Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I

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Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 181 ratings · 68 reviews

Around the year 1049, William, Duke of Normandy and future conqueror of England, raced to the palace of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. The count’s eldest daughter, Matilda, had refused William’s offer of marriage and publicly denounced him as a bastard. Encountering the young woman, William furiously dragged her to the ground by her hair and beat her mercilessly. Matilda’s...more Around the year 1049, William, Duke of Normandy and future conqueror of England, raced to the palace of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. The count’s eldest daughter, Matilda, had refused William’s offer of marriage and publicly denounced him as a bastard. Encountering the young woman, William furiously dragged her to the ground by her hair and beat her mercilessly. Matilda’s outraged father immediately took up arms on his daughter’s behalf. But just a few days later, Baldwin was aghast when Matilda, still recovering from the assault, announced that she would marry none but William, since “he must be a man of great courage and high daring” to have ventured to “come and beat me in my own father’s palace.”

Thus began the tempestuous marriage of Matilda of Flanders and William the Conqueror. While William’s exploits and triumphs have been widely chronicled, his consort remains largely overlooked. Now, in her groundbreaking Queen of the Conqueror, acclaimed author and historian Tracy Borman weaves together a comprehensive and illuminating tapestry of this noble woman who stood only four-foot-two and whose role as the first crowned Queen of England had a large and lasting influence on the English monarchy.

From a wealth of historical artifacts and documents, Matilda emerges as passionate, steadfast, and wise, yet also utterly ruthless and tenacious in pursuit of her goals, and the only person capable of taming her formidable husband—who, unprecedented for the period, remained staunchly faithful to her. This mother of nine, including four sons who went on to inherit William’s French and English dominions, confounded the traditional views of women in medieval society by seizing the reins of power whenever she had the chance, directing her husband’s policy, and at times flagrantly disobeying his orders.

Tracy Borman lays out Matilda’s remarkable story against one of the most fascinating and transformative periods in European history. Stirring, richly detailed, and wholly involving, Queen of the Conqueror reveals not just an extraordinary figure but an iconic woman who shaped generations, and an era that cast the essential framework for the world we know today.(less)

Hardcover, 296 pages

Published April 3rd 2012 by Bantam (first published September 1st 2011)

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Feb 20, 2012 Pete daPixie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biogs, history-norman, history-european

As biographies of historical figures of the eleventh century go, Tracy Borman's 'Matilda-Queen of the Conqueror' (2011) is quite good. She writes historical narrative in a very colourful way that makes for easy reading.
She relies heavily for her sources upon Norman and English 11th and 12th century writers. William of Jumieges for the Norman histories and William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis for the more English perspectives, as well as the Anglo Saxon Chronicles and all the way into the ni...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Therese rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-and-memoir, history, bookclub-monarchy

$15.99

Not too long ago the only thing I had ever heard about was the year 1066 and enable William the Conqueror. I'm not saying I know a whole lot more now, but I do know considerable more than I did before, and I'm so glad I read this twice about Matilda, Williams wife. She was not some helpless female that William chose, and although she didn't want to marry him at first, she finally relented. It is not easy to keep track of how many children they had, but there are records of about 9 although...more

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Nov 30, 2012 James rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first thing one has to think when hearing about this book is why has no one written a biography on this Queen before? But thankfully Tracy Borman has now taken Matilda out of the historical darkness & shown us the lady who is in many ways the reason for the success of the Normans establishing themselves as the ruling dynasty of England, both politically & through her bloodline ( which was stronger then her husbands claim).

So little has been known on Matilda, until recently people wou...more The first thing one has to think when hearing about this book is why has no one written a biography on this Queen before? But thankfully Tracy Borman has now taken Matilda out of the historical darkness & shown us the lady who is in many ways the reason for the success of the Normans establishing themselves as the ruling dynasty of England, both politically & through her bloodline ( which was stronger then her husbands claim).

So little has been known on Matilda, until recently people would only have recognised her as the Conqueror's wife, some may have known that she helped fund her husbands campaign by outfitting a ship- the splendid Mora for his invasion, & even less would have known of her many stints as regent for her husband in Normandy.

