There are more than one ways to look at England. There is the land and the actual country. I suppose Athelstan actually created England. That would make Maude, daughter of HenryII, the first Queen.
@@AnnHutchinson-ki4oq we count Alfred the Great as the first king of England even though England did not exist yet. He was the one with the vision of a united England.
Absolutely. The coronation in itself is not what makes you king/queen. That is just means of religious recognition and if I would be too pedantic, the entity giving that recognition changed with the reformation, so monarchs crowned by the church of England, would not be recognized by the church of Rome which was the original entity. In short... Absolutely Mathilda.
@@TheAlchaemist Mathilda's own son also had his eldest son coronated 'Henry the Young King' whilst he was still living. Henry Pre-deceased him, and so, although he was officially crowned king, is not recognised as such so not even a Coronation is a rock solid guarantee.
@autumnwitchcraft Always wondered why the Angevin Co-monarchy wasn't counted? Perhaps even though the Young King Henry had de jure authority, but in reality his Dad still had de facto power throughout the Younger's "reign" if you can call it that?
@@ToastieBRRRNI have always thought this was due to the fact that, it just wasn’t something the English court ever had done. We did not have the Prince of Wales title either. Which is how we know, who the heir is today. Also it was a way of avoiding another episode of the Anarchy. This was before primogeniture, so naming your heir in advance, which was incredibly important. That has always been my explanation, anyway.
And he also wasn't childless, it was just that his son Eustace died before him, and he wasn't likely to have any more children, so to end the conflict he named Henry hi heir. Matilda definitely for the win though :)
True, he was her cousin but he's still a lying scumbag as he did swear allegiance to her in front of Henry 1 and his nobles and then went back on that as soon as Henry died. I'm actually surprised at his level of support considering he went back on a vow but I guess male chauvinists were willing to overlook that!!
@@jacquiross5290 he did have another son William who he probably wanted to tae the role. But there just wasn't enough time to shore up support for him before Stephen died
@@shannonwolff2599 This was an era when to be a good king was to be good in battle, so you can get why they don't want a female ruler. Apparently, he had much better interpersonal skills than her. She apparently was very arrogant, where he was personable, and people thought it was ridiculous that she was still styling herself as Empress. Not to mention, Stephen had holdings in England and lived there while she was a French Duchess who had been Empress of a German land. Thirdly, her second husband ruled Anjou and was a total jerk about it, so people feared his influence. Her father should have arranged her second marriage to an English nobleman probably.
I think another reason Matilda struggled to take power, besides sexism, was that she had a less advantageous power base compared to Stephen. She spent most of her early life abroad in the Holy Roman Empire. Whereas Stephen, had holdings in England and the county of Boulogne (through marriage) and was well known in the court of King Henry. Plus when Matilda came back to Henry's court, she got married off to the Angevin Duke. Where the Normans lords were rivals/somewhat hostile to the Angevins. Overall, it was the wrong time and wrong place. Had not her Dad die from eating too many Lampreys (possibly food poisoning) and that she wasn't located far away in Anjou. She know doubt would've been Queen, defacto over all England and beaten Stephen to the punch.
Yes, it’s not like any men with claims to thrones ever challenged other men with equally strong or tenuous claims to the throne. If feminism is the hammer then every nail is sexist.
She also suffered from the same thing her uncle Robert of Normandy did: her rival got there first (Henry I in Robert's case, Stephen in Matilda's). Both Henry and Stephen were in England at the time the previous English King died, while Robert and Matilda were in France. Possession is, as they say, nine tenths of the law.
Mary I was the first undisputed Queen to rule in her own right. You could argue that both the Empress Maud and Lady Jane Grey were Queens before her, but they never had complete control of the country, nor were they ever crowned
How is that different from Edward V? He was never crowned and never had any control of the country. What is the difference then? Seriously want to know.
I regard Aethelflaed, King Alfred's daughter as the first queen of England, can't believe she wasn't mentioned in the program. She was a remarkable political and military leader, and played a huge part in defeating the Danes. She also oversaw the rebuilding of many towns after re-taking them from the Danes. With the re-taking of York, most of what is now England was under her control.
Certainly , she had all the qualities and nobility required for the title, but she was known as the "Lady of Mercia". Somewhere I read that the Anglo-Saxon kings did not automatically assign the title of Queen to the king's wife; an exception being Offa and Charlemagne, who required his daughter to receive the title. It all fell through anyhow. I wish we knew more about Aethelflaed and Elfwynn. I'm still trying to love the Normans. . . restyled Viking thugs that they were.
@@susanalopezcarballo1102 Then it would her Elizabeth's older half-sister Mary 1 - making Elizabeth the second Ruling Queen. I say Matilda fits best as she ruled in her own name - crowned or not.
I am amazed how many British on the streets thought QE1 was first queen, and yet a guy with a non-British continental accent knew more than most people and then we had someone with a North American accent sort it out for us.
Poor education in the UK for many. Standards have lowered and lowered for decades, for many reasons, so what used to be expected of pupils is now not even attempted in state schools. Also, in many homes education is sn't valued or encouraged beyond what's necessary for exams.
It's kind of like me with American history. I suck at it😂 I know way more about English history, even though I'm American 😂 It's often much more fun to learn about the history of somewhere exotic than what is in your face.
I'm an American, and I correctly guessed Empress Maud (Matilda) -- but mostly because I remember watching Cadfael's "One Corpse Too Many," and I had read Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" (and watched the TV miniseries).
King Stephen was crowned , 22 Dec 1135, His wife. was Queen Matilda, following the death of Henry I, the son of william I (the Conqueror). Empress Matilda, also known as Maud to distinguish her from Stephen's wife, had been the next in line and there was a civil war known as the Anarchy from 1135 to 1158. It was eventually agreed that Henry II would succeed Stephen. Sharon K. Penman wrote 'When Christ and His Saints Slept' which fleshes out the hiistory of that period , The Brother Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters covers the same era
I agree, although I was a bit disappointed to hear her call Stephen Matilda's uncle. He was her first cousin. She had no uncle, as he had died in the White Ship disaster.
Well, Boudicca was queen of an alliance of Britons , but way too early for it to be England. The Anglo-Saxons had yet to arrive. Still, gotta love her for her defiance of Rome. Tragic fate as well.
@@jujutrini8412he didn’t resent his mother. As far as I know he was very respectful and very much aware that the position he gained was thanks to his mother.
@@jujutrini8412 John was in constant conflict with his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of HenryII. John wanted the throne held by his brother, Richard Couer de Lion. Eleanor held the throne for Richard until his death in 1199. John spent Richard’s entire reign conspiring against him and succeeded him after his death. He is remembered as one of the worst kings in British history. John could not control the various Angevin factions. He could not control his barons and was forced to accept Magna Carta. I remember having to memorize a poem back in elementary school, John, John, bad King John, shamed the throne that he sat on. Not a penny not a ( something) cared this monarch for the law. Promises he daily broke. After that I forget but that poem created my early impression of John. I do remember “so the barons brought a deed, down to rushing Runnymede, Magna Carta was it hite, charter of the people’s right” Just more useless trivia.
@@nbenefiel I always remember bad King John! Thanks for bringing that poem back to my memory. We learned it at school as well but I had totally forgotten.😂
Stephen (who was Matilda's first cousin not uncle) was not childless. His oldest son Eustace died before him but when Stephen died, Marie, William and Gervase were still alive and possible claimants. Henry FitzEmpress, however, had been named by Stephen, and had a better army, so he became Henry II. His father, Geoffrey of Anjou, had the broom plant as his emblem. The plant was called "planta genista" and it is from that that we get the name of the dynasty that ruled England until 1485, Plantagenet.
Thank you! Just got to the part of the video where she was talking about that and was hoping someone said something. "Childless uncle" took the throne because "men are crap." 🙄
I literally yelled at the screen “What about Eustace?” 😂 Am I correct in assuming that Eustace was still alive when the agreement was made that Henry would be named King when Stephen fell off the twig?
I am comforted to learn that there are young people who know about more than just the Kardashians. There is hope for this country after all. Very interesting video.
While I'm not particularly young, I've never watched that show, nor do I ever intend to. I did, however, just finish watching documentaries on the entire English/British royalty, and my first thought was Matilda.
Dr Janega's scholarship is always impeccable. My lone complaint about her is her pronunciation of the single word France. It comes off as pretentious and an unnecessary affectation. She's obviously not a Brit and there's no reason to imitate them for one word. Yes I'm being pedantic 😂
@denisecampbell3416 It's so funny that you say that because I was going to comment on Dr. Janega's speech pattern as well. I watch a LOT of Eleanor's content, along with English and British history content in general, so am quite acquainted with hearing the accents and her specific manner of speaking. But yes, there are some words that she pronounces with a distinctly British inflection and I assume it's because of repeated exposure. I find it happening to myself too, especially with names. I think it's endearing to hear these little subtleties coming out of her 😊
As others pointed out, Stephen of Blois was Matilda's cousin, not her uncle. He also wasn't childless. His older son, Eustace, died, but William was still alive when Stephen died. England and Normandy and their ruling families had been so devastated by the civil war between Matilda and Stephen that Stephen and his brother, Henry, agreed to a peace treaty which named Henry FitzEmpress, Matilda's son, as Stephen's heir. (Also, as much as I enjoyed the liveliness of this exchange and the support for Matilda, Matilda probably didn't just agree to set Stephen free in exchange for the freedom of her half-brother, Roger, because she was "nice.") Because of the deeply ingrained sexism of the time, because of Matilda's perceived arrogance, because of his long-standing relations with important nobles, Roger was essential to her being able to keep nobles loyal to her in the ongoing civil war. She had to have him free to support her. It must have been a very tough exchange for both sides.
