Matilda had no choice in whom she would marry her
father Baldwin V. Count of Flanders arranged the marriage with Duke William of Normandy.
A beutiful person generous who was courted by William with considerable violence breaking into her chamber and
dragging her round by her hair, but despite this Matilda married the Duke in 1053.
At first there was opposition from Pope Leo IX. on the grounds of consanguinity , but after William built two abbeys
at Caen, Pope Nicholas II recognised the marriage. Matilda was appointed head of the council and ruled Normandy
with great skill and prudence in his absence.
In 1086 on Whitsunday she was crowned at Westminster the first Queen of England - the Anglo
Saxon kings wives had been merely " the kings first lady ".
She returned to Normandy with her eldest son as co-regent Robert Curthose, who became impatient for his inheritance, and a quarrel ensued. Through Matilda's efforts they were reconciled though it was never a harmonious relationship. Matilda died on November 2nd. 1083