What this book does, is try to discover the women who has all to often been simply regarded as a footnote in history- & it does this remarkably well, literally no stone has been left unturned in the research to show us an understanding of the women helped shape her husbands & later descendants rule in England, from her childhood to even after her death, we learn of Matilda as the proud daughter of the Count of Flanders. We learn of Matilda as the Duchess of Normandy supporting her husband on his campaigns & acting as regent on his behalf in Normandy, witnessing charters, founding abbeys. We learn of Matilda the mother who presided over her childrens education & making sure her daughters had the best possible. & we learn of Matilda as most importantly Queen of England- the peacemaker to her husbands often tyrannical personalty. We also get an idea of what William could have been like.

1066 is possibly the most important year in English history, where the country as it was known changed forever, & in this book readers will understand it effects of both England and Normandy, every possible source is analysed meticulously & readers will come away with an incredible understanding of the courts of Flanders, Normandy & England & the countries & principalities in general after finishing this book, all i can finish on is if in future another historian writes about Norman invasion or the Conqueror without including much of Matilda, then they will be doing a great disservice to History.(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Cori Sherman North rated it 2 of 5 stars

In general this was a decent narrative biography, but the writing style left Much to be desired. Regularly throughout the book, the author would write up a "known" historical bit as if it were a continuation in the Matilda story, comment on it, and Then announce it was from a 19th c writer or some other source that would obviously be unlikely to be factual. It would have been so much more interesting if the author had collected all these later glosses and had a last chapter of Matilda's developm...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Marie Z. Johansen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction-history, biography

When I heard that Tracy Borman was releasing a new title I had to pre-order it right away. I has so enjoyed her earlier work , "Elizabeth's Women" (I ordered if from Amazon UK so that I would not have to wait for the US release!) that I had high hopes for "Wife of The Conqueror" - and I was, happily, not disappointed!

Many of us have read a book about William , or at least know about who he was and what his claims to fame are, but few of us know much about his Queen, the very first Queen of Engla...more When I heard that Tracy Borman was releasing a new title I had to pre-order it right away. I has so enjoyed her earlier work , "Elizabeth's Women" (I ordered if from Amazon UK so that I would not have to wait for the US release!) that I had high hopes for "Wife of The Conqueror" - and I was, happily, not disappointed!

Many of us have read a book about William , or at least know about who he was and what his claims to fame are, but few of us know much about his Queen, the very first Queen of England, Matilda, who wielded as much power as any women of the time, acting as regent in Normandy whilst William was about the business of conquering England. Matilda was the backbone of her family and she is largely responsible for fostering an environment of understanding and cooperation after William conquered England, deflecting tensions and skirmishes with a deft hand.

Ms. Borman has sifted through "historical artifacts and documents" to compile an excellent, highly enjoyable, biography of this truly unique women. Matilda was diminutive at 4 feet 2 inches tall but she had the intellect and courage of any man of her time.

From the jacket: "...this mother of 9, including four sons who went on to inherit William's French and English dominions, confounded the traditional views of women in medieval society by seizing the reins of power whenever she had the chance, directing her husband's policy, and at times flagrantly disobeying his orders..."

I think that Ms. Borman has the ability to sift through historical documents and collate the information - presenting a biography that is at once both easy to read as well as packed with significant historical notes. The reader gets a clear image of the people and the times. The reader absorbs the history lessons easily because the book is so well written.

I believe that this book will delight anglophiles, history buffs and biography readers, but it may also well hold the interest of people who are primarily historical fiction readers - because the book reads so well. Yes! I highly recommend this book. Bravo Ms. Borman!

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Oct 23, 2012 Ashlea (plotdriven.com) rated it 3 of 5 stars

It’s hard to get a sense of past time from a biography such as this one. The sources just aren’t there – no letters, no accurate portraits, just official documents and inaccurate gossip from centuries later. It would be like trying to write a biography of someone from the contents of their wallet and safe deposit box.

