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Year 7

Matilda's later life: supporting Henry II

I can explain how a study of Matilda's later life can lead to a greater understanding of the political role of medieval women.

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Year 7

Matilda's later life: supporting Henry II

I can explain how a study of Matilda's later life can lead to a greater understanding of the political role of medieval women.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Matilda’s son, Henry 'FitzEmpress', launched military campaigns in England after Matilda relocated to Normandy.
  2. Matilda and Stephen ended the Anarchy by agreement in the Treaty of Wallingford.
  3. Stephen agreed Matilda's son Henry would inherit the throne after his death, which led to a peaceful succession.
  4. Matilda retired to Normandy but continued to advise Henry II on matters of government.
  5. Matilda's later life can be studied by historians interested in the political role played by elite medieval women.

Keywords

  • Treaty - a treaty is a formal agreement between two countries

Common misconception

Barons must obey the their monarch's orders.

Although this is true in theory, in reality the barons and their monarch worked as a partnership: the monarch relied upon the barons and if they weren't doing a good enough job, they could expect to lose the support of their barons.


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

For the first activity, encourage students to try and link the causes together in order to help them understand that, as with much of history, these events weren't happening in isolation from each other, but were inextricably intertwined.
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Adult supervision recommended

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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.
Match the keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:civil war,a war between citizens of the same country
tick

a war between citizens of the same country

Correct Answer:besieged,somewhere that it is being surrounded by people trying to capture it
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somewhere that it is being surrounded by people trying to capture it

Correct Answer:usurper,somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so
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somebody who takes something by force without the right to do so

Correct Answer:anarchy,an absence of government and order in society
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an absence of government and order in society

Q2.
Put the following events of the Anarchy in chronological order.
1 - Empress Matilda made her way to England
2 - the Battle of Lincoln
3 - Empress Matilda was forced to leave London by a mob
4 - the Siege of Oxford
Q3.
In which ways was Matilda considered to be a successful ruler at the time?
Correct answer: She gave her supporters lands and titles.
She was forceful and strong-willed.
Correct answer: Many of her loyal supporters were also effective soldiers.
Correct answer: She had experience in managing the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire.
Q4.
Who was one of Empress Matilda's most important supporters?
Correct answer: her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester
the pope
Queen Matilda of Boulogne
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Q5.
Complete the following sentence: The Rout of resulted in the destruction of much of Matilda's forces, as well as the capture of Robert of Gloucester.
Correct Answer: Winchester, winchester
Q6.
How was Queen Matilda of Boulogne, Stephen's wife, important during the Anarchy?
Correct answer: She refused to surrender and instead took command of Stephen’s forces.
She rescued him from imprisonment in Bristol Castle.
Correct answer: She and her followers reclaimed London after the mob removed Empress Matilda.
Correct answer: She renewed Henry of Blois’ allegiance.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What keyword describes a formal agreement between two countries?
Correct Answer: treaty, Treaty
Q2.
Why was Matilda forced to relocate to Normandy in 1148?
She was bored of fighting and wanted to return.
She was forced into exile by Stephen.
Correct answer: Her most important supporters had died.
She needed a break from fighting and a holiday.
Q3.
Why did tensions in the civil war reduce in the 1140s?
Correct answer: Matilda was now out of the country.
Correct answer: Many of the barons had grown tired of the constant fighting.
Matilda and Stephen asked the public to stop fighting.
Correct answer: Many barons began making individual peace treaties.
Correct answer: The pope called for a Second Crusade.
Q4.
What was the name of Matilda's eldest son?
Correct Answer: Henry, Henry II, Henry ‘FitzEmpress’, Henry FitzEmpress
Q5.
What was the name of Stephen's son who he had tried repeatedly to have crowned alongside him in order to secure the succession?
Ranulf
Correct answer: Eustace
Brian
Robert
Q6.
What happened in October 1154?
Stephen's son died removing an obstacle to the end of the civil war.
Correct answer: Stephen died allowing a peaceful succession for a new king.
Matilda died allowing a peaceful succession for a new king.

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