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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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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.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Matilda married the Holy Roman Emperor when she was only 12 years old.
  2. Matilda spent much of her early life in Germany.
  3. Matilda took an active role in the government of the Holy Roman Empire.
  4. Matilda's husband died and she was married again to Geoffrey Plantagenet.
  5. Matilda expected to inherit her father's throne.

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.

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

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 (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The Normans successfully invaded England in the year .
Correct Answer: 1066
Q2.
Starting with the most important, place these medieval social groups into a hierarchy.
1 - King
2 - Nobles and bishops
3 - Knights
4 - Peasants
Q3.
In exchange for land, nobles had to promise obedience and swear an oath of to their king.
Correct Answer: fealty, loyalty
Q4.
When a king died without a clear heir, it could create a crisis.
Correct Answer: succession, Succession
Q5.
The Normans typically made their eldest their successor.
Correct Answer: son, Son
Q6.
Following William the Conqueror's coronation, for several hundred years kings of England typically controlled land in both England and _______.
Ireland
Scotland
Correct answer: France

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Matilda was the daughter of __________.
William I
William II
Correct answer: Henry I
Robert of Normandy
Q2.
At the age of , Matilda was betrothed to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V.
Correct Answer: 8, eight
Q3.
The people of the Holy Roman Empire referred to Matilda as 'the __________ Matilda'.
great
beautiful
pious
Correct answer: good
Q4.
When some of Henry V's subjects rebelled, Matilda stayed in to manage his land there.
Correct Answer: Italy, italy
Q5.
What did Matilda do with her lands in the Holy Roman Empire when she returned to her father in England?
Correct answer: Sold them
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
Correct answer: That they would accept her as Henry's successor
That they would agree which of them would marry her

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