What was the stance of the English Church towards Matilda's claim to the English throne?
Supportive
Indifferent
Opposed
Unresponsive
Answer
Although Matilda was the daughter of Henry I and was the first-born of his children, the English Church opposed her claim to the throne because she was a woman. The Church did not believe that women should rule, and they supported the claim of Matilda's cousin, Stephen of Blois, instead.
The Regal Rivalry: Unveiling Empress Matilda's Quest for the English Throne