Empress Matilda

Elisabeth van Houts is emeritus honorary professor in European medieval history at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Emmanuel College. She is the author and editor of numerous books, including Married Life in the Middle Ages, 900–1300 and The Normans in Europe.

“Thoroughly researched . . . [van Houts fleshes] out her rigorous analysis of chronicles and charters with (highly informed) speculation about Matilda’s feelings.”—Katherine Harvey, Times“[Van Houts] does her best to strip away the exaggerations and distortions of previous writers to provide as full, and as sober, an account of Matilda’s life as we are likely to get . . . Writers of her time dubbed her imperious and haughty but that was probably simple misogyny. As van Houts shows, she was redoubtable, resilient and clever.”—Neil Armstrong, Daily Mail“Prof van Houts cites old and new sources material here in abundance, bringing all the evidence to bear on what is a convincing and an exceptional account of Matilda 'as an intelligent, assertive and capable woman'.”—David Robinson, Country Life“This book introduces a Matilda we have not previously seen so clearly: someone who was flexible in her judgment and actions, a resilient, confident woman . . . a compelling and charismatic queen who has finally received her dues.”—Gabrielle Storey, HistoryExtra“Van Houts guides us through [Matilda’s life] with the surest of steps . . . She is particularly adept at evaluating the German sources and one is left with resonant questions about this beguiling life. Was it possible to be a powerful woman in the Middle Ages? Where did the boundaries of power lie?”—Peter Moore, Unseen Histories“This elegant and deeply researched book traces the extraordinary life and political fortunes of Empress Matilda—queen by inheritance of England and by marriage of Germany—a self-styled “female lord” whose political acumen, intelligence, and steadfast competence earned her friends and supporters across Europe.  Elisabeth van Houts recounts Matilda’s life with characteristic brilliance, offering a foundational reinterpretation of her career as a dynastic bride, heiress, and royal mother—and, above all, as a resolute queen in a world ruled by men.”—Fiona Griffiths, author of Nuns' Priests' Tales“Elisabeth van Houts, one of the finest medievalists of her generation, has written a brilliantly constructed and superbly engaging biography of the female ruler whose crown was stolen by men. Tapping the full range of chronicles, charters and poems, like no biographer before, she reveals Matilda as a resourceful and versatile woman, loved and admired by followers and more than a match for the challenges she faced. Empress Matilda is the highlight of a glittering career—a must-have biography of an exceptional monarch.”—Tom Licence, author of Edward the Confessor  “This retelling of the story of one of the most fascinating and intelligent female rulers of the Middle Ages is both magisterial and fresh. The author’s unrivalled knowledge and sensitive reading of the primary sources makes for a study replete with rich, compelling, and original insights. The Empress emerges as never before as a fully-rounded figure – daughter, wife and mother, consort, adviser and ruler.”—Lindy Grant, author of Eleanor of Aquitaine“Deploying a new range of sources, this biography of Matilda breaks fresh ground. With the twists and turns of the political narrative illuminated as never before, Matilda emerges as at turns capable, courageous, astute, arrogant, vindictive and above all indomitable.”—David Carpenter, author of Henry III