Learning Objectives: To know about Medieval attitudes to women. To know

how and why it was difficult for a woman to rule in the Medieval Ages. To argue a

case using information.

Success Criteria - ‘I can use sources to reach conclusions

about women’s position in the Middle Ages. I can

identify reasons why Matilda failed in her attempt to rule

England.’

What do these images tell us about

women in the

medieval times?

Activities:

• Activity 1 - Look at the narrative of Matilda's career as 'Lady of the English' and her struggle with her rival. Underline the parts of the story that relate directly to her gender. Annotate each underlined section with: ‘This tells us Matilda was.. .(e.g. ‘expected to marry a man her father chose for her’)

• Activity 2 - Using the story, identify and justify evidence that supports the theory that Medieval men could not

accept a woman in power.

‘Lady of the English’

Matilda was the eldest of two children born to King Henry I of England and his wife Matilda.

When she was seven years old, Matilda was betrothed to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor; at eight, she was sent to the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) to begin training for the life of an empress consort. The eight-year old Matilda was crowned Queen of the Romans in Mainz on 25 July 1110. Aged 12, Matilda was made a child bride as the royal couple were married at Mainz on 7 January 1114. Emperor Henry died on 23 May 1125, making Matilda a widow. The imperial couple had no surviving offspring.

Matilda returned to England. Her father, Henry I then arranged a second marriage for Matilda, to ensure peace between Normandy and Anjou. On 17 June 1128, Matilda, then 26, was married to Geoffrey of Anjou, then 15. He was also Count of Maine and heir apparent to (his father) the Count of Anjou, whose title he soon acquired, making Matilda Countess of Anjou……

Succession Today • Primogeniture - In primogeniture (or more precisely male

primogeniture), the monarch's eldest son and his descendants take precedence over his siblings and their descendants. Elder sons take precedence over younger sons, but all sons take precedence over all daughters. Children represent their deceased ancestors, and the senior line of descent always takes precedence over the junior line, within each gender. The right of succession belongs to the eldest son of the reigning sovereign, and then to the eldest son of the eldest son.

• Equal (or absolute) primogeniture - Fully equal

primogeniture is a law in which the eldest child of the sovereign succeeds to the throne, regardless of gender, and where females (and their descendants) enjoy the

same right of succession as males.