Mathilda of Flanders

Mathilda of Flanders (c. 1031–1083) was the wife of William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England. She played a crucial role in the Norman Conquest and the establishment of Norman rule in England after 1066. Mathilda was known for her strong character and influence in both political and cultural matters. As a patron of the arts and church, she shaped the medieval landscape of England. Their marriage united Norman and Anglo-Saxon nobility, and she was the mother of several important children, including King Henry I of England, further solidifying her family's legacy in European history.