Matilda of Scotland: The Forgotten Queen of England’s King Henry I
A feminist icon from the 12th century
Born in 1080 and christened Edith, the future wife of England’s King Henry I, was the daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Margaret of Wessex, an English princess. Edith, who adopted the name Matilda after moving to England, was therefore descended from both the English and Scottish royal families.
She was sent to England at an early age to be educated at Romsey Abbey under her maternal aunt Christina, a nun at the Abbey. Matilda also spent time at Wilton Abbey, near Salisbury.
In 1093, when she was aged 13, Matilda’s father and elder brother were both killed in battle, and her mother died of grief not long afterward. Aunt Christina, therefore, became the decision-maker in her life, and she determined that Matilda should “take the veil” as a nun.
However, the young girl had also attracted the attention of male admirers, one of these being the future King Henry. It is quite possible that Matilda had left the Abbey at some point and was then in the care of the royal court of King William II, Henry’s older brother.