Nah, You can't have 2 people rulering the country at the same time....doh, its like calling all the party leading prime minister during the elections .........THE ONE WITH THE MOST BACKER WON
Aelfthryth was Queen indeed, and quite a good one, but she was Queen of Mercia. No country called 'England' existed in her life, most people probably didn't even recognize the existence of a place called England, and several other monarchs ruled other parts of what is now England. Edit: I meant Æthelflæd, darn it. Ælfthryth was decades later.
I'm going with Matilda. She kept Stephen on the run and naming her son as heir, was an admission she was the queen. showed she was the Queen. Yeah, Mary I is likely the candidate but with Matilda it was basically theft of the crown.
Actually it seems like the opposite, Stephen agreed to Henry as his heir due to Henry acknowledging Stephen as king. An agreement to end the war and appease both sides, Matilda just kind of gave up.
Although did Matilda become the heir by theft of the crown by her father from her aunt (Stephen's mother) who was the oldest surviving child with issue of William the Conqueror.
Had nothing to do with recognizing her as Queen. It was because his heir died and had no official heir at the time and Henry (her son) had come to England in his own right and was going to take the thrown by force if Stephen didn't strike a deal to prevent it.
"I choose Matilda because men don't tell me what to do" - The most scholarly judgement that I've ever heard. BTW the overwhelming consensus is that Mary I was the first queen in own right.
true but she was asked for the historian's expert opinion, not the consensus. if she wanted a concensus of what the general population thinks she could've just googled it
I had answered Matilda when the question was first asked and I am sticking to it now as well. Mary was the first UNDISPUTED Queen of England but not the first Queen I feel.
Re: Jane Grey, it must be noted that Henry VIII had made his daughters Mary and Elizabeth bastards when he annulled his first marriage and ended his second by convicting his wife of treason. In two different Acts Henry displaced his daughters, while a third Act restored them to the line of succession after Edward and any legitimate children yet to be born to the King by his ultimate wife Katherine Paar, but before the descendants of the King’s two sisters, Mary Brandon and Margaret Stewart. When Edward VI lay dying on his own deathbed, he amended the order of succession in his own will to once again exclude his half sisters Mary and Elizabeth, naming the eldest granddaughter of his late aunt Mary Brandon as his successor - Lady Jane Dudley, born Jane Grey. This was registered as an official act and signed by every member of his Privy Council and several key bishops. When his death was announced, Jane’s ascension was proclaimed by the court heralds. Jane was moved to the Tower to await her coronation. Mary, however was already on the march towards London at the head of an enormous force prepared to lay siege to London and starve the entire city to death or submission not just to Mary, Queen of England, but to the Blessed Mary, Virgin Queen of Heaven. Catholicism was returning with a vengeance and at a high cost, therefore those placed within the gates of the city to hold it for Queen Jane instead unlocked the gates and held them open to welcome Queen Mary. At first Mary took pity on the girl and committed to spare her, but her father/in-law’s role in fomenting the Watts rebellion to remove Mary and restore Jane backfired and sealed the fates of both Jane and her husband, Guildford Dudley. So was Jane ever really Queen? According to the late king, his privy council, and several bishops of the Church of England she was; it wasn’t she who dismissed Mary and Elizabeth, it was the late Edward VI acting in his rightful capacity and with past precedent dating to the reign of Henry VIII to substantiate his decision to revert the succession to the original amendment as a means of protecting the Church of England from dissolution. What propelled Mary and jettisoned Jane was not a superior legal argument, but a superior show of manpower and dread of terrible consequences. If for no other reason than the role of pawn she was forced to play unwillingly, I think at the very least Jane is owed that distinction for the nine days she was forced to bear the ultimate responsibility and pay the ultimate price for the vicissitudes of kings and prelates who used women as chess pieces in a game of conflicting loyalty and ambition.
How do you account for bypassing Jane's own mother, who should more naturally have been Edward's heir? Contemporary accounts suggest Jane's claims were illegitimate solely on that front.
'Men are crap'... it feels bad because it is not really based on facts, and if a man would use this type of argument for women, 'Women are crap'... something would explode.
Yes something did explode that is how women fighting for equal rights started, btw I don't think men are crap but I think many men like you take all this too personally for some reason known only to yourself and your many, mang GFs!
Its a very low-resolution argument, I agree. Bit of a boss babe episode this one, much preferred the Kings episode. You can acknowledge the thinking of the time without having to put some daft feminist spin on things
I agree. While this argument has its merits in some situations, it its a bit ridiculous here. While men may be obsolete sometime in the future due to science, they were still absolutely necessary 1,000 years ago, and to act as if they were not is absurd.
@@AceEagle9898 Women were good at the job cos the job needed doing! Men and women were not thought of so different .. Both worked hard and ruled hard. Sometime between dawn of man and the christian Bible, 80% of records of women's achievements were eradicated or assumed to be by men. And that's not a feminist spin just fact. I'd love to read history without the biases wouldn't you! Somehow I think a lot of men were overlooked and their achievements claimed by others too
Such fun. This is how history should be introduced to children. It is great to see women's history presented in such a positive way. So refreshing to see women in history being discussed in this way as people with their own power and agency. Brings women right into the spotlight.
The "first Queen Regnant"? By her dear papa's intention, then it'd be "the Empress Matilda", though she never ruled all England uncontested (though nor really did her opponent, her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Though he did have a coronation). The first Queen who did manage to do so was Henry VIII's eldest daughter, Mary I. By almost immediately supplanting her late brother's preferred heir, Lady Jane Grey, and ruling unchallenged for about 5yrs.
regardless of the outcome, some thing stands completely true- Dr. Eleanor Jane completely rocks. Her ability to bring English history alive and make it digestible is awe inspiring.
I was thinking Aethelflaeda, I guess its all about definitions of what we think of as England and Monarchy today. What it iteration of "England" are we talking about? Technically Mary I from a modern stand point. It's a bit of a trick question without that qualifying information.
I never miss an opportunity to big up Æthelflæd's achievements! But she didn't rule England. Still I'd love to hear Dr Janega do a piece on her. Please HH?
YESSSS!! I've been yelling that at the screen throughout the whole program!! If Alfred the Great was considered the first king of England, then his daughter should be considered the first queen.
So, spontaneously my first guess was Mathilda, but I’m Swedish so what do I know - but not such a bad candidate after all! The credit goes to the Brother Cadfael crime novels, set in the period of war between Mathilda and Stephen 😊
Ellis Peters is on Stephen’s side though, and (rude) she calls the Empress Matilda Maud because Stephen’s wife was also a Matilda (Matilda being the 12thC equivalent of Ædgyfu in Royal names, apparently - popular). Don’t know about you, but I’m reassessing that take based on this video 😂. Go Matilda!! According to wiki, the civil war between Stephen and Matilda is called the Anarchy.
My goodness, I'm impressed so many other nationalities know of Matilda (wherever they learned of our history). I know nothing at all about Swedish royalty, I'm embarrassed to say - just a little each of French, German, Spanish, and Dutch royalty (and all that from a few TV series that have come my way).
🤣🤣 at 3.05, " biggest difference between a King and a Queen ." Reply, " Ooh thats a hard one. " ""CORRECT"" 🤣🤣 Sorry, couldn't resist it. Great videp. 👍
They even named a Tank after her, Matilda II which was referred to as the Queen of the Desert for its role in the North African campaigns with the 8th Army against the Italians and the German Afrika Corps
Lol, did that guy say about Boudicca "She tore up London a bit like I like to?" I just don't see him burning and looting. But maybe I should be more afraid. I do respect that she is the only queen he recognizes.
I understood the reason why Matilda wasn't crowned when she visited London for that purpose was she was so haughty and arrogant she turned too many important people against her. Even so she was definitely a queen because the accession to the throne takes place at the moment the previous king or queen dies. It is an English legal requirement that a coronation ceremony takes place some time after the accession, that all. That is also why Lady Jane Grey is nearly always included on lists of English monarchs.
Totally agree! We shouldn't forget that Edward viii was never crowned, but no one disputes that he was king. As you say, a monarch becomes the monarch on the death of the previous incumbent. I suppose it all comes down to whether a monarch has the right to name their successor and skip the "normal" succession customs.
I am a bit confused by the expert who seems to just be going on about sexism which is not what historians should do at least in public. I think it's one of those unwritten rules about not using modern day values when talking about the past. I agree that Matilda should be considered the first queen of England on her own merit
I agree. Especially as the requirements of a monarch were so different then. Kings were meant to lead armies into war and women were simply just not as strong, not as conditioned for that and had responsibilities in childbearing.
Especially when she starts talking authoritatively about Boadicea who we know very little about. And called the Romans fascists in a time period where that doesn't even mean anything. I was forgiving some of the stuff before that as just her being playful. She has a fun personality but I don't think I can really trust her editorializing as being in good faith.
Her assertion that the feud was only because she "didn't have the right junk" is silly. Any historian worth their salt knows that hundreds of times throughout history people have pledged fealty when the old ruler was still alive only to seek their own advantages once the old ruler died.
