Matilda FitzRoy, Countess of Perche
Encyclopedia
Matilda was an illegitimate daughter of King Henry I of England
by a mistress named Edith. She was Countess of Perche by her marriage and drowned in the sinking of the White Ship
.
Matilda's maternal family are unknown. Her father was the fourth son of King William I of England
and his wife Matilda of Flanders
.
She is named as daughter of King Henry I by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that the king "built up [her husband's] power by greatly augmenting his estates and wealth in England". Her father gave her lands in Wiltshire as her dowry. Matilda married in 1103 to Rotrou III, Count of Perche as his second wife. She married at the same time as her half-sister Juliane de Fontrevault. Rotrou was a direct vassal of King Henry in England, where he held fiefs jure uxoris, in right of his wife. He was not often in England, but it is purported that Rotrou and Matilda had a close relationship. They had at most two daughters:
Matilda travelled to England with members of her family, including her half-brother William Adelin
on the White Ship
in November 1120. When the ship set off in the dark, its port side struck a submerged rock (this rock can still be seen from the cliffs of Barfleur), and the ship quickly capsized. Matilda perished along with everybody else aboard with the exception of a butcher from Rouen
. Other people aboard were William Adelin, Thomas FitzStephen
, Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester
and Matilda's cousin Lucia-Mahaut of Blois
.
After Matilda's death, her husband left for Spain
. His parting may have been an act of penitence (perhaps he believed his sins had brought on the tragedy), or perhaps a public demonstration of grieving, since his wife was a daughter of the king. He created a monastery at La Trappe
in memory of Matilda. He married one final time to Hawise de Salisbury, by whom he had issue.
Amongst Matilda's descendents are: Anne Boleyn
, Elizabeth I of England
and Elizabeth II.
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
by a mistress named Edith. She was Countess of Perche by her marriage and drowned in the sinking of the White Ship
White Ship
The White Ship was a vessel that sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur, on 25 November 1120. Only one of those aboard survived. Those who drowned included William Adelin, the only surviving legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England...
.
Matilda's maternal family are unknown. Her father was the fourth son of King William I of England
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
and his wife Matilda of Flanders
Matilda of Flanders
Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror and, as such, Queen consort of the Kingdom of England. She bore William nine/ten children, including two kings, William II and Henry I.-Marriage:...
.
She is named as daughter of King Henry I by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that the king "built up [her husband's] power by greatly augmenting his estates and wealth in England". Her father gave her lands in Wiltshire as her dowry. Matilda married in 1103 to Rotrou III, Count of Perche as his second wife. She married at the same time as her half-sister Juliane de Fontrevault. Rotrou was a direct vassal of King Henry in England, where he held fiefs jure uxoris, in right of his wife. He was not often in England, but it is purported that Rotrou and Matilda had a close relationship. They had at most two daughters:
- Philippa, married Elias II, Count of Maine and had issue
- Felicia, excistance disputed
Matilda travelled to England with members of her family, including her half-brother William Adelin
William Adelin
William , surnamed Adelin , was the son of Henry I of England by his wife Matilda of Scotland, and was thus heir-apparent to the throne. His early death without issue caused a succession crisis.William was born in Winchester...
on the White Ship
White Ship
The White Ship was a vessel that sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur, on 25 November 1120. Only one of those aboard survived. Those who drowned included William Adelin, the only surviving legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England...
in November 1120. When the ship set off in the dark, its port side struck a submerged rock (this rock can still be seen from the cliffs of Barfleur), and the ship quickly capsized. Matilda perished along with everybody else aboard with the exception of a butcher from Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
. Other people aboard were William Adelin, Thomas FitzStephen
Thomas FitzStephen
Thomas FitzStephen was the illegitimate son of Stephen, a sea captain for William the Conqueror during his invasion of England in 1066. FitzStephen owned and captained the White Ship which sank in the English Channel off the Normandy coast near Barfleur on November 25, 1120...
, Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester
Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester
Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester was the son of Hugh, 1st Earl of Chester and Ermentrude of Clermont.-Early life:...
and Matilda's cousin Lucia-Mahaut of Blois
Lucia-Mahaut
Lucia-Mahaut of Blois , known as Matilda or Maud, was daughter to Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy. She was married to Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester. Both she and her husband joined William Adelin, heir to King Henry I of England aboard the White Ship...
.
After Matilda's death, her husband left for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His parting may have been an act of penitence (perhaps he believed his sins had brought on the tragedy), or perhaps a public demonstration of grieving, since his wife was a daughter of the king. He created a monastery at La Trappe
La Trappe
La Trappe is :*La Trappe Abbey, a Trappist monastery in Soligny-la-Trappe, France*a brand of Trappist beers brewed by De Koningshoeven Brewery...
in memory of Matilda. He married one final time to Hawise de Salisbury, by whom he had issue.
Amongst Matilda's descendents are: Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
, Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
and Elizabeth II.