Matilda's battles
I can explain how Matilda's actions affected the battles fought during the Anarchy.
Matilda's battles
I can explain how Matilda's actions affected the battles fought during the Anarchy.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Matilda established her court in Gloucester.
- Matilda defeated Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln.
- The citizens of London forced Matilda and her followers to flee London.
- Matilda was defeated by Stephen at the Siege of Oxford.
- 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...
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.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Medieval women: what can we learn from Matilda about women in medieval England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Starter quiz
6 Questions
somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so
a war between citizens of the same country
a situation in which there is no clear heir to a position
the wife of an emperor, the ruler of an empire