@@stevewagner7507 I think she would have been accepted as heir if she were male. But the fact is, if she were male she would have been given the qualities and background required for a king. It wasn't just "do you have a vagine or a penis?" but, what is it about having a penis that makes you more ideal for the role. Then add in the things like Stephen having lands and a residence in England and Matilda having no English interests and that's just the cherry on top.
@@LosPeregrinos51 Nope , none .I loved dances , I got hooked , like a drug , it was . Take the Hokey Cokey, I got hooked on that , but I managed to turn myself around .
Depends on what you mean by Queen, England and “in her own right.” If it’s “Queen of the English”, then it’s AElfgifu, first wife of Edmund I. If it’s first “Queen of England,” then it’s Emma of Normandy, wife of Cnut. If it’s “first Queen to rule in her own right,” then the disputed answer is Empress Mathilda/Maud, daughter of Henry I. If it’s “first acclaimed Queen regnant of England” then it’s Mary I, but as a good Catholic she ruled alongside her husband Philip II of Spain. Her half-sister Elizabeth was the first Queen Regnant to rule alone in her own right, although under the condition she never marry. Anne was actually the first married Queen of England to rule completely alone.
AETHELFLAED was daughter of Alfred THe Great and wife of AEthelred who died and she took power of Mercia in England. Maybe not all England but still a Queen on the Isle of Britain. Mary was toad and died of cancer . Burned a lotta innocent folks for being the established religion of England. Best thing Henry 8 did was kick corporate corrupt Rome outta ENGLAND . THANK GOD Elizabeth regained that after Mary croaked .
@@gussiejives But we've already disqualified all the Queen consorts from the primary discussion, so a King consort doesn't count either. Phillip wisely never attempted to wield any power in England.
Boudicca for me! First trip to London with my dad to his office (clue: 1961) and then he took me to some of London's Roman remains. I thought he had arranged the marching centurions specially for me. but, no - 1900'th anniversary of the revolt. So much fun for a 5 year old!
Except that England did not exist as a political identity then. Boudica's tale is also a fable embellished by two Roman historians. God knows what really happened during the Iceni revolt. We only have the Roman's word that it was the Iceni that burnt down Colchester and London. It could just as easily been mutinous Romans and the rebellion was covered up.
I can understand not including Æthelflæd because this is specifically about England, but including Boudica (who we actually don't know that much concrete information about), who lived long before the concept of "Englaland" even existed, whereas Æthelflæd was a key figure during the creation of "Englaland", throws that logic out of the window. Because of Boudica's inclusion I'm actually quite flabbergasted Æthelflæd didn't even get a mention. They could have at least hired one actor to act as a bystander to mention her to just have the opportunity to include her. She was a Queen Regnant, in all but name, of a piece of land that was culturally Saxon, and therefore, "English" and that achievement definitely deserves at least a mention among the rest of these women in my opinion! On the video itself I agree and am happy with Matilda being chosen as the first queen. She did rule England for a period of time and we count male regents as accepted monarchs who were never crowned (Edward V / Edward VIII) so because of these factors I think you have to give it to her. She was a Queen of England and THE first Queen of England.
What’s really weird is that some of these people looked like they only left school recently! We had to learn at least the order of kings and queens in my day.
What about Alfred the Great's daughter Aethelfled ? - the answer can only be after the battle of Brunanburh in 937 when the various 'Kingdoms' became united and known as 'England' as we know it today....... Answers on a postcard please.
It wasn't the Empress Matilda, either queen in her own right or queen consort, - the first queen at all was William I's (the Conqueror) queen, Matilda of Flanders. Empress Matilda (William's granddaughter) was never formally declared queen and was titled "Lady of the English."
I'd say Empress Matilda if we're not worrying about a proper coronation or having achieved total control over the entire country. Otherwise, I'd say that it was Queen Mary I, since Queen Jane also had no coronation nor total control...let's watch and see if I'm right 😊 Any ruling queens prior to Empress Matilda would have been before England was united. At least, as far as my history knowledge can recall.
Her attempts to be “down with the kids” were irritating and hindered understanding of events from a historical perspective. I’m all for engaging and inspirational teaching but not for inaccuracies and decontextualising events by framing them in modern pop culture references.
@@bobroberts6155 I understand. It's not your vibe, it's not for everyone. However I could see this style of teaching being a gateway to students having a better love and passion for history. She's fun and being herself as I see it, and not putting on any "attempts to be down with the kids" because she's not speaking to the kids in this, she's speaking to another grown woman. The inaccuracies should have definitely been corrected.
The expert knows the information. But hearing her say, “Steven was all… and then Matilda was like… So Steven says like… And Matilda says dude, like…” makes me cringe. Anyway, I do enjoy your format of posing a number of answers to the problem, and then revealing your answer.
Mary and Charles V, no I think that is incorrect? I always understood that she was married to the son of Charles V, i.e. Phillips ll from 1556 till 1558.
You are correct. I think they are confusing Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VII) who was betrothed to Charles V with Mary I who was married to Charles’ son Phillip
If you consider how many rubbish kings theres been or just forgotten filler kings, vs barely a handful of ruling Queens, atleast all the Queens made an impact and were memorable in there own way
From Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, the Queens of England have always produced a step change in the overall status of this Country. Elizabeth I - solidification of the Church of England, great poets, musicians and playwrights, naval and military successes. Mary II - Advances in music and literature. Queen Anne - Political advances, creation of the Bank of England, creation of Great Britain, military & naval successes, music. Victoria - creation of the British Empire, advances in suffrage, literature and music. Elizabeth II - deconstruction of the British Empire begun under her father - establishment of England in Europe.
For me it is Empress Maud (Mathilda). I am Spaniard, but a History fan ;) I was surprised that many British do not know... English History is so exciting, besides that opens the door to understand several forms of art literature, notably Shakespeare's Theater; Fine Arts; etc. and some movies, there are movies and series about Maud.
Got to be Matilda. If you discount her then you'll have to discount Edward V as he only "ruled" for a few months and start the reigns of the boy kings such as Richard II, Henry III & Henry VI when they achieved their majorities. Just because they were crowned didn't mean they ruled. Also, if you include Boudicca then you'd have to included Cartimandua as queen of the Brigantes - and she was queen before Boudicca too.
So why was it it not Queen Ælfthryth? She was crowned and anointed as Queen consort as wife of King Edgar. When he died she was a dowager Queen but when Edward died (who she possibly murdered) she became Queen Regent the 'first ruling Queen of the English' between 978-984. Possibly because her name is harder to remember than Mary?
@@petergaskin1811 I agree she should have been given a mention but I was playing to their rules. According to History Hit's other question who was the first King of England the answer was Æthelstan as before that the Kingdom was divided. Hence Æthelflæd ,Lady of the Mercians not England. However, Queen Ælfthryth came after unification as England, was crowned and anointed, used the title Regina in documents, and ruled for several years. History Hit chose an expert in late medieval history so she went for a candidate from her own subject.
My 1st thought was Matilda but I really could remember the full story. I remembered it had something to do with Normandy & Stephen so it was lovely to get the facts again. Thank you.
ELEANOR!!! She and Lucy are two of my favorite historians!! They really bring history to life for me! That being said, onto the video itself. Going into this video I said Mary I, because she was actually crowned. After watching this video and the strong arguments about some kings who never had a coronation yet are still called "king", I'm going with Matilda now. Thank you for a very interesting video! Oh, and I'll be hitting The Olde Mitre next time I make it to London!
My argument against Matilda is she never really controlled the whole country. Only the battlefield. The Edwards who weren't crowned were in "control" (Edward V was just a boy and a prisoner) of the entire country, including the capital.
If you want to go back further, it's probably Æthelflaed. She was the first woman in England to be in a ruling position in her own right. She ruled Mercia, a large chunk of the middle of England, from AD 911 until her death.
Brilliant video. Illustrates the fact that this type of question (like many historical conundrums) has a number of different answers and they can all be interpreted differently depending your point of view.
I feel a little disappointed by some of the inaccuracies that I noticed and I'm wondering how many others I missed. King Stephen did have a son, who died the year before his father when he was in his early twenties. Stephen was captured at the battle of Lincoln but Fitzroy was captured a couple of months later, by Stephen's wife queen Matilda's Army.
According to Wikipedia, Stephen had four children in total, including a son named William who was still alive at the time of Stephen's death. She also referred to Stephen as Matilda's uncle. He was her cousin, the son of Henry 1's sister Adela. I also noticed mistakes when she was talking about Edward VI. He was nine when he took the throne, and he declared Jane Grey his heir shortly before his death at age 15. I don't know why she kept saying he was 13. Not sure we can entirely trust Dr. Janega as a historian, given these errors.
@@grahvis I think us on this thread know that, if memory serves me well I believe it was Athelstan who first started using the title king of the English, the ruler of the entire world of Britain but I’ll have to try to find confirmation of that, meanwhile I can’t help but to admire the courage, tenacity and leadership of Boudica/Boudicea how ever way you want to spell it, so she’s still my favourite.
I'd say Mary Tudor too. Matilda would have been the first English Queen to rule in her own right, had she been crowned in 1141. She was the first woman to be named as heir to the English throne and she fought fiercely for her succession. And as usual those that suffered most were the normal people.
Buried with a plaster cast of her dead husband's hand clasped in hers, as declared in her Very Detailed instructions for her burial, preserved by her private physician.
One of the most impactful. I'd personally rate queen Matilda of Scotland, reuniting the line of Wessex back into English throne and being a good popular regent. Establishing court at Westminster.
