by Courtney Zimmerman

Created on: July 15, 2009   Last Updated: July 27, 2009

Matilda of Boulogne was born in 1105 in France, daughter of Eustace III, the Count of Boulogne and Mary of Scotland. Her family tree included King Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret of Scotland and her ancestry was of English Kings.

Matilda married Stephen of Blois, Count of Mortain in 1125. Stephen came from great honor in England and stories persist of the romanticism of Stephen and Matilda. Upon the death of Matilda's father, Eustace III, Matilda and Stephen became the rulers of Boulogne. They had five children, Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne, Baldwin of Boulogne, William of Blois, Count of Mortain and Boulogne and Earl of Surrey, Matilda of Boulogne, and Marie of Boulogne. Baldwin, named after matilda's uncle, died early in his childhood and Matilda is thought to have died sometime during her childhood also. Some believe she may have lived long enough to marry the Count of Milan.

Upon hearing the news of Henry I death, believed to be from eating too many stewed lampreys, in 1135, Stephen went to England to take advantage of the Boulogne's control of seaports and was crowned king despite England's loyalty to Stephen's cousin Empress Maud. Matilda was crowned as queen march 22nd, 1139. A civil war, known as Anarchy, followed the crowning, and Matilda proved herself as a support for her husband. Stephen was taken captive and bound with chains in Bristol. Matilda relentlessly fought to free her husband, traveling throughout England with the support of her half-bother, Robert, Earl of Gloucester and raising an army. The war dragged on until Stephens release in 1147, when the chief supporter of the enemy Empress died.

When Matilda's father died around 1125, she became the Countess of Boulogne. She continued to rule with her husband Stephen until 1150 and later reigned alone until 1151. The county was then ruled by the eldest son, Eustace, followed by William, and subsequently daughter Marie.

Matilda caught a fever in May of 1151 and died at Hedingham Castle in Essex, England at the age of 47. She is buried at Faversham Abbey, which her and husband Stephen founded in 1147 as a thank you for peace after the war. King Stephen and their son Eustace IV of Boulogne were also buried at this location. Most of the abbey was demolished in 1538 and at that time the bones were said to have been thrown in the Faversham Creek. Though not all history of the reign of Matilda of Boulogne is clear, she persists as a figure of strength and persistance. Some would say she was a revolutionary for her time and an example of truth and love.

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