Matilda of England, also known as Empress Matilda, was born in 1102 as the daughter of King Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland. She was the first female heir to the English throne and played a significant role in the political landscape of 12th-century England. Matilda was married to Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, which strengthened her claim to power in both England and the Holy Roman Empire. After her father's death in 1135, Matilda's cousin, Stephen of Blois, seized the throne, leading to a civil war known as the Anarchy. Matilda fought to reclaim her rights, gaining support from powerful nobles. Although she never ruled as queen, her efforts laid the groundwork for her son, Henry II, to eventually ascend the throne, establishing the Plantagenet dynasty.