I would say Æthelflæd, the Lady of the Mercians who, on behalf of all the Saxons, re-took two of the five Boroughs (Burghs) of the Danelaw and was about to be offered submission of the rest of Danelaw and thus re-uniting Saxon England under Saxon Rule, when she died.
Sorry, but your expert is too caught up in her own opinion. It could NOT have been Empress Maud, because she was never crowned Queen Regnant of England and never recognized as the legitimate ruler. (Though Stephen lost the battles and Matilda's son became Henry II, she herself was never England's ruling queen.) Therefore, if your question means "since William the Conqueror," then, because Lady Jane Grey was proclained Queen but also never crowned, the only answer possible is Mary I. If, however, one ignores the fact that Matilda was never crowned, she did control England for a few months in 1141, so she could perhaps be said to have been the first Queen Regnant, but she is almost never included in lists of England's monarchs, so I am going to disagree with your expert and say that it was Mary I.
Fascinating discussion. And as an aside, I will say that the three most impressive monarchs were women who reigned during three of Britain’s most famous and consequential periods of its history: Elizabeth I, Victoria, and Elizabeth II. The men have been more known for their peccadilloes and appetites than for their wise governance.
Kings and Queens don’t have to have a coronation per se. It is simply a religious rite (and a great reason to bring out the jewels) and it’s good for tourism these days. Yes, I admit it. I flew from Australia to Britain for Charles. Kings and Queens become Monarchs immediately following the death of the previous Monarch. That is why the flag atop BP is not usually flown at half mast. Because there is always a living Monarch. It is possible though (my memory fails me) but I think they lowered it for Elizabeth ll due to the overwhelming sadness felt by the nation). 👑
I think it was the Union Jack they flew at half mast. The royal standard is never flown at half mast as it is always, and only, flown when the sovereign is present. They flew a Union Jack at half mast when Diana died; I remember seeing it on TV. I don't remember what they did for Margaret, the Queen Mum, of Philip.
As an American I don't understand the fascination with Boudicca didn't at the end the Romans defeat her and she took her life and so did her daughters enter people were sold into slavery I don't understand why that's so great
As I understand it, she was just a warrior and not a strategy genius, she wasn't trying to beat the Roman's, she wanted revenge after her daughters were tortured and killed on Roman orders. She rallied the ancient brits and she defeated legions of romans before being killed herself all for revenge, that's pretty badass if you ask me.
First she didn't defeat Roman Legions the legions where in Wales at the time she was destroying cities she beat auxiliary it was when she met the real Legion that she was defeated
@@lizlyon2902 I agree that she doesn’t really qualify, I’m just surprised that nobody mentioned her. Boudica was mentioned and discussed and I knew from the beginning that she didn’t qualify either, despite her popularity.
My initial answer was Matilda, and despite the fact she was not given a coronation, she was a ligitimate designated queen by lineage sworn in by nobles and proven by her son becoming the rightful king.
Yes, Empress Matilda was my first guess, since at the time of Bodicea, England hadn't even begun to exist.
"Queen" wasn't really a concept either
@@jasongarfitt1147 And Bodica was only a queen of a region of north east anglia, not of England.
There are more than one ways to look at England. There is the land and the actual country. I suppose Athelstan actually created England. That would make Maude, daughter of HenryII, the first Queen.
Boudica is like Vercingetorix.
@@AnnHutchinson-ki4oq we count Alfred the Great as the first king of England even though England did not exist yet. He was the one with the vision of a united England.
Given that we still count Edward V and Edward VIII as legitimate kings, despite them never having their own Coronations, it has to be Mathilda.
Absolutely. The coronation in itself is not what makes you king/queen. That is just means of religious recognition and if I would be too pedantic, the entity giving that recognition changed with the reformation, so monarchs crowned by the church of England, would not be recognized by the church of Rome which was the original entity.
In short... Absolutely Mathilda.
Good point.
@@TheAlchaemist Mathilda's own son also had his eldest son coronated 'Henry the Young King' whilst he was still living. Henry Pre-deceased him, and so, although he was officially crowned king, is not recognised as such so not even a Coronation is a rock solid guarantee.
@autumnwitchcraft Always wondered why the Angevin Co-monarchy wasn't counted? Perhaps even though the Young King Henry had de jure authority, but in reality his Dad still had de facto power throughout the Younger's "reign" if you can call it that?
@@ToastieBRRRNI have always thought this was due to the fact that, it just wasn’t something the English court ever had done. We did not have the Prince of Wales title either. Which is how we know, who the heir is today. Also it was a way of avoiding another episode of the Anarchy. This was before primogeniture, so naming your heir in advance, which was incredibly important. That has always been my explanation, anyway.
“Tore up London, a bit like I like to”
There’s only one thing getting “torn” while he’s in London!
Stephen was NOT Matilda's uncle. He was her first cousin, the son of her father Henry the First's sister, Adela.
And he also wasn't childless, it was just that his son Eustace died before him, and he wasn't likely to have any more children, so to end the conflict he named Henry hi heir. Matilda definitely for the win though :)
He also had older brothers who weren't happy at being skipped over.
True, he was her cousin but he's still a lying scumbag as he did swear allegiance to her in front of Henry 1 and his nobles and then went back on that as soon as Henry died. I'm actually surprised at his level of support considering he went back on a vow but I guess male chauvinists were willing to overlook that!!
@@jacquiross5290 he did have another son William who he probably wanted to tae the role. But there just wasn't enough time to shore up support for him before Stephen died
@@shannonwolff2599 This was an era when to be a good king was to be good in battle, so you can get why they don't want a female ruler. Apparently, he had much better interpersonal skills than her. She apparently was very arrogant, where he was personable, and people thought it was ridiculous that she was still styling herself as Empress. Not to mention, Stephen had holdings in England and lived there while she was a French Duchess who had been Empress of a German land. Thirdly, her second husband ruled Anjou and was a total jerk about it, so people feared his influence. Her father should have arranged her second marriage to an English nobleman probably.
Thanks!
I think another reason Matilda struggled to take power, besides sexism, was that she had a less advantageous power base compared to Stephen. She spent most of her early life abroad in the Holy Roman Empire. Whereas Stephen, had holdings in England and the county of Boulogne (through marriage) and was well known in the court of King Henry. Plus when Matilda came back to Henry's court, she got married off to the Angevin Duke. Where the Normans lords were rivals/somewhat hostile to the Angevins. Overall, it was the wrong time and wrong place. Had not her Dad die from eating too many Lampreys (possibly food poisoning) and that she wasn't located far away in Anjou. She know doubt would've been Queen, defacto over all England and beaten Stephen to the punch.
She also made the mistake of demanding a heavy tax from them.
Yes, it’s not like any men with claims to thrones ever challenged other men with equally strong or tenuous claims to the throne. If feminism is the hammer then every nail is sexist.
Stephen was one of the few to survive the sinking of the White ship. He made it to England well before Maude.
@@nbenefiel By getting off before it left. Either due to the overcrowding or because he had diarrhea.
She also suffered from the same thing her uncle Robert of Normandy did: her rival got there first (Henry I in Robert's case, Stephen in Matilda's). Both Henry and Stephen were in England at the time the previous English King died, while Robert and Matilda were in France. Possession is, as they say, nine tenths of the law.
Mary I was the first undisputed Queen to rule in her own right. You could argue that both the Empress Maud and Lady Jane Grey were Queens before her, but they never had complete control of the country, nor were they ever crowned
Agree
@@davebento1548 I agree as well
100%
Hate to say it but yep!
How is that different from Edward V? He was never crowned and never had any control of the country. What is the difference then? Seriously want to know.
Before watching a minute: Ruling in her own right? Mathilda is my guess. Queen in title, not a clue.
My guess as well.
@@efretheimdisputed not always counted.
@@gwendixon74 Yeah, I know. But she had a better claim than the guy who crowned himself.
@efretheim Stephen her cousin.
A pedant writes: As Matilda's married title was Empress, would that have carried across to pre-reformation England?
I regard Aethelflaed, King Alfred's daughter as the first queen of England, can't believe she wasn't mentioned in the program. She was a remarkable political and military leader, and played a huge part in defeating the Danes. She also oversaw the rebuilding of many towns after re-taking them from the Danes. With the re-taking of York, most of what is now England was under her control.
I think she's typically discounted because it wasn't called England at the time and she did not use the title "Queen of England," isn't she?
Certainly , she had all the qualities and nobility required for the title, but she was known as the "Lady of Mercia". Somewhere I read that the Anglo-Saxon kings did not automatically assign the title of Queen to the king's wife; an exception being Offa and Charlemagne, who required his daughter to receive the title. It all fell through anyhow. I wish we knew more about Aethelflaed and Elfwynn. I'm still trying to love the Normans. . . restyled Viking thugs that they were.
How could she be Queen of England when she only ruled Mercia?
Elizabeth I
@@susanalopezcarballo1102 Then it would her Elizabeth's older half-sister Mary 1 - making Elizabeth the second Ruling Queen. I say Matilda fits best as she ruled in her own name - crowned or not.
I am amazed how many British on the streets thought QE1 was first queen, and yet a guy with a non-British continental accent knew more than most people and then we had someone with a North American accent sort it out for us.
Poor education in the UK for many. Standards have lowered and lowered for decades, for many reasons, so what used to be expected of pupils is now not even attempted in state schools. Also, in many homes education is sn't valued or encouraged beyond what's necessary for exams.
