Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen by Joanna Arman: A Book Review

Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen

Author: Joanna Arman

Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography

Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Release Date: 2025

Pages: 177

Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: The wife of King Henry I and the mother of the Empress Maud is a woman and a Queen forgotten to history. She is frequently conflated with her daughter or her mother-in-law. She was born the daughter of the King of Scotland and an Anglo-Saxon princess. Her name was Edith, but her name was changed to Matilda at the time of her marriage. The Queen who united the line of William the Conqueror with the House of Wessex lived during an age marked by transition and turbulence. She married Henry in the first year of the 12th century and for the eighteen years of her rule aided him in reforming the administrative and legal system due to her knowledge of languages and legal tradition. Together she and her husband founded a series of churches and arranged a marriage for their daughter to the Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda was a woman of letters to corresponded with Kings, Popes, and prelates, and was respected by them all. Matilda's greatest legacy was continuity: she united two dynasties and gave the Angevin Kings the legitimacy they needed so much. It was through her that the Empress Matilda and Henry II were able to claim the throne. She was the progenitor of the Plantagenet Kings, but the war and conflict which followed the death of her son William led to a negative stereotyping by Medieval Chroniclers. Although they saw her as pious, they said she was a runaway nun and her marriage to Henry was cursed. This book provides a much-needed re-evaluation of Edith/Matilda's role and place in the history of the Queens of England.

My Review: Queen Matilda was the queen consort to King Henry I of England. She was a direct descendant to the House of Wessex. Her marriage between King Henry I of England merged her line with William the Conqueror. Queen Matilda was the daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and her wife, St. Margaret of Scotland. She was the mother of Empress Matilda, the Lady of the English, and the grandmother of King Henry II of England. This biography of Queen Matilda highlights her accomplishments.

I did not know much about Queen Matilda. So, I was fascinated to learn her story. Queen Matilda was a princess of Scotland but she was raised in an abbey in England. Queen Matilda was forced by her aunt to wear a veil. However, she would rather be married than to become a nun. Queen Matilda was said to be very ambitious and persuaded King Henry I of England to marry her. She gave birth to two children. She was the first woman in England to become regent. She was very pious and constructed many building projects. She also had a love of poetry. Queen Matilda did everything she could to become a perfect queen.

Overall, this was a very concise and comprehensive biography. This biography clearly shows that there is not a lot of information on Queen Matilda. There is a lot of speculation and is repetitive at times. Nevertheless, I like how it discusses Queen Matilda’s legacy. Matilda II is a tribute to a truly forgotten Queen who has been overshadowed by her own daughter! I recommend this book for fans of Marjorie Chibnall, Alison Weir, and Catherine Hanley!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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