the papal curia, which had changed its policy towards Stephen’s rule since 1136, when the King had received a vital gesture of support from Innocent II that effectively confirmed his right to the crown. The papacy had also been supportive when the Empress’s adherents had tried to contest his claim at the Lateran Council of 1139. But Innocent’s successors, Celestine and Eugenius, took a more neutral line. The official reasoning was that the curia accepted Stephen as de facto king, but did not necessarily recognise him as the rightful ruler. Eustace’s coronation, establishing his right to inheritance, would contradict this piece of careful casuistry. Theobald had already displeased Stephen by attending a papal council at Reims the previous year against the King’s express wishes and had been exiled for a while. Eugenius III had placed England under interdict, though Matilda still succeeded in hearing Mass at Canterbury, and she interceded with her husband for the archbishop, who lodged at the abbey of St Bertin outside Boulogne during his exile.
Matilda was particularly keen to see Eustace crowned, and after Theobald refused to be swayed she involved herself in the disputed election to the archbishopric of York. Stephen and the Pope had disagreed for some years over the installation to York of the papal candidate, Henry Murdac. The distinguished French cleric Bernard of Clairvaux had twice written to Matilda to ask for her intervention in the matter, the level of authority the Queen had achieved being shown in his reference to ‘the glory of your kingdom’, which acknowledged her as an equal partner with her husband. In order to mollify the Pope, Matilda persuaded Stephen toaccept Murdac, who, in return, undertook to plead Eustace’s cause. According to John of Hexham, he achieved some limited success at the Curia in 1151, but much of the energy behind the plan had been Matilda’s, and when she died, it died with her. In the case of her second son, William, it does not appear even to have been considered.
Matilda’s last diplomatic mission took place in Flanders in 1150. Now that Louis VII, and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, were returned from crusade, Stephen sought to renew their anti-Angevin pact, and Bishop Henry visited Paris as an ambassador on his way to Rome. Matilda accompanied him as far as the border of Flanders, and the alliance was proposed, though an unusually bitter winter prevented a campaign from being fought. Matilda’s visit proved fruitful the next year, when Louis attacked Normandy from the north. However, the French king fell ill and the combined push against the Angevins collapsed when Geoffrey of Anjou and Henry FitzEmpress agreed a truce with France in 1151. Stephen held a great council in London at Easter 1152, which Matilda attended to try to rally support. The magnates were persuaded to swear an oath to Eustace, but both the King and the Queen knew how much that was worth. Increasingly, it seemed that only Henry FitzEmpress could unite the weary country.
Matilda was spared the inevitable collapse of her hopes for her husband and son when she died, at Headingham Castle on 3 May 1152, while on a visit to her friend and former lady-in-waiting Euphemia, Countess of Oxford. It was obvious that the Queen’s illness was fatal, but there was just enough time to summon her confessor, the prior of Holy Trinity Aldgate, who administered the last rites, and Stephen himself, who confirmed a grant to Holy Trinity on her behalf from Headingham. Matilda’s body was transported in state to London, then on to Faversham. Hers was the first royal burial at the abbey she and Stephen had hoped would celebrate the founding of a new English royal dynasty. She was joined there the next year by Eustace, who died of a seizure — some said brought on by rage — in August 1153.
King Stephen and Henry FitzEmpress met at Winchester on 6 November 1153. Henry paid homage to Stephen and was designated his
Matilda was particularly keen to see Eustace crowned, and after Theobald refused to be swayed she involved herself in the disputed election to the archbishopric of York. Stephen and the Pope had disagreed for some years over the installation to York of the papal candidate, Henry Murdac. The distinguished French cleric Bernard of Clairvaux had twice written to Matilda to ask for her intervention in the matter, the level of authority the Queen had achieved being shown in his reference to ‘the glory of your kingdom’, which acknowledged her as an equal partner with her husband. In order to mollify the Pope, Matilda persuaded Stephen toaccept Murdac, who, in return, undertook to plead Eustace’s cause. According to John of Hexham, he achieved some limited success at the Curia in 1151, but much of the energy behind the plan had been Matilda’s, and when she died, it died with her. In the case of her second son, William, it does not appear even to have been considered.
Matilda’s last diplomatic mission took place in Flanders in 1150. Now that Louis VII, and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, were returned from crusade, Stephen sought to renew their anti-Angevin pact, and Bishop Henry visited Paris as an ambassador on his way to Rome. Matilda accompanied him as far as the border of Flanders, and the alliance was proposed, though an unusually bitter winter prevented a campaign from being fought. Matilda’s visit proved fruitful the next year, when Louis attacked Normandy from the north. However, the French king fell ill and the combined push against the Angevins collapsed when Geoffrey of Anjou and Henry FitzEmpress agreed a truce with France in 1151. Stephen held a great council in London at Easter 1152, which Matilda attended to try to rally support. The magnates were persuaded to swear an oath to Eustace, but both the King and the Queen knew how much that was worth. Increasingly, it seemed that only Henry FitzEmpress could unite the weary country.
Matilda was spared the inevitable collapse of her hopes for her husband and son when she died, at Headingham Castle on 3 May 1152, while on a visit to her friend and former lady-in-waiting Euphemia, Countess of Oxford. It was obvious that the Queen’s illness was fatal, but there was just enough time to summon her confessor, the prior of Holy Trinity Aldgate, who administered the last rites, and Stephen himself, who confirmed a grant to Holy Trinity on her behalf from Headingham. Matilda’s body was transported in state to London, then on to Faversham. Hers was the first royal burial at the abbey she and Stephen had hoped would celebrate the founding of a new English royal dynasty. She was joined there the next year by Eustace, who died of a seizure — some said brought on by rage — in August 1153.
King Stephen and Henry FitzEmpress met at Winchester on 6 November 1153. Henry paid homage to Stephen and was designated his
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