The English curriculum doesn’t really teach much about kings/queens, as someone who was interested in it at school it was quite infuriating
It's kind of like me with American history. I suck at it😂 I know way more about English history, even though I'm American 😂 It's often much more fun to learn about the history of somewhere exotic than what is in your face.
I'm an American, and I correctly guessed Empress Maud (Matilda) -- but mostly because I remember watching Cadfael's "One Corpse Too Many," and I had read Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" (and watched the TV miniseries).
I listen to BBC radio four's Cadfael. I do not remember it so well as you. But I said Matilda.
As Arnulf of Hesden said in that very episode "We stand as we did; for empress Maud, rightful Queen of England."
@@RBS.23 Well, seeing as King Stephen had Arnulf hung, I'm guessing that his opinion on royalty didn't count for much.
EXACTLY how I knew this too! Ellis Peters was amazing.
King Stephen was crowned , 22 Dec 1135, His wife. was Queen Matilda, following the death of Henry I, the son of william I (the Conqueror). Empress Matilda, also known as Maud to distinguish her from Stephen's wife, had been the next in line and there was a civil war known as the Anarchy from 1135 to 1158. It was eventually agreed that Henry II would succeed Stephen.
Sharon K. Penman wrote 'When Christ and His Saints Slept' which fleshes out the hiistory of that period , The Brother Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters covers the same era
I love that Matilda won. I love that for her.
She didn’t really win, Stephen remained on the throne
@@michaelmccomb2594 Just say you didn't watch the video to the end. As Dr. Janega says, "Men won't tell me what to do."
@michaelmccomb2594 her descendants are still on the throne though. Which is funny because that would mean Mary Queen of Scots beat Elizabeth I
@@kimyoonmisurnamefirst7061 you can’t deny historical facts because you don’t like the fact that 12th century England was sexist
@@ImperialAtlantis Only because of the threat posed to Stephen by her son, Henry II. He succeeded where Matilda failed.
"As a gay man I do love my queens" 😂😂
As a straight woman, I love them too. Both kinds
Cute and informed. Can anyone give him my number?
I wish our children were taught history by someone with this much enthusiasm and energy!
Isn't she wonderful?? She makes it come alive--as if we are all there, back in time.
@@aiai-j7i totally agree, I loved history as a kid,still do. I hope we see more of her!
I agree, although I was a bit disappointed to hear her call Stephen Matilda's uncle. He was her first cousin. She had no uncle, as he had died in the White Ship disaster.
teach them yourself
If it's not on TikTok it never happened 😏😈
Saying men are crap really devalues this video! Neither Men, nor Women are crap. Individuals though, they can be crap.
Me thinks she has some issues.
@@QBRX Misandry at it best!
I looked at the thumbnail and knew instantly how it would roll.
It also adds an untrue resolution to her conclusion
"Elizabeth, played by the elf lady"
Cate blanchett xD
FUcking gold.
With the elf woman, snorted in the street😂
ahahaha an Australian too
Insufferable presentation.
@@reneecrotty6910 Well an Australian is the current Queen of Denmark, so why not have an Australian as former Queen of England as well?
Well, Boudicca was queen of an alliance of Britons , but way too early for it to be England. The Anglo-Saxons had yet to arrive. Still, gotta love her for her defiance of Rome. Tragic fate as well.
Fun fact: Matilda's son Henry called himself Henry Fitzempress.
Wasn’t he the one that resented his mother? Or was it the son of Eleanor? I always get the two of them mixed up.
@@jujutrini8412he didn’t resent his mother. As far as I know he was very respectful and very much aware that the position he gained was thanks to his mother.
@@jujutrini8412 John was in constant conflict with his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of HenryII. John wanted the throne held by his brother, Richard Couer de Lion. Eleanor held the throne for Richard until his death in 1199. John spent Richard’s entire reign conspiring against him and succeeded him after his death. He is remembered as one of the worst kings in British history. John could not control the various Angevin factions. He could not control his barons and was forced to accept Magna Carta. I remember having to memorize a poem back in elementary school, John, John, bad King John, shamed the throne that he sat on. Not a penny not a ( something) cared this monarch for the law. Promises he daily broke. After that I forget but that poem created my early impression of John. I do remember “so the barons brought a deed, down to rushing Runnymede, Magna Carta was it hite, charter of the people’s right” Just more useless trivia.
@@nbenefiel I always remember bad King John! Thanks for bringing that poem back to my memory. We learned it at school as well but I had totally forgotten.😂
He also was know as Hnery Plantagent, and Henry the second
Stephen (who was Matilda's first cousin not uncle) was not childless. His oldest son Eustace died before him but when Stephen died, Marie, William and Gervase were still alive and possible claimants. Henry FitzEmpress, however, had been named by Stephen, and had a better army, so he became Henry II. His father, Geoffrey of Anjou, had the broom plant as his emblem. The plant was called "planta genista" and it is from that that we get the name of the dynasty that ruled England until 1485, Plantagenet.
Thank you! Just got to the part of the video where she was talking about that and was hoping someone said something. "Childless uncle" took the throne because "men are crap." 🙄
I literally yelled at the screen “What about Eustace?” 😂 Am I correct in assuming that Eustace was still alive when the agreement was made that Henry would be named King when Stephen fell off the twig?
I am comforted to learn that there are young people who know about more than just the Kardashians. There is hope for this country after all. Very interesting video.
While I'm not particularly young, I've never watched that show, nor do I ever intend to. I did, however, just finish watching documentaries on the entire English/British royalty, and my first thought was Matilda.
Better to learn history, and when possible seek history that was denied.
Yes I was a bit worried at first, but I was glad to see that people aren't too braindead.
@@jasminebarratt1809 If you live in Britain, it is wise to learn the history,even if it means learning history denied.
@@julians9070 Yes probably, you can learn a lot from history.
Mary I (Mary Tudor) Unless you are including the nine days (non crowned) Lady Jane Grey, or the Empress (never crowned) Matilda.
Matilda and Elizabeth of York were effing robbed!
@@beyondlondon8600 Neither were Queen's Regnant...
Except for the fact Philip of Spain ruled Jure Uxoris, so Mary never really ruled in her own right
Edward VIII was recognised, despite never being crowned.
@@flakieflake9616that’s why Parliament passed Queen Mary’s Marriage Act, to limit Philip’s jure uxoris rights.
Eleanor makes a rock solid argument, every avenue explored to reach a decision. If I ever have to go to court, she's my lawyer for sure 😂
Dr Janega's scholarship is always impeccable. My lone complaint about her is her pronunciation of the single word France. It comes off as pretentious and an unnecessary affectation. She's obviously not a Brit and there's no reason to imitate them for one word. Yes I'm being pedantic 😂
@denisecampbell3416 It's so funny that you say that because I was going to comment on Dr. Janega's speech pattern as well. I watch a LOT of Eleanor's content, along with English and British history content in general, so am quite acquainted with hearing the accents and her specific manner of speaking.
But yes, there are some words that she pronounces with a distinctly British inflection and I assume it's because of repeated exposure. I find it happening to myself too, especially with names. I think it's endearing to hear these little subtleties coming out of her 😊
As others pointed out, Stephen of Blois was Matilda's cousin, not her uncle. He also wasn't childless. His older son, Eustace, died, but William was still alive when Stephen died. England and Normandy and their ruling families had been so devastated by the civil war between Matilda and Stephen that Stephen and his brother, Henry, agreed to a peace treaty which named Henry FitzEmpress, Matilda's son, as Stephen's heir. (Also, as much as I enjoyed the liveliness of this exchange and the support for Matilda, Matilda probably didn't just agree to set Stephen free in exchange for the freedom of her half-brother, Roger, because she was "nice.") Because of the deeply ingrained sexism of the time, because of Matilda's perceived arrogance, because of his long-standing relations with important nobles, Roger was essential to her being able to keep nobles loyal to her in the ongoing civil war. She had to have him free to support her. It must have been a very tough exchange for both sides.
No one seems to mention that council worker in high viz. NEVER judge a book by its cover. What an intelligent man. He is brilliant .
I agree with Matilda being the first Queen "of" England, with Boudica the first Queen "in" England, and Mary the first "crowned" Queen of England
That's the best way to put it.
Bravo!!! But what of Aethelflaed? The Lady of Mercia, not a Queen of England but not a Queen of Mercia.
@@meeeka Yes that's the thing isn't it, other queens 'in' England....
No a norman woman grand daughter of william the conquerer
Nah, You can't have 2 people rulering the country at the same time....doh, its like calling all the party leading prime minister during the elections .........THE ONE WITH THE MOST BACKER WON
Well, my guess is that it was Queen AElfthryth. Historically though it was Bloody Mary 1
Aelfthryth was officially crowned Queen in 973 so I'd go with that too.
I was thinking ethylfredda but couldnt think between dane and saxon
But Ive had half a bottle of wine,so dont mind me.
What's my guess as well. 👍 Or Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercia seemed to hold things together for a moment.
Aelfthryth was Queen indeed, and quite a good one, but she was Queen of Mercia. No country called 'England' existed in her life, most people probably didn't even recognize the existence of a place called England, and several other monarchs ruled other parts of what is now England.
Edit: I meant Æthelflæd, darn it. Ælfthryth was decades later.
I'm going with Matilda. She kept Stephen on the run and naming her son as heir, was an admission she was the queen. showed she was the Queen. Yeah, Mary I is likely the candidate but with Matilda it was basically theft of the crown.
