Surprising Facts About Matilda Of Scotland, Good Queen Maud
A Queen Of The People
Queen Matilda of Scotland etched her name in history as a generous and kind ruler, known for being uncommonly grounded for someone in her position—despite some not believing she had a right to it.
1. Her Father Was Royalty
Referred to as “Good Queen Maud,” Queen Matilda spent much of her life helping people, despite the lack of confidence thrown at her by a select few. She was born under the name Edith in 1080, later adopting the name Matilda. And although she wasn’t Queen yet, her father was Malcolm III—King of Scotland.
It wasn’t just her father who was of noble birth, however.
2. She Had An Impressive Lineage
Matilda’s father was the latest in a long line of Scottish monarchs, but her royal bloodline didn’t stop there. Her mother, Margaret of Wessex, was the granddaughter of King Edward Ironside of England, thus making Matilda the descendant of both an English and Scottish royal line.
Shortly after Matilda was born, she had her own signs of providence.
3. She Seemed Divinely Chosen
At Matilda’s baptism, the infant Queen-to-be foreshadowed her own ascendancy. As her godmother—Matilda of Flanders—stood by, Matilda pulled at her headdress, which many considered a sign that she would become Queen.
At the same time, she wasn’t the only woman in her family to receive the esteem of a higher power.
4. Her Mother Was More Than Royalty
Throughout history, many monarchs claimed to be God’s chosen rulers, but Matilda’s mother took it to another level. Margaret’s piety and charitable works were so revered that in 1250, the Catholic church canonized her as a Saint.
Still, she wasn’t always the most pleasant.
