Matilda of Saxony (1172-1209/10)

Matilda or Richenza of Saxony (1172-13 January 1209/10) was the Countess of Perche and then the lady of Coucy from German Welf dynasty, niece of Richard the Lionheart.

Life

Born as the eldest child of the Duke of Saxony Henry the Lion and Matilda, daughter of King Henry II; she was named after her paternal grandmother by her father. After her father was expelled from the territory of the empire, the family took refuge in England at the court of King Henry. At the court of her grandfather Richenza adopted the name of her mother Matilda, and remained there even after the return of parents to their homeland. Several candidates were considered for her spouse including the kings of Scotland and Hungary. After the death of her grandfather in 1189, her uncle Richard the Lionheart arranged a marriage with Geoffroyi of Perche, heir to a strategic manor in Normandy, and a future participant of the Third Crusade. Geoffroy returned from the Crusade and assumed charge of the estate, which was extended by the addition of manors in Suffolk, Essex and Kent. During his absence, Matilda took care of running the county and probably had her first son Geoffroyi. The second son, Thomas, was born probably in 1193, after her husband's return.

During the imprisonment of Richard the Lionheart, Geoffroy sided with John of England. After Richard was released in February 1194 in exchange for a large ransom, geoffroyi was temporarily imprisoned and his property was confiscateds. Freedom came in the autumn of 1195 and was their property was returned.

Geoffroy along with his younger brother Stephen again answered the call to attend the crusade, and from 1201 he was actively involved in its preparation. Departure for the expedition was forthcoming, because suddenly fell ill and died during Lent that year. His wife left for his salvation act of worship in the cathedral of Chartres and its commemoration of the collegiate church founded in Mortagne.

He took over the management of the property in the name of the minor son of Thomas and showed considerable political acumen when she managed to keep the English territory against uncle John Lacklands. Two years later he remarried, even before she could establish a Cistercian monastery Clairets. Bridegroom became the initiative of King Philip divorced Enguerrand III. of Coucy, a man with a family prone to brutality and violence. The marriage was childless and Matilda died in January 1209 or in 1210. English estates confiscated John Lackland and her son Thomas died eight years later at the Battle of Lincoln.

Ancestors

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