On This Day

Battle of Lincoln: English King Stephen captured by forces loyal to Empress Matilda and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of

Battle of Lincoln: English King Stephen captured by forces loyal to Empress Matilda and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester

Empress Matilda (7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was Holy Roman Empress as the consort of Emperor Henry V from 1110 until his death in 1125, and was subsequently a claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. Following the death of her father, King Henry I of England, she asserted her right to the English throne as his only surviving legitimate child and styled herself Lady of the English. However, her cousin Stephen of Blois was crowned king in her place. Matilda was the only daughter and eldest child of Henry I, king of England and ruler of Normandy, by his first wife Matilda of Scotland, to survive to adulthood. As a child, she went to Germany where she was married to the future Henry V.

Historical Significance

Empress Matilda (7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was Holy Roman Empress as the consort of Emperor Henry V from 1110 until his death in 1125, and was subsequently a claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy.

Events Before

  1. Godfried II the Young becomes Duke of Brabant

    Godfried II the Young becomes Duke of Brabant

  2. Second Lateran Council (10th ecumenical council) opens in Rome

    Second Lateran Council (10th ecumenical council) opens in Rome

  3. Battle of Ourique: Afonso Henriques (later Afonso I of Portugal) defeats Moors

    Dom Afonso I nicknamed "the Conqueror" (Portuguese: O Conquistador), "the Founder" (O Fundador) and "the Great" (O Magno) by the Portuguese, was the first king of Portugal, from 26 July 1139 until...

  4. French scholar Peter Abelard is found guilty of heresy

    French scholar Peter Abelard is found guilty of heresy

  5. Hartbert becomes bishop of Utrecht

    Hartbert becomes bishop of Utrecht

Events After

  1. Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date betwe

    Possible date for establishment of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) League [disputed date - other research places date between 1450 and 1660]

  2. Wrongful execution of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei

    Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju (鵬舉), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic national hero, known for leading its forces in the wars in the 12th century...

  3. Treaty of Shaoxing ratified with Chinese southern Song Dynasty agreeing to pay tribute to northern Jin dynasty

    Treaty of Shaoxing ratified with Chinese southern Song Dynasty agreeing to pay tribute to northern Jin dynasty

  4. Cardinal Guido elected Pope Coelestinus II

    Cardinal Guido elected Pope Coelestinus II

  5. King Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom

    Alfonso VII (1 March 1105 – 21 August 1157), called the Emperor (el Emperador), became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of León and Castile in 1126.

More from the 1140s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 2, 1141?
Empress Matilda (7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was Holy Roman Empress as the consort of Emperor Henry V from 1110 until his death in 1125, and was subsequently a claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. Following the death of her father, King Henry I of England, she asserted her right to the English throne as his only surviving legitimate child and styled herself Lady of the English. However, her cousin Stephen of Blois was crowned king in her place.
Why is Battle of Lincoln: English King Stephen captured by forces loyal to Empress M... significant?
Empress Matilda (7 February 1102 – 10 September 1167), also known as Empress Maud, was Holy Roman Empress as the consort of Emperor Henry V from 1110 until his death in 1125, and was subsequently a claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy.

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