Not to say that it wasn’t interesting. It succeeds as insight into the peripatetic life of the nobility in the 11th century. William is portrayed with all his contradictions: brutal...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, biography, middle-ages, europe

***½
As a fan of historical fiction, I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book or not, but I found myself drawn into an ancient world where Matilda, the first Queen of England, proved to have a strength of character unknown for women of her time. It’s an absorbing story of ruthless men used to having their own way and women who were used as chattel to gain territory and allies for their fathers or were sent to nunneries where they served their families in a spiritual and religious way.

There were time...more

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May 02, 2012 Fajar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: europe, non-fiction

Sesuai judulnya, biografi ini berfokus kepada kehidupan Matilda dalam perannya sebagai istri dari William the Conqueror. Matilda adalah sosok perempuan yang cukup beruntung. Lahir dari keluarga bangsawan, menikah dengan pria yang kelak menjadi penguasa besar, dan melahirkan banyak keturunan. Dia memiliki semua kriteria perempuan ideal menurut zamannya.

Namun itu semua bukanlah alasan mengapa sosok Matilda menjadi dikenang. Matilda adalah sosok ratu yang cukup aktif dalam perannya sehingga menghas...more Sesuai judulnya, biografi ini berfokus kepada kehidupan Matilda dalam perannya sebagai istri dari William the Conqueror. Matilda adalah sosok perempuan yang cukup beruntung. Lahir dari keluarga bangsawan, menikah dengan pria yang kelak menjadi penguasa besar, dan melahirkan banyak keturunan. Dia memiliki semua kriteria perempuan ideal menurut zamannya.

Namun itu semua bukanlah alasan mengapa sosok Matilda menjadi dikenang. Matilda adalah sosok ratu yang cukup aktif dalam perannya sehingga menghasilkan beberapa pencapaian pribadi yang kemudian menjadi inspirasi atau acuan bagi sosok perempuan-perempuan kerajaan di era berikutnya. Dalam hal keagamaan misalnya, Matilda mendorong dibangunnya biara miliknya sendiri yang mendampingi biara milik suaminya. Pembangunan dua buah biara raja dan ratu ini menyimbolkan bahwa Matilda memiliki pengaruh besar pada keajaan. Hal ini juga menunjukkan bahwa hubungan pasangan Matilda-William adalah hubungan yang cukup setara. Pasangan ini dianggap saling melengkapi satu sama lain. Sosok Matilda yang penuh kasih dianggap melengkapi sosok William yang keras dan kejam bagi banyak orang.

Di samping segala keberuntungan dan kejayaannya, kehidupan Matilda juga tidak luput dari kejadian-kejadian buruk. Matilda adalah sosok istri yang patuh, namun Matilda juga lah sosok seorang ibu yang menyayangi anak-anaknya. Matilda sukses menjalani perannya baik sebagai ratu, istri, maupun ibu. Namun di sisi lain, hal ini juga menjadikan masalah kelak ketika terjadi konflik antara William dan putera tertua mereka Robert. Konflik ayah dan anak ini adalah salah satu momen terburuk bagi Matilda.

Biografi ini merangkum kehidupan Matilda dengan cukup ringan dan jelas. Hanya saja biografi ini mungkin tidak terlalu spesial di tengah banyaknya biografi perempuan sejenis. Tak sedikit biografi yang mengusung tema perempuan kuat dalam kerasnya kehidupan monarki. Dan biografi Matilda ini tidak memberikan sesuatu yang benar-benar luar biasa dan berbeda dengan biografi perempuan lainnya. Meski begitu, biografi ini tetap cukup menarik, terutama bagi penggemar sejarah kerajaan Inggris.
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Apr 21, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographical, medieval-nonfiction

Tracy Borman chose a difficult subject for a biography, and succeeded at it remarkably well. Though a significant person in the affairs of western Europe during her lifetime, concrete information on Matilda of Flanders is difficult to find and ascertain.

Nonetheless, Borman builds as comprehensive picture as possible on the wife of William the Conqueror, placing her at the center of their new dynasty and utlimately making her the glue that bound the family together.

