Empress Matilda emerged as a key contender for the English crown during the chaos of The Anarchy.This relentless civil war, spanning 1138 to 1153 in England and Normandy, led both regions into near-total collapse. Law and order vanished, leaving the land in fear and suffering. A chronicler of the time remarked, "Christ and his saints were asleep during this period." Even by medieval standards, the devastation was exceptional. At the heart of this turmoil stood Empress Matilda—a woman of indomitable will, ambition, and royal lineage. Despite betrayals and resistance, she fought determinedly to claim the throne she believed was hers. This is the saga of Empress Matilda. 00:00: Introduction01:28: Ancestry & Early Life04:09: First Marriage & Holy Roman Empress07:47: English Succession Crisis10:34: Kings & Lords Swear Fealty to Matilda12:56: Mathilda Marries Geoffrey of Anjou14:55: Prelude to War & Coronation of Stephen of Blois19:40: The Anarchy24:00: Battle of Lincoln27:05: Mathilda is Crowned the Queen of England29:16: The Rout of Winchester32:30: Empress Mathilda's Great Escape34:46: The Battle of Wilton36:21: The Final Phase of the War43:00: Later Life & Death #EmpressMatilda #TheAnarchy #Englishcrown #civilwar #medievalhistory #royalty #successioncrisis #medievalbattles See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6868f7d3ebbcfff2999cf546 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices