by Suzette Baker

Created on: September 02, 2009

Matilda of Boulogne was the daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne and Mary of Scotland. She was born sometime around 1105 in Boulogne, France. Descended from the Saxon Kings, Matilda was the granddaughter of King Malcolm III and Saint Margaret of Scotland, thus making her the cousin of her husband's rival Empress Matilda (also known as Maud).

In 1125, Matilda married Stephen of Blois, son of the former Count of Mortain. Stephen had a large honour (land) which was joined with Boulogne and the land that Matilda inherited when her father abdicated and retired to a monastery that same year. After the death of her father, Matilda succeeded him as Countess of Boulogne and she and Stephen ruled the area until 1150. In 1151, the county was given to their eldest son Eustace.

Two children were born to Stephen and Matilda, a son and a daughter. The daughter was named Matilda and the son Baldwin after his uncle Baldwin I of Jerusalem. Both children died in childhood, however, some scholars believe Matilda lived long enough to marry the Count of Milan.

Upon the death of Stephens' uncle, King Henry I on December 1, 1135, Stephen rushed to England where he was crowned King. This proved to be a royal blunder since he was not heir to the throne. Instead, this right belonged to Maud, the daughter of King Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror. She and her younger brother William Adelin were the only legitimate heirs of King Henry I. In order to reclaim the throne, Maud left her husband Geoffrey of Anjou and raised an army. She proved to be very unpopular with the citizens of London and was driven out. Stephens' brother Henry of Blois, a prominent Bishop in England, was an avid supporter of Maud, however, his allegiance changed once he realized how unpopular she was.

At this time, Matilda, being pregnant, was still in France. After the birth of her son Eustace, she joined her husband in England and was crowned queen on March 22, 1136.

The crowning of Stephen as king, led to a civil war known as the Anarchy during which time his wife proved to be his greatest supporter. He was a good warrior in battle but he was lenient in the punishment of his captives. He also grew bored during sieges and often left his army to join other fights. When Stephen was captured at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141 and held in chains in the castle at Bristol, Matilda gathered an army with the assistance of William of Ypres who was Stephens' chief lieutenant and later Matilda's chief mourner at her death. Matilda managed to trap Maud and her forces in the castle at Bristol. When she escaped, Matilda captured her half-brother Robert, Earl of Gloucester and exchanged him for her husband.

The war ended when the death of the Earl of Gloucester left Maud without any supporters at which time she left and returned to the continent. The Abbey at Favorsham was founded by Matilda and Stephen in celebration of the war's end. The marriage of their son Eustace and a peace treaty with Scotland marked the remainder their reign.

Matilda died possibly of fever at Hedingsham Castle in Essex, England in 1152 and was laid to rest at the Abbey founded by her and her husband. Without his wife at his side, Stephen was an ineffective ruler and his kingdom was passed down to his nephews instead of his sons.

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