There were a few places where t...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Marilyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-monarchy-medieval-history

What a treat it was, to read Tracy Norman's book, Queen of the Conqueror! Matilda of Flanders was said to have paved the way, for other strong willed Queens yet to come. That she did, and in a big way. Tiny Matilda was not going to be pushed around by anyone, not even her husband Duke William, who would in the year 1066, defeat King Harold at the battle of Hastings and become the next King of England. William's victory would bring about much change in England, since he was the first Norman King...more What a treat it was, to read Tracy Norman's book, Queen of the Conqueror! Matilda of Flanders was said to have paved the way, for other strong willed Queens yet to come. That she did, and in a big way. Tiny Matilda was not going to be pushed around by anyone, not even her husband Duke William, who would in the year 1066, defeat King Harold at the battle of Hastings and become the next King of England. William's victory would bring about much change in England, since he was the first Norman King of England.

I found myself making comparisons between Matilda, and a Queen who would later rule in much the same way, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Both queens ruled as regents, and both queens when push came to shove, would stand beside a son and not their husband the King, during a planned rebellion. Treason in the highest form, yet both queens were allowed to live, as were their sons.

I believe Matilda had a softer side to herself, than Eleanor, but then it is believed that William did not take mistresses, nor any other women during his lifetime. Whether this is an accurate account, is anyone's guess. As for King Henry II, that is not the case. He did have mistresses, and made no effort to hide that fact. I would think this would have hardened Eleanor more than just a little bit, when it came to affairs of the heart.

Although in France, Matilda of Flanders is still given credit for The Bayeux Tapestry, recent studies doubt this to be the case. It is now believed that the tapestry would have taken many people to embroider. The second belief is now that the tapestry does not depict the Norman victory at Hastings, but rather it depicts the defeat of the English, with the story being told perhaps through the French, or English. Despite this new information, it should be pointed out that Matilda was quite accomplished at embroidery, and needlework.

And so, this wisp of a woman opened the doors, for those sovereign queens to follow her. She stole the hearts of those she met, and ruled over.......she most certainly stole my heart as well. (less)

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May 09, 2012 itpdx rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, first-reads

This is the biography of a fascinating woman, Queen Matilda, William the Conqueror's wife. According to this biography, she went beyond the accepted role of consort at this time of bearing heirs and staging pageantry, which she did well. But she also was politically active and ruled and sat in judgment of citizens on her own and did this well. She is considered the inspiration for the idea that women could rule effectively on their own. This biography is somewhere between an academic and a popul...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Sydney Pettit is currently reading it Recommends it for: Young Adults and Up

May I start out with saying Thank You to Goodreads Giveaway Contest, Random House Publishing and with it Bantam Books, and most importantly the author, Tracy Borman for the opportunity to receive this great book and share my thoughts on it!

On to the review, This book was great! I am not one much for historical texts in any form but Queen of the Conqueror: Life of Matilda, Wife of William I was able to bring informative facts and opinions and tie them together with a flowing story line and select...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book thinking it was going to be an historical fiction novel; instead, I found out that it's a biography. Now, while my enjoyment of the text was slighty effected, I must admit, I didn't know that William the Conqueror had a wife.

When I was in high school, one of my history teachers said that if we remembered anything about the middle ages, it had to be the year 1066 -- the Norman conquest of England. Because of the scarcity of contemporary accounts regarding the life of Matild...more

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May 20, 2012 Loraine Alcorn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really loved reading this informative book . Its was very well researched and just a joy to read. I am a real English history buff and found this book to have everything I could want in a bio. I learned a whole lot of things I did not know not only about Matilda but also about the people around her and the way life was lived back than. I espically enjoyed that Tracy Borman kept the story very lively and I was not board for a second. I actually could not put the book down, it was like candy for...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

In my high school freshman English class, we memorized: William the Conqueror from Normandy, France won the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was part of our exploration of how the English language came to be. From that time on, I have been curious about the life of his wife, Matilda, but have had difficulty finding books about her. I wanted something that was historically based and accurate. Even though contemprary resources are scarce, I feel that Borman has a done a good job detailing the life o...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Nicolle Walters rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-non-fiction

This isn't a biography of Queen Matilda but rather a story of the House of Normandy and all the major players (members of William & Matilda's rather large family). Rather than disappoint, it made the book all the more interesting.

