The Bayeux Tapestry is making its way to England for the first time in almost 1,000 years and that means we’ll all be talking a lot about Matilda, England’s first queen consort.
And that’s because soon after the tapestry was created, a story began that it had been Matilda and her entourage who had stitched William the Conqueror’s famous victory into an historical record.
Matilda’s myths
Queen Matilda was said to have sat around with her quaintly named ladies and painted the tale of how her husband won a crown and created a kingdom using a needle and thread.
That’s highly unlikely but it’s all part of the myth of Matilda who’s been largely forgotten despite becoming the first consort of the modern English monarchy.
However, it’s arguable that without her input, William might never have conquered. He would certainly have found it more difficult to convince people he was king material. For he was illegitimate and a figure of fun for some (though clearly not directly to his face as he had form for revenge from a young age). Marriage to Matilda was a great career move for William as she was far more royal by birth than he could ever be.
Matilda had a very regal pedigree
Matilda was born in 1031 into the House of Flanders. She was the only daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela of France. The Flanders were of strategic importance to most of Europe and England as they served as a “stepping stone’ for strategic trade. Along with trade, they helped to keep Scandinavian intruders away from England.
Because her mother was the daughter of Robert II of France, she was of grander birth than William, who was illegitimate. Her descent from the Anglo-Saxon royal House of Wessex was useful although her marriage to William, her third cousin once removed would breach strict church rules around consanguinity. She was about 20 when they married circa 1051-1052. William, who had been Duke of Normandy since he was about eight (in 1035) was about four years older.
William was determined to conquer Matilda’s heart
According to legend, William sent his representative to ask for Matilda’s hand in marriage. She told the representative she was too high-born to consider marrying someone of illegitimate birth. After hearing of her response, William went from Normandy to Bruges, found Matilda on her way to church, dragged her by her hair, threw her in the street, and rode off. Whether this happened or not can’t be ascertained but the two did marry and appear to have been happy together.
Matilda was also an important member of William’s ruling circle. As he prepared his invasion of England, convinced the throne was his by right, Matilda was among his greatest supporters. William made his journey on the boat Matilda gave him, Mora. Matilda stayed behind to govern the Duchy of Normandy in his absence and joined him in England after more than a year where she was crowned in an elaborate ceremony. She would go back and forth between Normandy and England. She served as regent in Normandy in the absence of William six times.
The first queen consort of England
During their marriage, William and Matilda had nine or ten children together. Despite royal duties, Matilda was deeply invested in her children’s well-being and upbringing. All were said to be highly educated, and her daughters were also taught to read Latin.
She was also deeply interested in religion and supported Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury Both she and her husband approved of the Archbishop’s desire to revitalise the Church. Despite happy times, William was angry when he discovered Matilda sent large sums of money to their exiled son, Robert.
During the summer of 1083, Matilda fell ill and died on 2 November of that year. Her husband was present for her final confession. William swore to give up his favourite sport of hunting to express his grief after the death of his wife. He died four years later in 1087.
Both were buried in magnificent churches in Caen, Normandy, France. Over time, Matilda’s tomb was desecrated and the original coffin was destroyed. Her remains were put in a sealed box and reburied under the original black slab.
The story of Hastings belongs, in part, to Matilda. And as its most famous telling makes its way to England in 2026, on loan from Bayeux by agreement of President Emmanuel Macron of France, this queen’s story will once again shine.
