Matilda II

Matilda II (20 May 1521 – 29 April 1571) was the final Lancastrian monarch of England and France and the first female monarch to rule England in her own right. During her reign, she co-ruled with her husband and distant cousin, Hugh II, who was also Duke of Burgundy. Matilda was the eldest daughter of Edward V of England and France, and the elder sister of Henry VIII, who reigned for a mere eight days.

Matilda's reign followed the internecine War of the English Succession, which saw the French and English parliaments, as well as all of Europe, disputing the rightful succession of Henry VIII. Following a ten-year war, both parliaments agreed to crown Matilda and Hugh, signing the Succession Act of 1548.

Although Matilda's namesake, Empress Matilda, was never formally crowned Queen of England, her numbering of "II" is used by scholars to differentiate the two.

Early life and marriage
Matilda was born in Windsor Castle on 20 May 1521, the sole daughter of Edward V of England and France and his wife, Margaret de Berry. Because her parents had eloped in secret and entered into a morganatic marriage, parliament doubted the ability for Matilda ever to rule. As she grew older, however, Matilda showed herself to be intelligent, capable, and even, to the surprise of her tutors, military wisdom. Above all, she was exemplary in the arts, taking solace in literature, music, painting, and linguistics. By sixteen years old, she had developed into a beautiful maiden with suitors across all of Europe.

Seeing no prospect of a son, Edward V eventually resigned to hosting a great ball in London to sponsor matches to his daughter. Many magnates and princes from across the continent attended. However, it is a coincidental paradox that many such nobles were stricken by the "princess' curse". For example:
 * The young and handsome Alexander V of Scotland attempted to show Matilda his skills at falconry, only to be clawed in the face by his own falcon.
 * Prince John of Naples tripped over whilst navigating Westminster, breaking a leg.
 * Charles FitzWilliam, Earl of Durham, famously handsome and wealthy within the north of England, choked on a fig at the dinner feast and had to be escorted out.
 * The pretender Prince Louis de Valois travelled to England ask for the princess' hand, but was promptly arrested and thrown into the stocks.
 * Sir James Harcourt and Sir Vincent Montgomery both fought a duel for the princess' hand, but both were killed.

Eventually, the only suitor considered worthy for the marriage was the rich and eminent Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy. They married by proxy on 2 August 1537 and Matilda departed England for Dijon three days after.