Exactly- if you’re respected enough that people take into consideration your fated heir, you’re Queen 😂
Actually it seems like the opposite, Stephen agreed to Henry as his heir due to Henry acknowledging Stephen as king. An agreement to end the war and appease both sides, Matilda just kind of gave up.
Although did Matilda become the heir by theft of the crown by her father from her aunt (Stephen's mother) who was the oldest surviving child with issue of William the Conqueror.
Had nothing to do with recognizing her as Queen. It was because his heir died and had no official heir at the time and Henry (her son) had come to England in his own right and was going to take the thrown by force if Stephen didn't strike a deal to prevent it.
"I choose Matilda because men don't tell me what to do" - The most scholarly judgement that I've ever heard.
BTW the overwhelming consensus is that Mary I was the first queen in own right.
true but she was asked for the historian's expert opinion, not the consensus. if she wanted a concensus of what the general population thinks she could've just googled it
I had answered Matilda when the question was first asked and I am sticking to it now as well. Mary was the first UNDISPUTED Queen of England but not the first Queen I feel.
This
Mathilda was the first queen in my heart, but if I had to give a hard and fast answer it would have to be Mary, with a caveat.
Eleanor Janega is such a vibe and I love her so much
Re: Jane Grey, it must be noted that Henry VIII had made his daughters Mary and Elizabeth bastards when he annulled his first marriage and ended his second by convicting his wife of treason. In two different Acts Henry displaced his daughters, while a third Act restored them to the line of succession after Edward and any legitimate children yet to be born to the King by his ultimate wife Katherine Paar, but before the descendants of the King’s two sisters, Mary Brandon and Margaret Stewart. When Edward VI lay dying on his own deathbed, he amended the order of succession in his own will to once again exclude his half sisters Mary and Elizabeth, naming the eldest granddaughter of his late aunt Mary Brandon as his successor - Lady Jane Dudley, born Jane Grey. This was registered as an official act and signed by every member of his Privy Council and several key bishops. When his death was announced, Jane’s ascension was proclaimed by the court heralds. Jane was moved to the Tower to await her coronation. Mary, however was already on the march towards London at the head of an enormous force prepared to lay siege to London and starve the entire city to death or submission not just to Mary, Queen of England, but to the Blessed Mary, Virgin Queen of Heaven. Catholicism was returning with a vengeance and at a high cost, therefore those placed within the gates of the city to hold it for Queen Jane instead unlocked the gates and held them open to welcome Queen Mary. At first Mary took pity on the girl and committed to spare her, but her father/in-law’s role in fomenting the Watts rebellion to remove Mary and restore Jane backfired and sealed the fates of both Jane and her husband, Guildford Dudley. So was Jane ever really Queen? According to the late king, his privy council, and several bishops of the Church of England she was; it wasn’t she who dismissed Mary and Elizabeth, it was the late Edward VI acting in his rightful capacity and with past precedent dating to the reign of Henry VIII to substantiate his decision to revert the succession to the original amendment as a means of protecting the Church of England from dissolution. What propelled Mary and jettisoned Jane was not a superior legal argument, but a superior show of manpower and dread of terrible consequences. If for no other reason than the role of pawn she was forced to play unwillingly, I think at the very least Jane is owed that distinction for the nine days she was forced to bear the ultimate responsibility and pay the ultimate price for the vicissitudes of kings and prelates who used women as chess pieces in a game of conflicting loyalty and ambition.
Phew, your knowledge is impressive! However, one may be born to be queen, as Matilda/Maud was, but it's the crowning that counts.
Agree.
Jane Grey and her husband were little more than children really. It was a truly brutal ending for them both.
I totally agree with you. Some of what you say is partly why I think monarchy is total BS.
How do you account for bypassing Jane's own mother, who should more naturally have been Edward's heir? Contemporary accounts suggest Jane's claims were illegitimate solely on that front.
'Men are crap'... it feels bad because it is not really based on facts, and if a man would use this type of argument for women, 'Women are crap'... something would explode.
Yes something did explode that is how women fighting for equal rights started, btw I don't think men are crap but I think many men like you take all this too personally for some reason known only to yourself and your many, mang GFs!
Its a very low-resolution argument, I agree. Bit of a boss babe episode this one, much preferred the Kings episode. You can acknowledge the thinking of the time without having to put some daft feminist spin on things
I agree. While this argument has its merits in some situations, it its a bit ridiculous here. While men may be obsolete sometime in the future due to science, they were still absolutely necessary 1,000 years ago, and to act as if they were not is absurd.
Your correct and I'm sorry .. I try to call out reverse sexism too
@@AceEagle9898 Women were good at the job cos the job needed doing! Men and women were not thought of so different .. Both worked hard and ruled hard. Sometime between dawn of man and the christian Bible, 80% of records of women's achievements were eradicated or assumed to be by men. And that's not a feminist spin just fact. I'd love to read history without the biases wouldn't you! Somehow I think a lot of men were overlooked and their achievements claimed by others too
Such fun. This is how history should be introduced to children. It is great to see women's history presented in such a positive way. So refreshing to see women in history being discussed in this way as people with their own power and agency. Brings women right into the spotlight.
The "first Queen Regnant"? By her dear papa's intention, then it'd be "the Empress Matilda", though she never ruled all England uncontested (though nor really did her opponent, her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Though he did have a coronation). The first Queen who did manage to do so was Henry VIII's eldest daughter, Mary I. By almost immediately supplanting her late brother's preferred heir, Lady Jane Grey, and ruling unchallenged for about 5yrs.
regardless of the outcome, some thing stands completely true- Dr. Eleanor Jane completely rocks. Her ability to bring English history alive and make it digestible is awe inspiring.
I'm going for Aethelflaeda of Mercia. Lady of the Mercians. Depends on how you count Emma or Matilda as well.
I was thinking Aethelflaeda, I guess its all about definitions of what we think of as England and Monarchy today. What it iteration of "England" are we talking about? Technically Mary I from a modern stand point. It's a bit of a trick question without that qualifying information.
But she’s of Mercia, not England…
I never miss an opportunity to big up Æthelflæd's achievements! But she didn't rule England. Still I'd love to hear Dr Janega do a piece on her. Please HH?
YESSSS!! I've been yelling that at the screen throughout the whole program!! If Alfred the Great was considered the first king of England, then his daughter should be considered the first queen.
@@theonellakats2443 but he’s not considered the first king of England
Loved the commentary and historical information given by Dr. Eleanor Janega. What a fun conversation.
Same! More convos with Dr Janega in a pub!!
Very sexist
I found it rather sad that no English person could be found to be the expert. This woman is so un-English in her commentary.
@@alicemilne1444 OFF sakes! She is a renowned historian of the Medieval Period--her not being English is irrelevant.
@@alicemilne1444 I'm sure they could find plenty, but it wouldn't have been as good
So, spontaneously my first guess was Mathilda, but I’m Swedish so what do I know - but not such a bad candidate after all! The credit goes to the Brother Cadfael crime novels, set in the period of war between Mathilda and Stephen 😊
Ellis Peters is on Stephen’s side though, and (rude) she calls the Empress Matilda Maud because Stephen’s wife was also a Matilda (Matilda being the 12thC equivalent of Ædgyfu in Royal names, apparently - popular). Don’t know about you, but I’m reassessing that take based on this video 😂. Go Matilda!!
According to wiki, the civil war between Stephen and Matilda is called the Anarchy.
@@EstherV359 I agree. What I meant was that the novels got me interested in the period 😊
Yes, me too! Loved them 👌
My goodness, I'm impressed so many other nationalities know of Matilda (wherever they learned of our history). I know nothing at all about Swedish royalty, I'm embarrassed to say - just a little each of French, German, Spanish, and Dutch royalty (and all that from a few TV series that have come my way).
I was born and raised in Winchester, home of Alfred the great. He will always be the greatest in my eyes.
Wish he was on the throne now.
@@jacksprat9172 Amen.
🤣🤣 at 3.05, " biggest difference between a King and a Queen ."
Reply, " Ooh thats a hard one. "
""CORRECT"" 🤣🤣
Sorry, couldn't resist it.
Great videp. 👍
0:33 ah yes , Queen Cersei . That famous Queen of England.
😁😁
And Darnerys was Queen of Wales (her dragon is on the flag)
Well Lena Heady is English so...
😂
😂😂😂
The way she tells the stories, oh my God how entertaining. Great job!
I think if history had been taught at school in this way, I would have learned so much more. These two are so fab….
The guest historian person did know her history well, but saying that "Men are crap" makes it difficult to take her seriously.
especially after constantly evoking the word 'sexist'.
A lot of us ladies got a laugh out of that, however.
@@ElizabethGrindon Just as long as you laugh when men do it too :P
Saying men are crap is still just being sexist. It works both ways 😅
@@uToobeD Sorry. Having been sexually abused twice when I was a small girl by two different men, I guess I'm a little cynical.
They even named a Tank after her, Matilda II which was referred to as the Queen of the Desert for its role in the North African campaigns with the 8th Army against the Italians and the German Afrika Corps
That I did not know. I will pursue that information further as I am a military history fan.
Two tanks, in fact. Matilda II, strangely enough, is quite a good clue.
@@liberalhyena9760 correct, but only the 2nd was called the Queen of the desert
I still miss Elizabeth II, almost every day.
Cool, Did you know her?
@@thomasfriesejr.9198 I speak for myself but you don't have to know her but it's more the impact she had. We felt proud of all she achieved.🙂
Me too. A most remarkable woman.
