If you are a lover of history, you would agree that the story of women across the world is not fully told with depth and you might want to read about the queen who wasn't just a passerby in the history of time but made a real impact.

In the city of Caen, Normandy, the Abbey of Holy Trinity stands as a testament to ambition, devotion, and vision, the church was built in 1066 by Queen Mathilda of Flanders, the same year her husband, Duke William, successfully subjugated England and became King William I.

Well this story holds more than stone and history; it holds a story that stretches across kingdoms, battles, and centuries. Mathilda’s tomb lies in the choir of the abbey, marked by its original black marble slab, and centuries of ceremonies have passed over it, weddings, baptisms, prayers — each life intersecting, however briefly, with the legacy of a queen whose actions shaped nations.

To study the life of Mathilda is to actually encounter the tangible impact of history. She was not a queen defined only by her title, but by her choices, her body, and her works.

Laura L. Gathagan’s The Queenship of Mathilda of Flanders highlights this by exploring her queenship through her bodily presence, showing how her life and physical acts intertwined with political, social, and spiritual power.

Influence and the Power of Action

Mathilda was born around 1031 into the ducal family of Flanders, daughter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, and Adela, daughter of King Robert II of France. Royal blood alone did not define her life. When she married Duke William of Normandy in 1051, she defied a papal ban, demonstrating early on that her agency was her own, not subject to the whims of male rulers or clerical authority.

By 1066, the year she founded the Abbey of Holy Trinity, her husband sailed to conquer England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. Mathilda was heavily pregnant with her ninth child when she was crowned queen in Westminster Abbey in 1068, an unprecedented ceremony reflecting both her status and her unique role in the newly conquered England.

She spent much of her remaining years balancing governance, motherhood, and charitable work, ruling in her husband’s absence and navigating the intricate politics of the Norman-English realm.

Gathagan’s biography frames Mathilda’s life through her body: chapters titled Hands, Fingers, Womb, Mouth, and even Corpse emphasize the tangible impact of her actions. She commissioned a warship to aid the conquest of England, curated relics for her abbey, donated lavish ecclesiastical vestments, and even acted as a judge, a role never before held by an English queen.

This is to show that true power is measured by action, not title and influence is earned through deeds, not merely inherited privilege. Mathilda demonstrates that power is not abstract; it is a function of what one actually accomplishes.

Legacy, Leadership, and Lessons Across Time

If you can, you can actually read about the life of Mathilda and truly get to understand the full heritage of her existence for yourself, because you can only grasp the importance of something fully at the level of your knowledge.

Mathilda’s life teaches lessons in leadership and legacy that resonate across centuries. Her tomb in Caen is a silent reminder that lasting influence is both physical and symbolic.

Every decision, founding abbeys, commissioning ships, raising her children, supporting rebels, left a tangible imprint on history. Her legacy reminds us that leadership is not about passive authority but about meaningful action.

And if you are very observant you would notice that three enduring lessons are emerging from her story:

• Agency Matters – Mathilda never waited for approval. She acted decisively, whether in governance, family affairs, and religious patronage during her time.

• Influence Is Tangible – Her projects, decisions, and interventions had real, lasting effects on communities, politics, and culture.

• Legacy Is Built Through Action – Titles and wealth will always fade, but the outcomes of deliberate, intentional choices endure.

Mathilda’s achievements also highlight her humanity. Nine pregnancies, political negotiations, and overseeing charitable works would overwhelm even the most organized modern executive.

This is not just a usual routine for any woman or mother, her multitasking ability, resilience, and vision demonstrate that leadership requires both intellect and endurance, qualities that resonate even today.

Her story also serves as a counterpoint to historical narratives that reduce queens to their reproductive roles or silent roles in royalty without a voice to speak.

By focusing on her hands, her judgments, and her physical contributions to society, Gathagan humanizes Mathilda, reminding us that women’s power in history has always been real, multi-dimensional, and historically significant.

Conclusion: Building History With Your Own Hands

Maybe you are not a queen like Mathilda but you too can build history with your own hand, you can control the trajectory of your life and allow it to happen by chance.

You have all it takes to make a tremendous impact. One that will outlive you just like queen Mathilda.

This is because Queen Mathilda of Flanders lived a life that spanned kingdoms and centuries, leaving a legacy that continues to teach and inspire. Her abbey still stands today; her tomb is still quietly observed today; and her story bridges the distant past with lessons that remain relevant today.

History is often perceived as a collection of dates, battles, and lineages, but Mathilda’s life shows that it is also the result of action, choice, and presence.

For anyone seeking to leave a mark, whether in leadership, business, or community, Mathilda's life offers a blueprint: act decisively, leave tangible contributions, and ensure your influence endures beyond the immediate moment. Power, agency, and legacy are timeless; Mathilda mastered them all, building history with her own hands.