Introduction

Matilda of Scotland, born around 1080 and crowned Queen of England in 1100, was a remarkable and often overlooked figure in English history. As the daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland and Saint Margaret of Wessex, Matilda symbolized the union of Anglo-Saxon and Scottish royal bloodlines at a time of great political upheaval. Her marriage to Henry I of England not only helped stabilize the Anglo-Norman monarchy but also positioned her as a cultural and religious influence in the early 12th century. Matilda’s life reflects the intricate interplay of dynastic ambition, personal piety, and the evolving role of queenship in medieval Europe.

Early Life and Lineage

Matilda was born around 1080 in Dunfermline, Scotland, as Edith, a name that reflected her Anglo-Saxon heritage. Her mother, Saint Margaret of Wessex, was a descendant of the English royal house, while her father, Malcolm III Canmore, was King of Scots. This dual lineage placed Matilda at the crossroads of two important royal traditions. Through Margaret, Matilda was a great-niece of Edward the Confessor, and thus considered by many English nobles as a legitimate heir to the pre-Conquest English monarchy.

At a young age, Edith was sent to Wilton and Romsey Abbeys in England for her education, where she received a religious upbringing under the supervision of her aunt, Christina, a nun. There were later disputes over whether she had taken holy vows during her time in the convents, a matter that would complicate her later marriage prospects shutdown123