Matilda of Boulogne

Common card · No. 256375

Matilda of Boulogne (c. 1105 – 3 May 1152) was the countess of Boulogne in her own right from 1125 and queen of England as the wife of King Stephen from 1135 until her death. She supported Stephen in his struggle for the English throne against their mutual cousin Empress Matilda, a period known as the Anarchy. Historians attribute Stephen's continued hold on the throne to her courage and determination. Matilda was the daughter of Count Eustace III of Boulogne, from whom she inherited the French County of Boulogne as well as vast estates in England. Her maternal uncle King Henry I of England arranged for her to marry his nephew Stephen of Blois. Henry had intended to be succeeded by his daughter Empress Matilda, but when he died in 1135, Stephen took the throne. Matilda of Boulogne was consequently crowned queen in 1136. Civil war broke out in 1138 when Earl Robert of Gloucester declared for his half-sister Empress Matilda, renouncing his allegiance to King Stephen. Queen Matilda joined...

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