Editing Empress Matilda (section)

== Early life ==
Matilda was born to [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], King of England and [[Duke of Normandy]], and his first wife, [[Matilda of Scotland]], possibly on 7 February 1102 at [[Sutton Courtenay]], in Berkshire.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=8–9}}</ref>{{refn|Matilda's date of birth was not recorded at the time and can only be estimated by later chroniclers' statements about her age. Older histories suggested that Matilda of Scotland gave birth to a child in the city of Winchester in July 1101. These were based on the writings of the chronicler [[Wace]]; current scholarship, based on the records of the Queen's travels, considers this account to have been impossible, and places Matilda of Scotland at Sutton Courtenay in early February 1102, where the Empress Matilda was probably born.<ref name="Chibnall 1991 9">{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|p=9}}</ref>|group="nb"}} Henry was the youngest son of [[William the Conqueror]], who had invaded England in 1066, creating an empire stretching into Wales. The invasion had created an [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] elite, many with estates spread across both sides of the [[English Channel]].<ref>{{harvnb|Newman|1988|pp=21–22}}; {{harvnb|Carpenter|2004|pp=125–126}}</ref> These barons typically had close links to the [[Kingdom of France]], which was then a loose collection of counties and smaller polities, under only the minimal control of the French king.<ref>{{harvnb|Hallam|Everard|2001|pp=62–64, 114–118}}</ref> Her mother Matilda was the daughter of [[Malcolm III of Scotland]] and [[Margaret of Wessex]], a member of the West Saxon royal family, and a descendant of [[Alfred the Great]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=126–127}}</ref> For Henry I, marrying Matilda of Scotland had given his reign increased legitimacy, and for her it had been an opportunity for high status and power in England.<ref>{{harvnb|Hollister|2003|pp=127–128}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2003|p=137}}</ref>

Matilda had a younger, legitimate brother, [[William Adelin]], and her father's relationships with numerous mistresses resulted in around 22 illegitimate siblings.{{refn|Historians have debated whether William Adelin was Matilda's younger brother or her twin. The historian [[Marjorie Chibnall]] has argued against the theory of the siblings being twins, citing various reasons, including [[William of Malmesbury]] stating they were born on different dates, and the timing of congratulatory messages from the pope. Matilda's father, Henry, had a considerable sexual appetite and enjoyed a substantial number of sexual partners, resulting in a large number of illegitimate children, at least nine sons and 13 daughters, many of whom he appears to have recognised and supported.<ref name="Chibnall 1991 9"/>|group="nb"}} Little is known about Matilda's earliest life, but she probably stayed with her mother, was taught to read, and was educated in religious morals.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=9–10}}; {{cite web | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/18338 | title=Matilda [Matilda of England] (1102–1167), Empress, Consort of Heinrich V |mode=cs2| access-date=22 December 2013 | last1= Chibnall| first1= Marjorie | website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year = 2004–2013 }}</ref>{{refn|The broadcaster and author [[Nesta Pain]] argues, however, that Matilda was educated by the nuns of [[Wilton Abbey]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Pain|1978|p=7}}</ref>|group="nb"}} Among the nobles at the English court were her uncle [[David I of Scotland|David]], later the king of Scotland, and aspiring nobles such as her illegitimate half-brother [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]], her cousin [[Stephen of Blois]] and [[Brian Fitz Count]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=12–13}}</ref> In 1108, Henry left Matilda and William Adelin in the care of [[Anselm of Canterbury|Anselm]], the [[archbishop of Canterbury]], while he travelled to Normandy; Anselm was a favoured cleric of Matilda's mother.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=13–14}}; {{cite web | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/18338 | title=Matilda [Matilda of England] (1102–1167), Empress, Consort of Heinrich V |mode=cs2| access-date=22 December 2013 | last1= Chibnall| first1= Marjorie | website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year = 2004–2013 }}</ref> There is no detailed description of Matilda's appearance; contemporaries described Matilda as being very beautiful, but this may have simply reflected the conventional practice among the chroniclers.<ref name=ODNB>{{cite web | url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/18338 | title=Matilda [Matilda of England] (1102–1167), Empress, Consort of Heinrich V |mode=cs2| access-date=22 December 2013 | last1= Chibnall| first1= Marjorie | website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher=Oxford University Press | year = 2004–2013 }}</ref>