New
New
Year 7
Matilda's early life: Empress of Germany
I can describe Matilda's early life and her role in the Holy Roman Empire.
New
New
Year 7
Matilda's early life: Empress of Germany
I can describe Matilda's early life and her role in the Holy Roman Empire.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Matilda married the Holy Roman Emperor when she was only 12 years old.
- Matilda spent much of her early life in Germany.
- Matilda took an active role in the government of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Matilda's husband died and she was married again to Geoffrey Plantagenet.
- Matilda expected to inherit her father's throne.
Keywords
Empress - an empress is the wife of an emperor, the ruler of an empire
Empire - an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by one person or group of people
Common misconception
It has always been illegal for children to get married.
Throughout history, royal children were regularly betrothed at a young age in order to secure alliances between nations. Marriage followed later when the children had grown up, although they regularly still married younger than we do today.
Show students Matilda's family tree so they can see her connections to famous monarchs and the strength of her claims to the thrones of England and Normandy.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
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.
The Normans successfully invaded England in the year .
Q2.
Starting with the most important, place these medieval social groups into a hierarchy.
Q3.
In exchange for land, nobles had to promise obedience and swear an oath of to their king.
Q4.
When a king died without a clear heir, it could create a crisis.
Q5.
The Normans typically made their eldest their successor.
Q6.
Following William the Conqueror's coronation, for several hundred years kings of England typically controlled land in both England and _______.
Ireland
Scotland
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Matilda was the daughter of __________.
William I
William II
Robert of Normandy
Q2.
At the age of , Matilda was betrothed to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V.
Q3.
The people of the Holy Roman Empire referred to Matilda as 'the __________ Matilda'.
great
beautiful
pious
Q4.
When some of Henry V's subjects rebelled, Matilda stayed in to manage his land there.
Q5.
What did Matilda do with her lands in the Holy Roman Empire when she returned to her father in England?
Kept them
Gave them away
Q6.
What oath did Henry I have his barons swear upon Matilda's return?
That they would defend her honour
That they would agree which of them would marry her
Additional material
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