Empress Matilda: Civil War and the Fight for the Throne
Summary
Hosts Tom Holland and David Olusoga interview historian Helen Castor about her book *She-Wolves*, focusing on Empress Matilda’s struggle to claim the English throne. They discuss the chaotic civil war known as The Anarchy, triggered by Matilda’s conflict with King Stephen after Henry I’s death. The episode explores medieval gender norms, the significance of royal anointing, and how Matilda’s failed bid for power shaped future succession laws.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and intro
The She-Wolves series and the monstrous regiment of women
Context of 16th-century queens and medieval succession
Henry I, William Aetheling, and the concept of kingship
Matilda's marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor
The White Ship disaster and William's death
Henry I names Matilda heir and secures oaths
Matilda's unhappy marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou
Henry I's death and Stephen's swift coronation
Stephen's legitimacy and the start of the Anarchy
Matilda invades England and is besieged in Bristol
The brutality of the Anarchy and castle building
Stephen's capture and Matilda's failed coronation
Henry II's rise and Matilda's legacy
Listen ad-free on Castria