This is a fascinating look at a family who lived almost 1,000 years ago and yet who seem all too real and all too human. The reason that we know of William the Duke of Normany, William the Bastard and William the Conqueror, the reason he changed history like few oth...more

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May 18, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Given the fact that there is not a wealth of primary materials other than signed charters this book does a pretty good job of telling the story of Queen Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror. A strong woman, with incredible governing skills, she did what few women of the time could do, manage a court, nine children, and a man every bit as strong-willed as she.

The author tries to separate fact from legend but it is hard because even the chroniclers of the time repeated tales, myths, and salaci...more

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May 18, 2012 Deanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history

I was intriqued to learn of Mitilda's life. The author made a good attempt at writing a biography with few surviving resources. writing of Matilda's life meant also writing of William the Conqueror. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 is the one date that has stuck with me since I was a pre-teen. I wish it was because of an excellent teacher. It was not. It was from a sitcom of dubious worth called Dear Phobe. The title character was named Hastings and referred to the battle. Ah youth. Because of tha...more

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Apr 13, 2012 ladywallingford rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

Although a bit dry in spots, I found this new biography on Matilda of Flanders very informative and well-researched by the author. She presented the facts of what is known about Matilda's life while also including all opinions regarding the things that aren't definitively known about the woman but that can be hypothesized on by what's available (aka the rough wooing, did it or did it not happen?), giving her opinion on what was likely and then backing it up with her reasoning. This is the mark o...more

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May 31, 2012 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, biography

Before reading this book, I knew nothing about William the Conqueror’s wife, Queen Matilda. I discovered a woman who was ahead of her time in many ways. As an upper class woman with connections to the French royal family she was well educated and had the self-confidence necessary to become a ruling partner with her husband, though secondary to him. Her skills in dealing with people, were actually much better than William’s. William seemed to think everything was best resolved by using brute forc...more

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May 02, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arts-and-historical

Around the year 1049, William, Duke of Normandy and future conqueror of England, raced to the palace of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. The count’s eldest daughter, Matilda, had refused William’s offer of marriage and publicly denounced him as a bastard. Encountering the young woman, William furiously dragged her to the ground by her hair and beat her mercilessly. Matilda’s outraged father immediately took up arms on his daughter’s behalf. But just a few days later, Baldwin was aghast when Matilda...more Around the year 1049, William, Duke of Normandy and future conqueror of England, raced to the palace of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. The count’s eldest daughter, Matilda, had refused William’s offer of marriage and publicly denounced him as a bastard. Encountering the young woman, William furiously dragged her to the ground by her hair and beat her mercilessly. Matilda’s outraged father immediately took up arms on his daughter’s behalf. But just a few days later, Baldwin was aghast when Matilda, still recovering from the assault, announced that she would marry none but William, since “he must be a man of great courage and high daring” to have ventured to “come and beat me in my own father’s palace.”

Thus began the tempestuous marriage of Matilda of Flanders and William the Conqueror. While William’s exploits and triumphs have been widely chronicled, his consort remains largely overlooked. Now, in her groundbreaking Queen of the Conqueror, acclaimed author and historian Tracy Borman weaves together a comprehensive and illuminating tapestry of this noble woman who stood only four-foot-two and whose role as the first crowned Queen of England had a large and lasting influence on the English monarchy.

From a wealth of historical artifacts and documents, Matilda emerges as passionate, steadfast, and wise, yet also utterly ruthless and tenacious in pursuit of her goals, and the only person capable of taming her formidable husband—who, unprecedented for the period, remained staunchly faithful to her. This mother of nine, including four sons who went on to inherit William’s French and English dominions, confounded the traditional views of women in medieval society by seizing the reins of power whenever she had the chance, directing her husband’s policy, and at times flagrantly disobeying his orders.

Tracy Borman lays out Matilda’s remarkable story against one of the most fascinating and transformative periods in European history. Stirring, richly detailed, and wholly involving, Queen of the Conqueror reveals not just an extraordinary figure but an iconic woman who shaped generations, and an era that cast the essential framework for the world we know today.(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, history

A dispassionate biography of Queen Matilda, wife to William the Conqueror.

My Take
Queen of the Conqueror is primarily about the legacy Matilda left for future queens of England along with an evaluation of the powers of past queens and how it enabled Matilda.

