Editing Empress Matilda (section)

==Later life==
[[File:BecketHenryII.jpg|thumb|alt=Picture of Henry II and Thomas Becket|Early 14th-century representation of Henry II and [[Thomas Becket]], arguing]]
Matilda spent the rest of her life in Normandy, often acting as Henry's representative and presiding over the government of the Duchy.<ref name=Chibnall1991PP158159>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=158–159}}</ref> Early on, Matilda and her son issued charters in England and Normandy in their joint names, dealing with the various land claims that had arisen during the wars.<ref name=Chibnall1991PP158159/> Particularly in the initial years of his reign, the King drew on her for advice on policy matters.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=162–163}}</ref> Matilda was involved in attempts to mediate between Henry and his Chancellor [[Thomas Becket]] when the two men fell out in the 1160s.<ref name=ODNB/> Matilda had originally cautioned against the appointment, but when the Prior of Mont St Jacques asked her for a private interview on Becket's behalf to seek her views, she provided a moderate perspective on the problem.<ref name=ODNB/> Matilda explained that she disagreed with Henry's attempts to codify English customs, which Becket opposed as well, but also condemned poor administration in the English Church and Becket's own headstrong behaviour.<ref name=ODNB/>

Matilda helped to deal with several diplomatic crises. The first of these involved the Hand of St James, the relic which Matilda had brought back with her from Germany many years before.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|pp=164–165}}</ref> [[Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I]] considered the hand to be part of the imperial regalia and requested that Henry return it to Germany.<ref name=Chibnall1991P165>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|p=165}}</ref> Matilda and Henry were equally insistent that it should remain at Reading Abbey, where it had become a popular attraction for visiting pilgrims.<ref name=Chibnall1991P165/> Frederick was bought off with an alternative set of expensive gifts from England, including a huge, luxurious tent, probably chosen by Matilda, which Frederick used for court events in Italy.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|p=165}}; {{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> She was also approached by Louis VII of France in 1164, and helped to defuse a growing diplomatic row over the handling of Crusading funds.<ref name=ODNB/>

In her old age Matilda paid increasing attention to Church affairs and her personal faith, although she remained involved in governing Normandy throughout her life.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|p=166}}; {{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> Matilda appears to have had particular fondness for her youngest son William.<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1999|p=288}}</ref> She opposed Henry's proposal in 1155 to invade Ireland and give the lands to William, however, possibly on the grounds that the project was impractical, and instead William received large grants of land in England.<ref name="ODNB"/> Matilda was more easy-going in her later life than in her youth, but the chronicler of Mont St Jacques, who met her during this period, still felt that she appeared to be "of the stock of tyrants".<ref>{{Harvnb|Chibnall|1991|p=204}}; {{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>