Queen Matilda, otherwise known as Matilda of Boulogne, was arguably one of the most important English queens of the twelfth century. However, she seems to be overshadowed by, and sometimes even confused with, her cousin, the Empress Matilda, who opposed King Stephen during the civil war period known as the Anarchy.
The Queen played an intrinsic role during this time, actively working alongside Stephen to defend his position and the kingdom. Through her efforts, she proved herself to be an effective leader, being responsible for turning the favour of the civil war back towards Stephen at the Rout of Winchester (1141).
Following on from our previous episode, Warfare in Winchester: Empress Matilda’s Last Stand, we now turn to Queen Matilda to view the Rout of Winchester from her perspective. Join Catherine Capel as she considers the role the Queen played as a military leader at the Rout as well as her representation as a ruler within contemporary chronicles.
Images of Wolvesey Castle, where the Rout of Winchester took place
Catherine Capel
Catherine may be familiar to those of you who have been listening to our episodes for some time. She hosted an episode titled ‘Warfare in Winchester: Empress Matilda’s Last Stand’, in which Catherine describes the circumstances that brought Empress Matilda to Winchester.
Catherine Capel is in her third year of a full-time PhD at the University of Winchester, which she was awarded in 2018 as a full studentship. Her primary research interest focuses upon the participation and motivation of elite Anglo-Norman women in warfare, but she is also interested in notions of female power and reputation.
Further Information and Additional Links
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our previous episode: Warfare in Winchester: Empress Matilda’s Last Stand.