New
New
Year 7

Matilda and the succession crisis

I can describe the nature of Matilda's claim to the English throne.

New
New
Year 7

Matilda and the succession crisis

I can describe the nature of Matilda's claim to the English throne.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Henry I had a male heir, William Adelin.
  2. William Adelin died on the White Ship in 1120.
  3. The death of William Adelin prompted a succession crisis in England.
  4. The English barons swore to recognise Matilda as the heir.
  5. Stephen of Blois took the crown following Henry I's death.

Common misconception

Women were forbidden from ruling in their own right in England during the medieval period.

The first time the concept of a woman ruling in her own right in England occurred it took everyone by surprise. No one had considered that a woman might rule alone, so there was no law preventing it from happening.

Keywords

  • Legitimate - legitimate means to be born of parents legally married to each other

  • Heir - an heir is a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another person upon that person’s death

  • Baron - a baron is a great lord or landholder in a kingdom

  • Succession crisis - a succession crisis is a situation in which there is no clear heir to a position

Encourage students to make links between different examples in the final factors question. Ask them to consider whether two examples considered together would be a more significant reason for Stephen's success in claiming the throne than a single example.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Matilda was the daughter of...
Correct Answer: Henry I, henry i, Henry 1, henry 1
Q2.
At the age of __________ , Matilda was betrothed to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V.
2
Correct answer: 8
18
23
Q3.
The people of __________ referred to Matilda as 'the good Matilda'.
England
France
Correct answer: The Holy Roman Empire
Italy
Q4.
When some of Henry V's subjects rebelled, Matilda stayed in __________ to manage his land there.
England
France
Germany
Correct answer: Italy
Q5.
When Matilda returned to her father in England she her lands in the Holy Roman Empire.
Correct Answer: sold
Q6.
Why did Henry I want Matilda to succeed him as the next monarch of England?
Correct answer: His only legitimate son, Matilda's brother, had died.
His only legitimate son, Matilda's brother, was weak.
Matilda had shown that she could rule capably.
The Holy Roman Emperor had convinced him it was a good idea.

6 Questions

Q1.
Why had William Adelin travelled to Normandy in 1120?
to fight against the king of France
to deal with a rebellion
Correct answer: to pay homage to the king of France
He had been exiled by his father, Henry I.
Q2.
The ship which sank, killing William Adelin and many others, was called the Ship.
Correct Answer: White, white
Q3.
Who did Henry I choose as his heir after William Adelin's death?
Correct answer: Matilda
Robert of Gloucester
Stephen of Blois
Theobald of Blois
Q4.
Henry's choice of heir was controversial because Matilda's husband was a...
Correct Answer: Plantagenet, plantagenet
Q5.
Why did Matilda and her husband join a rebellion against Henry I?
He had imprisoned members of the Plantagenet family.
He had confiscated some of Matilda's lands.
Correct answer: He had failed to hand over castles to Matilda that he had promised to her.
They wanted to take the throne of England by force.
Q6.
When Henry I died, of Blois had himself crowned king of England and Normandy.
Correct Answer: Stephen, stephen

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