Considering how little Borman had to work with, she put together an interesting analysis of Matilda and her family. Some things I "knew" turned out to be malicious bits of propaganda while other bits were revelations. I hadn't realized how in...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Tania rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ms. Borman has put together an impressively thorough account of Queen Matilda's life in the face of a lack of credible contemporary sources regarding the intimate details of a woman in that time period. She has pieced the facts together quite well, inferred where she had to from charters and other government documents, compared and contrasted different recorded accounts and proposed the most likely truths about Matilda's character, marriage, family, and political influence.

Covering everything f...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Like Stacy Schiff's splendid "Cleopatra," Borman gives us a rich portrayal of a woman about whom history has left us little concrete information. William the Conqueror has produced reams of text and analysis, but Matilda of Flanders is a relatively unexplored figure though, as Borman argues, she occupies an important place in both the histories of England and Normandy, and for the position of women in the medieval world. Having consulted chapters of Borman's previous work, "Elizabeth's Women" fo...more Like Stacy Schiff's splendid "Cleopatra," Borman gives us a rich portrayal of a woman about whom history has left us little concrete information. William the Conqueror has produced reams of text and analysis, but Matilda of Flanders is a relatively unexplored figure though, as Borman argues, she occupies an important place in both the histories of England and Normandy, and for the position of women in the medieval world. Having consulted chapters of Borman's previous work, "Elizabeth's Women" for a project, I was excited to read more of her writing. I find her voice to be very readable, and she has a knack for making complex historical events, family trees, and conflicts accessible.

There were numerous things that I appreciated about this work. Due to the nature of Matilda as a subject, Borman must often rely on "would have" or "would likely have," but generally she attempts to find the best support she can for each claim. Borman also rarely loses sight of the large grain of salt with which 11th and 12th century "chroniclers" must be viewed. Additionally, the time Borman spends developing the world of Matilda's family life in Flanders prior to her marriage to William is very welcome. As so much ink has been spent on the conquest of England, Borman's choice to spend most of her time on events leading up to and following this is a good one. There is some jolly good myth de-bunking going on, even if much of it inspires one to go out and read more on the debates. What else is good history writing really for, though? I also think that Borman does an admirable job of giving the reader a finely detailed and more balanced picture of medieval womanhood than one is often wont to receive. Matilda's place in the reconceptualization of female power is elegantly argued. Though there were numerous instances of female rulership throughout the world prior to Matilda's time, her case marks a dramatic shift in thinking for English and Norman ideas of kingship.

Overall, this one is a good read. The various uprisings, etc. that follow William's first victories in England get somewhat muddled, but I surmise that this may have more to do with me as a reader than Borman as a writer. This book is a fitting tribute to an often overshadowed medieval figure and an effective examination of the evolution of female rulership and power. Thanks to Goodreads and Bantam Books for the advanced readers copy!(less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Orsolya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mistresses-royalty, queens, library-2, library, history

Although everyone may have heard of William the Conqueror; less is known about his influential wife, Matilda. Tracy Borman attempts to open the windows into Matilda’s life with “Queen of the Conquer: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I”.

The life (and sometimes plight) of Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror; is unfortunately loose in resources. Thus, “Queen of the Conqueror” begins like many other biographies surrounding ill-documented figures by describing the world and events surrounding...more Although everyone may have heard of William the Conqueror; less is known about his influential wife, Matilda. Tracy Borman attempts to open the windows into Matilda’s life with “Queen of the Conquer: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I”.

The life (and sometimes plight) of Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror; is unfortunately loose in resources. Thus, “Queen of the Conqueror” begins like many other biographies surrounding ill-documented figures by describing the world and events surrounding the individual versus his/her direct life. Although I usually find this big-picture view to be filtering of the true insight into the portrait at hand; Borman doesn’t pretend to have more information than she justly has and neither does she overdraw on speculation. Although this cuts back on the intimacy, it still opens up the world of Matilda.

