White Ship Disaster
Gone Medieval
00:00
The Problem With Female Rule
There wasn't really a concept at this time in England of a woman being able to rule in her own right. And Henry's answer to his dynastic issue then is to try and encourage people to swear this oath of loyalty to Matilda, Empress Matilda after his death. But he must have realised that that was difficult. I think there's an obvious other candidate in William Clito, the son of Robert Curtis, who we mentioned a little bit earlier. Do you think Henry ever countenanced allowing William Clito to be his heir? Would seem to have solved one of the problems of female rule, although it might have brought other problems with it.
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