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Year 7

Matilda's battles

I can explain how Matilda's actions affected the battles fought during the Anarchy.

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New
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Year 7

Matilda's battles

I can explain how Matilda's actions affected the battles fought during the Anarchy.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Matilda established her court in Gloucester.
  2. Matilda defeated Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln.
  3. The citizens of London forced Matilda and her followers to flee London.
  4. Matilda was defeated by Stephen at the Siege of Oxford.
  5. Matilda's actions during the Anarchy gives historians an insight into medieval women.

Keywords

  • Civil war - a civil war is a war between citizens of the same country

  • Besieged - if somewhere is besieged it is surrounded by people trying to capture it: no goods or people are allowed in or out

Common misconception

Once a king dies or is taken prisoner, that is the end of the war.

Although a king is very important, there are many examples throughout history of a king's followers continuing to fight on successfully after their leader has been killed or captured.


To help you plan your year 7 history lesson on: Matilda's battles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

As a homework task, students could research some of Matilda's key followers in order to gain a greater understanding of how they helped her during the Anarchy.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What keyword describes an absence of government in society; political or social disorder?
Correct Answer: anarchy, Anarchy
Q2.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:usurper,somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so
tick

somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so

Correct Answer:civil war,a war between citizens of the same country
tick

a war between citizens of the same country

Correct Answer:succession crisis,a situation in which there is no clear heir to a position
tick

a situation in which there is no clear heir to a position

Correct Answer:empress,the wife of an emperor, the ruler of an empire
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the wife of an emperor, the ruler of an empire

Q3.
How long did the civil war between Stephen and Matilda last?
15 monts
50 years
5 years
Correct answer: 15 years
Q4.
What can historians learn about the role of elite women in the Middle Ages from Matilda's campaign?
Correct answer: They were able to own property when unmarried.
Correct answer: They were able to command their own army.
They were not able to rule by themselves.
Correct answer: They were able to gain support from powerful figures.
They were not able to command an army.
Q5.
How was Matilda able to cross the channel to England in 1139?
with the support of her cousin, Stephen of Blois
Correct answer: with the support of her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester
with the support of her husband, Count Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou
with the support of the pope
Q6.
How was Stephen quickly able to gain a support for his claim to the throne at the beginning of his rule?
convinced Matilda that he deserved the throne over her
Correct answer: bought the Church with promises of greater independence and the return of land
Correct answer: bought the Anglo-Norman barons with promises of land and titles
had the support of Matilda’s uncle, King David I of Scotland, from the start

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What keyword describes if somewhere is surrounded by people trying to capture it with no goods or people being allowed in or out?
Correct Answer: besieged, Besieged
Q2.
Where did Matilda defeat Stephen in 1141?
at the Battle of York
Correct answer: at the Battle of Lincoln
at the Battle of Hastings
at the Siege of Oxford
Q3.
Where was Matilda defeated by Stephen in 1142?
Correct answer: at the Siege of Oxford
at the Battle of York
at the Battle of Lincoln
at the Battle of Hastings
Q4.
Who was King Stephen married to?
Correct Answer: Queen Matilda of Boulogne, Matilda of Boulogne, Queen Matilda
Q5.
Why did Matilda's ruling style alienate some people from supporting her?
Her manner was consistent with women of the time.
Her manner was not consistent with monarchs at the time.
Her manner was consistent with monarchs of her time.
Correct answer: Her manner was not consistent with women of the time.
Q6.
Why was Matilda restricted to directing operations from her base in Gloucester?
Correct answer: As a woman, Matilda was prevented from leading an army herself.
As a man, Matilda was prevented from leading an army herself.
As a woman, Matilda was able to lead an army herself.

Additional material

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