Matilda, Countess of Clarence

## Matilda of England

Countess Consort of Clarence

Catherine of Clarence

Anne of Clarence

Margaret of Clarence

Thomas of Clarence

**Matilda of England** (C. 1166 - 1213) was the youngest child of John I of England and his first wife Marie of Provence, she is often forgotten in English history due to her spending little time in public. Matilda was 1 years old when her mother died and her father sent her to France to be raised by Joan I of Navarre, who was also Queen of France. When she was 14, she was married to Robert, 2nd Earl of Clarence, Robert and Matilda had a challenging marriage, Matilda knew mostly French despite the fact she was born in England, and often spoke with a French accent which confused Robert who knew little French, and spoke fluent English. Matilda often preferred to be called Maude which was a common French nickname for the name "Matilda." Matilda was murdered by her younger half-brother William I, Count of Anjou, for an unknown reason.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Matilda Plantagenet was born in 1166 as the youngest child of John I of England and Marie of Provence. Matilda's father sent Matilda and her siblings to Normandy at first, but then sent them to France in the care of Louis VIII of France and Queen Joan I of Navarre. Matilda often spent little time in public, and often spent her time in private palaces, she once spent 3 years in the French royal palace, without going outside, before the Queen of France who grew concerned forced Matilda to have a walk in the French royal gardens, Matilda was called "Maude" by the Queen of France who never bothered to thurly teach Maude English. Maude was first betrothed to Francis VII, Count of Loon, but Francis decided against the marriage after his mother saw Maude as a bratty princess. When Maude was 11, her father betrothed her to the Earl of Clarence.

### Education

Though Joan was a caring foster-mother, Joan was strict and wanted Maude to be smart like her own children, Maude found school boring, but made friends with Joan's children. Maude was taught Knitting, Math, Reading, Writing, Dance, Conversation, music, and history. Maude spoke with a fluent French accent, and was often code for French because of her lack of visits in England. Maude also rarely interaceted with her fiancee and when she did, she wrote to him in French which annoyed Robert, 2nd Earl of Clarence (Her fiancee) who knew little French, and had to hire a transalator to read Maude's letters.

### Marriage

When Maude was 14, she led a tearful farewell to Joan of Navarre who gave Maude a necklace, which had the letters of "M" and "P" in it for Maude Plantagenet. Maude arrived in Clarence Castle to marry her fiancee, she had to practice her marital vows in English which took days to practice. Robert was a old washed up 47 year old man, who was known for his little mercy and temper, and wanted everything to be his way, he hated Maude's french accent and lack of understanding for English, and often screamed at her in English in front of courtiers who looked shocked, but Maude famously said "Qu'est-ce que tu dis?" which is French for "What are you saying?" She gave birth to Joan of Clarence, Robert was infuriated Robert, who wanted a son like his younger brother John of Clarence. Finally soon, she gave birth to a son, also named Robert.

## Murder

Much of the rest of Maude's life is unknown due to little writing of her life, she possibly became a Dame of the Garter like her husband who was Grand Master of the Garter. In the middle ages, each mideval palace had at least 10 - 30 murders and executions a day, while Maude was in Clarence Castle, her younger-half-brother, William I, Count of Anjou ordered the murder of his sister, we know its William due to papers written of the murder of the time. Maude who was widowed was found dead in her bath-tub by her friends, she was buried in Westminister Abbey, in the Plantagenet Chapel, she was buried next to her husband.