Lol, did that guy say about Boudicca "She tore up London a bit like I like to?" I just don't see him burning and looting. But maybe I should be more afraid. I do respect that she is the only queen he recognizes.
I understood the reason why Matilda wasn't crowned when she visited London for that purpose was she was so haughty and arrogant she turned too many important people against her. Even so she was definitely a queen because the accession to the throne takes place at the moment the previous king or queen dies. It is an English legal requirement that a coronation ceremony takes place some time after the accession, that all. That is also why Lady Jane Grey is nearly always included on lists of English monarchs.
Totally agree!
We shouldn't forget that Edward viii was never crowned, but no one disputes that he was king. As you say, a monarch becomes the monarch on the death of the previous incumbent. I suppose it all comes down to whether a monarch has the right to name their successor and skip the "normal" succession customs.
I am a bit confused by the expert who seems to just be going on about sexism which is not what historians should do at least in public. I think it's one of those unwritten rules about not using modern day values when talking about the past. I agree that Matilda should be considered the first queen of England on her own merit
I agree. Especially as the requirements of a monarch were so different then. Kings were meant to lead armies into war and women were simply just not as strong, not as conditioned for that and had responsibilities in childbearing.
Especially when she starts talking authoritatively about Boadicea who we know very little about. And called the Romans fascists in a time period where that doesn't even mean anything. I was forgiving some of the stuff before that as just her being playful. She has a fun personality but I don't think I can really trust her editorializing as being in good faith.
@@Lowekinder she specialises more in mediaeval history. She should stay in her lane
Her assertion that the feud was only because she "didn't have the right junk" is silly. Any historian worth their salt knows that hundreds of times throughout history people have pledged fealty when the old ruler was still alive only to seek their own advantages once the old ruler died.
@@stevewagner7507 I think she would have been accepted as heir if she were male. But the fact is, if she were male she would have been given the qualities and background required for a king. It wasn't just "do you have a vagine or a penis?" but, what is it about having a penis that makes you more ideal for the role. Then add in the things like Stephen having lands and a residence in England and Matilda having no English interests and that's just the cherry on top.
Bring these two on again. I learned a lot!
No contest, Matilda waltzed it! The Australians even wrote a song about her.
That’s pretty good!😂
There's no proof she waltzed .
@@normanpearson8753 As a GBN (Goebbels Broadcasting Network?) subscriber I would have thought you had/needed a sense of humour - apparently not.
@@LosPeregrinos51 Nope , none .I loved dances , I got hooked , like a drug , it was . Take the Hokey Cokey, I got hooked on that , but I managed to turn myself around .
Depends on what you mean by Queen, England and “in her own right.” If it’s “Queen of the English”, then it’s AElfgifu, first wife of Edmund I. If it’s first “Queen of England,” then it’s Emma of Normandy, wife of Cnut. If it’s “first Queen to rule in her own right,” then the disputed answer is Empress Mathilda/Maud, daughter of Henry I. If it’s “first acclaimed Queen regnant of England” then it’s Mary I, but as a good Catholic she ruled alongside her husband Philip II of Spain. Her half-sister Elizabeth was the first Queen Regnant to rule alone in her own right, although under the condition she never marry. Anne was actually the first married Queen of England to rule completely alone.
Philip II was explicitly a king consort, not a king regnant. Parliament wouldn't have it any other way.
@@samanthafordyce5795 Still King though, even if in title only.
AETHELFLAED was daughter of Alfred THe Great and wife of AEthelred who died and she took power of Mercia in England. Maybe not all England but still a Queen on the Isle of Britain.
Mary was toad and died of cancer . Burned a lotta innocent folks for being the established religion of England. Best thing Henry 8 did was kick corporate corrupt Rome outta ENGLAND . THANK GOD Elizabeth regained that after Mary croaked .
@@samanthafordyce5795 To deny Philip's royal authority is an act of High Treason under acts passed by both the Parliaments of England and Ireland.
@@gussiejives But we've already disqualified all the Queen consorts from the primary discussion, so a King consort doesn't count either. Phillip wisely never attempted to wield any power in England.
Boudicca for me! First trip to London with my dad to his office (clue: 1961) and then he took me to some of London's Roman remains. I thought he had arranged the marching centurions specially for me. but, no - 1900'th anniversary of the revolt. So much fun for a 5 year old!
Except that England did not exist as a political identity then. Boudica's tale is also a fable embellished by two Roman historians. God knows what really happened during the Iceni revolt. We only have the Roman's word that it was the Iceni that burnt down Colchester and London. It could just as easily been mutinous Romans and the rebellion was covered up.
Boudicca was not Queen of England, because
1. England did not exist the time, and
2. She was ruler of just a small area of what later became England.
Boudicca was Queen of the Iceni. I guess it depends on how you describe England.
I can understand not including Æthelflæd because this is specifically about England, but including Boudica (who we actually don't know that much concrete information about), who lived long before the concept of "Englaland" even existed, whereas Æthelflæd was a key figure during the creation of "Englaland", throws that logic out of the window. Because of Boudica's inclusion I'm actually quite flabbergasted Æthelflæd didn't even get a mention. They could have at least hired one actor to act as a bystander to mention her to just have the opportunity to include her. She was a Queen Regnant, in all but name, of a piece of land that was culturally Saxon, and therefore, "English" and that achievement definitely deserves at least a mention among the rest of these women in my opinion!
On the video itself I agree and am happy with Matilda being chosen as the first queen. She did rule England for a period of time and we count male regents as accepted monarchs who were never crowned (Edward V / Edward VIII) so because of these factors I think you have to give it to her. She was a Queen of England and THE first Queen of England.
Most interesting and informative video and well.presented. Many thanks for uploading.
Some of the Brits didn't know if Elizabeth I or Victoria came first. But it was an American expert who could answer the question.
True but how many Americans could point to England on a map 😉
@@patdaveydrumsProbably very few.
What’s really weird is that some of these people looked like they only left school recently! We had to learn at least the order of kings and queens in my day.
Americans really miss the monarchy.
Oh very good try watching Americans being asked about their own history, it’s hilarious and remember American history isn’t that old 😅
What about Alfred the Great's daughter Aethelfled ? - the answer can only be after the battle of Brunanburh in 937 when the various 'Kingdoms' became united and known as 'England' as we know it today....... Answers on a postcard please.
It wasn't the Empress Matilda, either queen in her own right or queen consort, - the first queen at all was William I's (the Conqueror) queen, Matilda of Flanders. Empress Matilda (William's granddaughter) was never formally declared queen and was titled "Lady of the English."
I'd say Empress Matilda if we're not worrying about a proper coronation or having achieved total control over the entire country. Otherwise, I'd say that it was Queen Mary I, since Queen Jane also had no coronation nor total control...let's watch and see if I'm right 😊 Any ruling queens prior to Empress Matilda would have been before England was united. At least, as far as my history knowledge can recall.
This is such an enjoyable program. Very “discovery”Chanel like. Excellent for experts and history lovers alike.
How about “ finding” the first Prince of Wales etc?
I’m guessing that’s “discovery Chanel Number Five”.😅
When the post started I said Matilda and I still believe that the credit should go to her.
I want a whole series with this historian. She's hilarious lol
Her attempts to be “down with the kids” were irritating and hindered understanding of events from a historical perspective. I’m all for engaging and inspirational teaching but not for inaccuracies and decontextualising events by framing them in modern pop culture references.
@@bobroberts6155 I understand. It's not your vibe, it's not for everyone. However I could see this style of teaching being a gateway to students having a better love and passion for history. She's fun and being herself as I see it, and not putting on any "attempts to be down with the kids" because she's not speaking to the kids in this, she's speaking to another grown woman. The inaccuracies should have definitely been corrected.
The expert knows the information. But hearing her say, “Steven was all… and then Matilda was like… So Steven says like… And Matilda says dude, like…” makes me cringe.
Anyway, I do enjoy your format of posing a number of answers to the problem, and then revealing your answer.
Appealing to the young folks I'd imagine 😄
Agree with you that Janega's manner is cringe.
She also gets information wrong.
What an Awesome Documentary!
Mary and Charles V, no I think that is incorrect? I always understood that she was married to the son of Charles V, i.e. Phillips ll from 1556 till 1558.
You are correct. I think they are
confusing Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VII) who was betrothed to Charles V with Mary I who was married to Charles’ son Phillip
If you consider how many rubbish kings theres been or just forgotten filler kings, vs barely a handful of ruling Queens, atleast all the Queens made an impact and were memorable in there own way
As serial killers aye.
You mean Queen Regnant? Otherwise there's plenty iconic queens from Elenore of Aquitaine to the Isabella, the She-Wolf of France etc.
Would they be as memorable if there were as many of them as there are kings?
From Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, the Queens of England have always produced a step change in the overall status of this Country.
Elizabeth I - solidification of the Church of England, great poets, musicians and playwrights, naval and military successes.
Mary II - Advances in music and literature.
Queen Anne - Political advances, creation of the Bank of England, creation of Great Britain, military & naval successes, music.
Victoria - creation of the British Empire, advances in suffrage, literature and music.
Elizabeth II - deconstruction of the British Empire begun under her father - establishment of England in Europe.
How could Boudica be queen of England centuries before the angles "migration" to the British Isles?
Although very knowledgeable, the historian has an obnoxious personality.
True. And she’s not that knowledgeable.
