Empress Matilda (1102–1167) was a claimant to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter of King Henry I, she moved to Germany to marry the future Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. Her younger brother died in 1120, leaving a succession crisis. On Henry V’s death in 1125, her father arranged for her to marry Geoffrey of Anjou. Henry I nominated her as his heir before his death in 1135, but she faced opposition from the Norman barons and the throne was taken by her cousin Stephen of Blois. In 1139, Matilda travelled to England to take the crown by force. She captured Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, but crowds in London blocked her attempt to be crowned and she was never formally declared queen. Her half-brother was captured and Matilda exchanged him for Stephen. A stalemate developed and she returned to Normandy in 1148, leaving her eldest son—later Henry II—to continue the campaign. She then focused on leading Normandy and giving her son political advice. (Full article…)

• … that Mongush Buyan-Badyrgy (pictured) helped his country go “right from a feudal system to a society of democratic norms”?
• … that the trope of the found manuscript, in which a fictional work refers to another fictional work of literature, dates as far back as ancient Egypt?
• … that Izawa Takushi is called the “Quiz King from Tokyo University“?
• … that when MV Solong struck MV Stena Immaculate in March 2025, the former ship was falsely reported to be carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide?
• … that while starting in place of Aaron Rodgers, backup quarterback Matt Flynn set the Green Bay Packers team record for passing yards (480) and touchdowns (6) in a victory against the Detroit Lions?
• … that the Dutch author of books for children and adults Clare Lennart finally turned to full-time writing after her husband retired and took care of the household?
• … that the Ten Arches Bridge in Amman, built as part of the Ottoman Hejaz railway, was one of the main targets for destruction during a 1918 Allied attack during World War I?
• … that Elizabeth Harcourt Mitchell wrote A Short Church History, which was used as a textbook for pupil teachers?
• … that the codename “Neo” was used when writing the return of EastEnders character Keanu Taylor, in reference to the protagonist of The Matrix?