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Joanna Arman
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Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen Hardcover – 11 July 2023

by Joanna Arman (Author)
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The wife of King Henry I and the mother of the Empress Maud is a woman and a Queen forgotten to history. She is frequently conflated with her daughter or her mother-in-law. She was born the daughter of the King of Scotland and an Anglo-Saxon princess. Her name was Edith, but her name was changed to Matilda at the time of her marriage. The Queen who united the line of William the Conqueror with the House of Wessex lived during an age marked by transition and turbulence. She married Henry in the first year of the 12th century and for the eighteen years of her rule aided him in reforming the administrative and legal system due to her knowledge of languages and legal tradition. Together she and her husband founded a series of churches and arranged a marriage for their daughter to the Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda was a woman of letters to corresponded with Kings, Popes, and prelates, and was respected by them all. Matilda's greatest legacy was continuity: she united two dynasties and gave the Angevin Kings the legitimacy they needed so much. It was through her that the Empress Matilda and Henry II were able to claim the throne. She was the progenitor of the Plantagenet Kings, but the war and conflict which followed the death of her son William led to a negative stereotyping by Medieval Chroniclers. Although they saw her as pious, they said she was a runaway nun and her marriage to Henry was cursed. This book provides a much-needed re-evaluation of Edith/Matilda's role and place in the history of the Queens of England.
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  1. ISBN-10
    1526794225
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1526794222
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword History
  4. Publication date
    11 July 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm
  7. Print length
    248 pages
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
6 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Colm Chase
2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I had hoped
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2024
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This book is so full of typos and historical inaccuracies that I got completely fed up with it, There are no new insights of this " forgotten queen" and the inclusion of a lot of fairly irrelevant illustrations to bulk out the text to nearly 150 pages indicates just how little this author had to say, Please proof read and use editorial control on texts before sending them to print
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Sharon Connolly
5.0 out of 5 stars Now, this is a book I have been waiting for!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2024
And it is a book that has needed to be written for a long time. How useful it would have been when I was writing my own book, Women of the Anarchy. A complete biography of Matilda of Scotland – also referred to as Matilda II to distinguish her from her predecessor, Matilda of Flanders. As the wife of Henry I of England Matilda of Scotland is a woman often neglected and overlooked by historians. And yet, Queen Matilda was a truly remarkable queen and one who was well respected during her lifetime. Born as the eldest daughter of Malcolm III Canmore, King of Scots, and his saintly wife, Margaret of Wessex, and given the name Edith at birth, her name was changed to the more Norman name, Matilda, on her marriage to Henry I.

Joanna Arman expertly guides us through Queen Matilda’s life, from her childhood in a convent, supervised by her mother’s sister, Christina, through the various suitors who came calling to the controversy over her marriage to King Henry. Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen delves deep into the investigation into whether or not Matilda had ever been professed as a nun and presents the evidence and arguments for both sides. It is a fascinating study.

Queen Matilda’s role, as a queen, wife and mother, is examined in great detail, demonstrating her influence, both on her family and on England and Normandy. Matilda’s piety is shown as an anchoring force throughout her life, influencing the way she approaches problems and relationships. The queen is shown to be a deeply devout, kind and benevolent woman, with a strong sense of purpose and destiny.

Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen covers every aspect of the queen’s life, drawing on chronicles and charters to present what we know in a clear, engaging narrative that brings this often-overlooked queen to life. The book is accompanied by extensive notation and a through bibliography – I was flattered to discover my own book, Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey, cited as a refence. It is an excellent biography, thoroughly researched and beautifully presented. I loved reading every word.
One person found this helpful
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Lubu
2.0 out of 5 stars Meh
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 December 2023
Verified Purchase
OK book but hard work and reads like a dissertation. Too many typos and proof reading errors that are also off putting
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CarolK
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating peek at one of England's mightiest Queens
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2023
Excellent telling of the life of Matilda, wife of Henry I. Joanna Arman has a fine knowledge of this fascinating, clever and wily Queen. In a period where women were mere vassals, Matilda seizes her chances to ensure her name is not forgotten in the history of royalty. I found this a very easy read which is saying something considering the commonality of names such as the other Matilda and many Henrys. An easy 5 stars for a fascinating insight to her life. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen
2 people found this helpful
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gem17
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched life of Queen Matilda II
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2023
Matilda II: The Forgotten Queen by Joanna Arman fills a gap in historical biography. Matilda II's reign and achievements have received less attention from historians than they deserve.
Arman shows us that Matilda II was well-read and highly educated. She played a major role in administrative and legal matters and acted as regent during the king's absences.
The book is very well-researched and there are extensive notes for each chapter plus a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. The illustrations, including some original photographs, bring the book to life.
The author's writing style make this book a joy to read. Although it is a serious historical biography I found it as easy to read as a novel.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the life of this fascinating queen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword Books for an e-ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
3 people found this helpful
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