Borman’s writing style is eloquent, well-spoken, and has a driving pace while also containing an ample amount of research and archive-study undertones. Her narrative is easy-to-read (similar to Alison Weir who is Borman’s friend and contemporary) but with more detective sleuthing. “Queen of the Conqueror” debunks and explains various opposing views and sources surrounding Matilda and is therefore not simply a re-telling of events.

Despite this exciting driving force, a large chunk of the beginning of “Queen of the Conquerer” could be described as slow, as it merely describes political events involving William and somewhat tedious details of what their home “would have looked like”. I found myself not really getting to know Matilda and waiting for “something to happen”. Often times, the book simply doesn’t feel like it is about Matilda, at all.

Although Borman’s tone and ability to make history inviting is invigorating; “Queen of the Conqueror” continues to maintain a political feel, encompassing William more than Matilda (although a pleasant surprise was the lack of a million page coverage on the Battle of Hastings). When Borman does regard Matilda, the exposure seems superficial describing feasts, social pursuits, or other recreational aspects. Other times, Borman merely focuses on vague 11th century life, in general.

Somewhat limiting was Borman’s constant reference to the poem, “Beowulf”. I have an issue with history authors who use poems as references for historical life (some use “The Canterbury Tales”). For those readers seeking a more gossip-y and social history versus that of a political view; “Queen of the Conqueror” becomes increasingly fulfilling three-quarters of the way through, focusing on Matilda’s fidelity (or rumored lack thereof) and her son’s rebellion against William. Gripping and encouraging page-turning, this comes too late in the book and is more of what I was expecting throughout (i.e. more Matilda drama).

Unfortunately, the ending felt weak and didn’t fully encompass the worth of a woman who all British sovereigns descend from and was the first crowned queen of England.

Although I enjoy Borman’s writing style (and applaud her notes and bibliography); “Queen of the Conqueror” failed to provide an intimate portrait of Matilda (Note: I would read Borman’s other works, and plan to). The book is suggested for an overall look into Matilda and William’s world.
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Dec 24, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, medieval-history

A biography of Matilda of Flanders is one of the things I have been hoping for, for many years. Tracy Borman has written a very good book which would appeal to a wide-ranging audience. I highly enjoyed it.

There are a few things which may surprise people - for example that Judith, wife of Tostig Godwineson, may have been Matilda's aunt and not her sister as has been assumed for years. I am not entirely convinced by many of the Brihtric stories that form part of Matilda's legend, and I would have...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Xenia0201 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was one shrewd woman who knew how to play for political and personal gain. The level of power Matilda achieved was unheard of for her gender and reflects how she had come to be respected by her subjects and peers. Borman did an excellent job researching subject matter almost 1000 years old - amazing how much information still survives. I was pleased with the amount of material presented - lots of lesser known facts and detailed accounts surrounding Matilda, William and their children drawn...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, non-fiction

I was quite enjoying this -- a lot of research seems to have gone into it, but there are significant problems too. Borman doesn't seem to have known how to be selective with her sources; she repeats myths as if they're true and only then explains the dubious provenance of the story -- and she still uses it as part of her narrative, suggesting that it may reflect elements of the truth.

Matilda was surely a formidable woman, and at its best this work shows us that side of her, the woman who was dec...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Suzan Poisner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found this to be a well written, fact-based story about the life of an influential woman whose actions shaped a large part of Europe. It is colorfully told via fact, rumor, and a combination thereof. I especially enjoyed the way the author included external stories and explained how they related to (and shaped) Matilda, the first Queen of England.

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May 14, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, non-fiction, history, england, france, europe, first-reads

I won this book through the First Reads program on Goodreads. It is an advance uncorrected proof copy, therefore there were odd typographical errors and typesetting issues that were no doubt fixed in the final version. These problems in no way detracted from the excellent work. Fans of Alison Weir will especially enjoy this book. It is both a scholarly and a popular biography. I don't want to mislead anyone, this is not an easy read. I referred to the notes at the end repeatedly to gain extra un...more

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About Tracy Borman

Tracey Borman is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth's Women.

Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where...more

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Books by Tracy Borman

Elizabeth's Women: Friends, Rivals, and Foes Who Shaped the Virgin Queen

Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress, Queen's Servant

Matilda: Wife of the Conqueror, First Queen of England

Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen

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