Page 12 - Illustrated Reditch History
P. 12

A Princess Is Born










         Just over 900 years ago, in 1102, in a tiny village near
         Oxford,  a  princess  was  born.  Her  father  was  the
         mighty Henry I, who was not only King of England but
         also king of part of France. She was named Matilda
         after her mother, a Scottish queen. The precious baby
         was wrapped firmly in finest linen  and laid in a cradle
         in a dark corner so that the light would not hurt her
         eyes. No expense was spared on her upbringing. She
         ate the tastiest food, was taught by the best tutors,
         watched the best entertainment and wore silks and
         velvets in the loveliest of colours.
         However, the life of a princess is not always a happy                                                         Princess drawn by Val Lewis
         one.  You cannot marry for love but for the good of
         your country. It is a princess’s duty to have children,
         especially a boy, so that the family will continue to
         rule the country.
         When  Matilda  was  only  eight  years  old  she  was
         engaged  to  be  married  to  a  man  who  was  sixteen
         years older - old enough to be her father. He was the
         most important man in Europe, the German Emperor.
         Henry  I  was  delighted  with  the  match.  No  enemy
         would  dare  to  confront  him  if  his  daughter  was
         engaged to the Emperor.

         Her world changed when she was twelve years old.
         She  was  sent  over  to  Germany  to  live  with  the
         Emperor. He wanted a bride who could speak German
         well, so her friends and ladies-in-waiting were sent
         back  home.  She  found  herself  living  in  a  strange
         country with different food and customs,   a language
         that she could not speak well and no friends. She was
         now known as The Empress.
         Because  the  princess  was  married  to  the  German
         Emperor, any son would have been king of Germany,
         England and part of France, but no baby was born.
         No doubt she consulted herbalists (who knew all about
         plants),  astrologists (who could predict events from
         the stars) and a team of wise men and women but no
         baby arrived. That was a disaster! After eleven years
         of marriage the Emperor died so she left Germany and
         returned home to a disappointed King Henry.
         However, she still kept her title and was known as
         ‘The Empress’. She helped to found Bordesley Abbey.





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