Matilda and Henry had two legitimate children:

• Matilda (the Empress), born in 1102, who would become the wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry V and later play a central role in the succession crisis after her father's death.
   

• William Adelin, born in 1103, who was groomed as Henry’s heir but tragically died in the White Ship disaster of 1120.
   

This disaster had long-lasting consequences, eventually leading to a civil war known as The Anarchy, as Matilda (the Empress) and her cousin Stephen of Blois contested the English throne.

Death and Legacy

Queen Matilda died on May 1, 1118, at Westminster Palace and was buried at Westminster Abbey. Her epitaph emphasized her role as “the daughter, wife, and mother of kings.” Though her life was cut relatively short, her legacy was profound.

Matilda’s marriage to Henry I not only stabilized his claim to the English throne but also introduced a period of peace between England and Scotland. Her daughter’s claim to the English crown would spark one of the most turbulent periods in English medieval history, but it also laid the foundation for the Plantagenet dynasty, which would rule for over three centuries.

Conclusion

Matilda of Scotland was much more than a royal consort; she was a political unifier, a spiritual patron, and a bridge between England’s Anglo-Saxon past and Norman future. Though often overshadowed by her daughter, the Empress Matilda, or her namesake, Matilda of Flanders, she played a vital role in shaping the identity and legitimacy of the English monarchy in the early 12th century. Her life and legacy remain an enduring testament to the power of queenship in medieval Europe. shutdown123