Met her have You. !!!!!!?????? Reminds You of You does she???
For the House of the Dragon fans out there, Matilda's story plays a huge role in the inspiration for the plot of the book/tv show.
For me it is Empress Maud (Mathilda). I am Spaniard, but a History fan ;) I was surprised that many British do not know... English History is so exciting, besides that opens the door to understand several forms of art literature, notably Shakespeare's Theater; Fine Arts; etc. and some movies, there are movies and series about Maud.
Got to be Matilda. If you discount her then you'll have to discount Edward V as he only "ruled" for a few months and start the reigns of the boy kings such as Richard II, Henry III & Henry VI when they achieved their majorities. Just because they were crowned didn't mean they ruled.
Also, if you include Boudicca then you'd have to included Cartimandua as queen of the Brigantes - and she was queen before Boudicca too.
I think it would be hard to know where to draw the line between being helpful and actually ruling.
So why was it it not Queen Ælfthryth? She was crowned and anointed as Queen consort as wife of King Edgar. When he died she was a dowager Queen but when Edward died (who she possibly murdered) she became Queen Regent the 'first ruling Queen of the English' between 978-984. Possibly because her name is harder to remember than Mary?
Æthelflæd? Lady of the Mercians.
@@petergaskin1811 I agree she should have been given a mention but I was playing to their rules. According to History Hit's other question who was the first King of England the answer was Æthelstan as before that the Kingdom was divided. Hence Æthelflæd ,Lady of the Mercians not England. However, Queen Ælfthryth came after unification as England, was crowned and anointed, used the title Regina in documents, and ruled for several years.
History Hit chose an expert in late medieval history so she went for a candidate from her own subject.
I’m impressed that people have this much knowledge.
I expected it to be like those videos of americans not knowing who the vice president is.
Me too. I wonder if I would have this much knowledge on a topic, if I didn't get a fake Art / Design degree 😂
This was sich an entertaining podcast. Tgank youbso much for the history lesson. ❤❤❤❤ Subscribing.
My 1st thought was Matilda but I really could remember the full story. I remembered it had something to do with Normandy & Stephen so it was lovely to get the facts again. Thank you.
ELEANOR!!! She and Lucy are two of my favorite historians!! They really bring history to life for me! That being said, onto the video itself. Going into this video I said Mary I, because she was actually crowned. After watching this video and the strong arguments about some kings who never had a coronation yet are still called "king", I'm going with Matilda now. Thank you for a very interesting video! Oh, and I'll be hitting The Olde Mitre next time I make it to London!
My argument against Matilda is she never really controlled the whole country. Only the battlefield. The Edwards who weren't crowned were in "control" (Edward V was just a boy and a prisoner) of the entire country, including the capital.
If you want to go back further, it's probably Æthelflaed. She was the first woman in England to be in a ruling position in her own right. She ruled Mercia, a large chunk of the middle of England, from AD 911 until her death.
Amazing woman but unfortunately existed before "England". I know you know that but just wanted to join in the fan worship of Æthelflæd!
Thank you Ken Follett. I am an American and knew the answer because of Pillars of the Earth.!
Brilliant video. Illustrates the fact that this type of question (like many historical conundrums) has a number of different answers and they can all be interpreted differently depending your point of view.
This was so much fun to watch! I want to be best friends with Dr. E... She is just so fun to listen to!
I feel a little disappointed by some of the inaccuracies that I noticed and I'm wondering how many others I missed. King Stephen did have a son, who died the year before his father when he was in his early twenties. Stephen was captured at the battle of Lincoln but Fitzroy was captured a couple of months later, by Stephen's wife queen Matilda's Army.
According to Wikipedia, Stephen had four children in total, including a son named William who was still alive at the time of Stephen's death. She also referred to Stephen as Matilda's uncle. He was her cousin, the son of Henry 1's sister Adela. I also noticed mistakes when she was talking about Edward VI. He was nine when he took the throne, and he declared Jane Grey his heir shortly before his death at age 15. I don't know why she kept saying he was 13. Not sure we can entirely trust Dr. Janega as a historian, given these errors.
I noticed the same things and share your distrust.@@marieclapdorp2580
My guess before watching: Boudicea?
I wish she had been, she’s my personal favourite.
Not possible, England didn't exist in her day.
@@grahvis
I think us on this thread know that, if memory serves me well I believe it was Athelstan who first started using the title king of the English, the ruler of the entire world of Britain but I’ll have to try to find confirmation of that, meanwhile I can’t help but to admire the courage, tenacity and leadership of Boudica/Boudicea how ever way you want to spell it, so she’s still my favourite.
I'd say Mary Tudor too.
Matilda would have been the first English Queen to rule in her own right, had she been crowned in 1141.
She was the first woman to be named as heir to the English throne and she fought fiercely for her succession.
And as usual those that suffered most were the normal people.
Also, Boudica died in 60AD long before England was formed (Kingdom of England 927AD) 800 years later!!!
Great video, well done 👏
“Queen Victoria had a lot of cool black outfits.”
The Goth Queen!
Buried with a plaster cast of her dead husband's hand clasped in hers, as declared in her Very Detailed instructions for her burial, preserved by her private physician.
Emma of Normandy would be my guess, ended up marrying Canute if I remember correctly.
One of the most impactful. I'd personally rate queen Matilda of Scotland, reuniting the line of Wessex back into English throne and being a good popular regent. Establishing court at Westminster.
The question is queen as in head of state, not as in queen, wife of king.
@@fotograf736If you mean Queen Regnant, kindly say so. (Sorry, just couldn't resist!!)
@@TheHoveHeretic Thank you, that's it👍🏻
I would say Æthelflæd, the Lady of the Mercians who, on behalf of all the Saxons, re-took two of the five Boroughs (Burghs) of the Danelaw and was about to be offered submission of the rest of Danelaw and thus re-uniting Saxon England under Saxon Rule, when she died.
Sorry, but your expert is too caught up in her own opinion. It could NOT have been Empress Maud, because she was never crowned Queen Regnant of England and never recognized as the legitimate ruler. (Though Stephen lost the battles and Matilda's son became Henry II, she herself was never England's ruling queen.) Therefore, if your question means "since William the Conqueror," then, because Lady Jane Grey was proclained Queen but also never crowned, the only answer possible is Mary I. If, however, one ignores the fact that Matilda was never crowned, she did control England for a few months in 1141, so she could perhaps be said to have been the first Queen Regnant, but she is almost never included in lists of England's monarchs, so I am going to disagree with your expert and say that it was Mary I.
Fascinating discussion. And as an aside, I will say that the three most impressive monarchs were women who reigned during three of Britain’s most famous and consequential periods of its history: Elizabeth I, Victoria, and Elizabeth II. The men have been more known for their peccadilloes and appetites than for their wise governance.
You always film near places I’ve worked or lived. How have I never been in a video 😂
Boudicca or Buddug was a Brittonic Celt so that would exclude her from being an English Queen
Dr Eleanor Janega is marvellous! I would sit at her feet and learn history forever!!!!
But you should check the facts later 😁
I bet you would… I bet you would… ⛓️💥
Kings and Queens don’t have to have a coronation per se. It is simply a religious rite (and a great reason to bring out the jewels) and it’s good for tourism these days. Yes, I admit it. I flew from Australia to Britain for Charles. Kings and Queens become Monarchs immediately following the death of the previous Monarch. That is why the flag atop BP is not usually flown at half mast. Because there is always a living Monarch. It is possible though (my memory fails me) but I think they lowered it for Elizabeth ll due to the overwhelming sadness felt by the nation). 👑
I think it was the Union Jack they flew at half mast. The royal standard is never flown at half mast as it is always, and only, flown when the sovereign is present. They flew a Union Jack at half mast when Diana died; I remember seeing it on TV. I don't remember what they did for Margaret, the Queen Mum, of Philip.
Æthelred died in 911 and Alfred the Great's daughter Æthelflæd then ruled Mercia as Lady of the Mercians.
As an American I don't understand the fascination with Boudicca didn't at the end the Romans defeat her and she took her life and so did her daughters enter people were sold into slavery I don't understand why that's so great
As I understand it, she was just a warrior and not a strategy genius, she wasn't trying to beat the Roman's, she wanted revenge after her daughters were tortured and killed on Roman orders. She rallied the ancient brits and she defeated legions of romans before being killed herself all for revenge, that's pretty badass if you ask me.
First she didn't defeat Roman Legions the legions where in Wales at the time she was destroying cities she beat auxiliary it was when she met the real Legion that she was defeated
I’m a bit surprised that Isabella of France wasn’t mentioned. She was the wife of Edward II and was the regent of England from 1327 to 1330.
A Queen Regent rules in the name of someone else. A Queen Regnant rules in her own right.
Yes, but she was not a Queen in her own right
@@lizlyon2902 I agree that she doesn’t really qualify, I’m just surprised that nobody mentioned her. Boudica was mentioned and discussed and I knew from the beginning that she didn’t qualify either, despite her popularity.
I don't think they were including regents. Only those who inherited the throne.
Eleanor of Aquitaine was regent for Richard Couer de Lion but she was never Queen in her own right.
Love the American historian, with her fun colloquialisms
Lovely presentation of history of England.
My initial answer was Matilda, and despite the fact she was not given a coronation, she was a ligitimate designated queen by lineage sworn in by nobles and proven by her son becoming the rightful king.
I thought Boudicea. Because she was Empress of Britannia, very grand warrior.