Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is declared the Lady of the English by Bishop Henry of Winchester following her victory at the Battle of Lincoln during the Anarchy civil war. This title was used rather than "Queen" because she had not yet been crowned. This event marked the height of her power, as she controlled much of the southwest of England.
Her reign was short-lived; arrogance and heavy tax demands led to a rebellion in London, forcing her to flee to Oxford. She continued to fight for her son, Henry II, who would later secure the throne. She returned to Normandy in 1148 where she served as a political advisor and aiding her son in establishing the Plantagenet dynasty.
