely duties towards such man!

      You will live with him in his court. You will learn to speak the German language. You will learn the customs of his land and you will fulfil the public and private duties expected of you.

      Meaning?

      You will obey him and give your body to him—whether you fancy him or not, replied the king sternly, his patience with his daughter’s questions quickly evaporating."

      "As you have demanded of my mother despite your preference for others in your bed? Do I not have a

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