This is Sleepy History.

Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios.

To listen ad free, get access to bonus episodes, and support the ongoing production of this show. Check out our premium feed.

This is the sleepy history of Matilda of Scotland, narrated by Jessica Gersel

Written by Alicia Stefan

There's no denying that pop culture has a soft spot for history's most illustrious kings and queens.

But there are many fascinating royals who have not enjoyed quite the same level of modern exposure,

like Queen Matilda of Scotland.

Who was this woman who built hospitals and bridges

and whose education surpassed that of many men of her time?

It was an era when few people could write their memoirs and their history was not

diligently recorded by many at court. Despite this, we'll delve into what we do know.

So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of Matilda of Scotland. She was a queen some now classify as forgotten.

Her birth name was Edith of Dunfermline, but she is more commonly known as Matilda of Scotland, wife of King Henry I. Christened in the year 1080, she lived only to the age of 37.

But in that time, she made an indelible mark on history.

In an era when women had few choices or opportunities in life, she nonetheless acquired

more education than most men, going on to use her intelligence and powerful position to do good works for the people of England.

In the process, she won many hearts and unified a divided country.

At her christening in 1080, baby Edith reportedly tugged on her godmother's veil.

The godmother in question was not an ordinary woman.

In fact, she was Matilda of Flanders, who was the wife of William the Conqueror.

And this little baby tug was considered by some people to be a sign that Edith would one day be a queen. For Edith, that prediction was not terribly far-fetched.

...