"She Wolves" The Empress Matilda and Eleanor of Aquitaine

Responding to "Paul Trevor Bale" who posted "She Wolves" / Thu Mar 15, 2012

I was interested to learn Paul Trevor Bale's information that the BBC has put together Matilda and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He writes "I would argue that had Eleanor of Acquitaine been in Matilda's place things would have been very different, as it was the character and intelligence of the women involved rather than their sex."

Responding, I feel qualified to take Eleanor's part here, having spent much too long writing her memoirs into my book "Power of a Woman..." Here is Eleanor's account of her first meeting with Matilda:

"In contrast, Henry's mother nurtured a very different complement of humours. Matilda Empress, as she styled herself, was born of Matilda of Scotland and contracted in marriage to the holy Roman emperor, who also ruled Saxony. The court intrigues of Aachen had tempered Matilda to hard steel. There was not a man whose measure she could not assess. Matilda was articulate, educated, a patron to practical men and practical policies, and above all she was the counsellor who held and commanded Henry's ear. Whatever Matilda suggested --or do I mean "commanded"? --had much to commend it.

This was the woman whose confidence I had to win. Despite initial trepidation on my part – the lady had a reputation to be feared --we became allies, even confidants. Although it must be said that I confided more than she. Friendship is too strong a word. But, in a short time I came to command her respect.

Matilda's approach to command was closer to what I observed as a girl in Poitou than as a queen cloistered in Paris. There the similarity ended. Father was for ever fighting his vassals--how hot-headed he now seems--whereas the Angevins strove to command loyalty by holding inducements within sniff of men's noses, as if using meat to train dogs. Better the meat than a beating! By which I mean it is better to train a man to loyalty by trailing promises than to drive him to fear and treachery through punishments.

Matilda was--did I say steel?--nay, harder than steel: she was as garnet. Less hotheaded than I in my thirty-one years to that time, but a lady of great merit. I think our outlook on power shared the same pod.

I recall our first meeting. She sat, enthroned in royal purple as befitted her rank, hoping to test me. Henry presented me. Matilda did not speak and would not take her eyes off me. She tried to stare me down. So I stared back, my green eyes confronting hers: they were as dark as a Scottish winter. Clergy, notables and women stood arrayed on either side of her, for all the world as if I were a tattered juggler thrown a coin and told to entertain.

So I did. How many heartbeats passed before I spoke, I know not. Ten, eleven Perhaps the span of a Paternoster. There we were, a spear-length apart, staring like cats across a mouse. Not a figure in the company moved. She had planned this odd greeting. That much was clear.

When it was obvious that I must speak first, I said: "Madam, protocol dictates that you should give the first word. However, since shyness ties your tongue, permit me to say that I am honoured to be the vessel who will give you grandchildren."

She held her peace for the span of an Ave Maria. Then, laughing, she reached both hands to greet me. "Aleänor," she replied, "come here beside me."

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I subsequently got so fed up with marketing Eleanor (and Richard III) that I wrote the following letter and stuck it on my Elenor web site (eleanor.robertfripp.ca), where it remains:

" An author's plea to his character:

Eleanor, I have lived with you for nearly ten years. I rise and fall with your moods; I calm you in troubled times. In your youth and in age you were my mistress for nearly a decade. Now, please heed your author: I say we should both move on! [Para.] Rest in memory on your book page, and celebrate your life in your book. Let it speak to others about your indomitable spirit, and strength. Above all, be content! Let us hope you and I can go forward, apart. / Robert Fripp"

That's it from me for now.

Robert Fripp