Editing Matilda of Tuscany (section)

== Co-rulership with her mother Beatrice ==
Matilda's bold decision to repudiate her husband came at a cost, but ensured her independence. Beatrice started preparing Matilda for rule as head of the House of Canossa by holding court jointly with her {{sfn|Villalon|2003|p=361}} and, eventually, encouraging her to issue charters under her own authority as countess (''comitissa'') and duchess (''ducatrix'').{{sfn|Hay|2008|p=44}} Both mother and daughter tried to be present throughout their territory. In what is now [[Emilia-Romagna]] their position was much more stable than in the southern Apennines, where they couldn't get their followers behind them despite rich donations. They therefore tried to act as guardians of justice and public order. Matilda's participation is mentioned in seven of the sixteen ''[[placitum|placita]]'' held by Beatrice. Supported by judges, Matilda had already held ''placitum'' placita alone.{{sfn|Goez|1995|p=33}} On 7 June 1072 Matilda and her mother presided over the court in favor of the [[Abbazia di San Salvatore|Abbey of San Salvatore]] in [[Monte Amiata]].{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=87}}{{sfn|Goez|Goez|1998|loc=n° 2}} On 8 February 1073, Matilda went to [[Lucca]] without her mother and presided over the court alone, where she made a donation in favor of the local Monastery of San Salvatore e Santa Giustina. At the instigation of the abbess Eritha, the monastery possessions in Lucca and Villanova near [[Serchio]] were secured by the King's ban (''Königsbann'').{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=87}}{{sfn|Goez|Goez|1998|loc=n° 7}} For the next six months Matilda's residence is not known, while her mother took part in the enthronement ceremony for Pope Gregory VII.

Matilda was introduced by her mother to numerous personalities in church reform, especially Pope Gregory VII. She had already met the future pope, then [[Archdeacon]] Hildebrand, in the 1060s. During 9–17 March 1074, she met him for the first time after his election as pope.{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=93}} He developed a special relationship of trust With Matilda and Beatrice, in the period that followed. However, Beatrice died on 18 April 1076. On 27 August 1077 Matilda donated her town of Scanello and other estates to the extent of 600 ''[[mansus]]'' near the court to Bishop [[Landulf (bishop of Pisa)|Landulf]] and the chapter of [[Pisa Cathedral]] as a soul device (''Seelgerät'') for her and her parents.{{sfn|Goez|2012|p=87}}{{sfn|Goez|Goez|1998|loc=n° 23}}

The deaths of both her husband and mother within two months considerably augmented Matilda's power. She now was the undisputed heir of all [[allodial land|lands alloted]]s to both her parents. Her inheritance could have been threatened had Godfrey the Hunchback survived her mother, but she now enjoyed the privileged status of a widow. It seemed unlikely, however, that Emperor Henry IV would formally invest her with the margraviate.{{sfn|Hay|2008|p=65}}