Matilda of Flanders - Historic UK

On May 11,1068 Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey, London. She was the first queen to have a separate coronation. A short excerpt:

"Nearly every person who was educated in England will have had the date of 1066 drummed into their heads as the date of the Battle of Hastings. Most would have been taught how William conquered England and how he maintained control through building castles, creating the Domesday Book and harrying the North. However, rarely mentioned is the key character in this narrative, Matilda of Flanders, wife of William.

In the medieval period women were treated as inferior beings and their roles were often limited to childbearing. Women were expected to embody the key Christian virtues for women, of obedience, purity, humility and motherhood. In this world the narrative of Matilda is surprising as she managed to wield a large amount of power and influence throughout her life.

Without her, William of Normandy would not have been able to conquer England whilst maintaining control over Normandy. It could even be argued that at times she shared the royal authority with William to become more than just his consort and become his ruling equal."