Matilda of Chester, Countess of Huntingdon

Matilda of Chester
Countess of Huntingdon
Born	1171
Died	6 January 1233
Spouse(s)	David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon
Issue	John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdonand7th Earl of Chester Henry of Huntingdon Robert of Huntingdon Margaret of Huntingdon Isobel of Huntingdon Ada of Huntingdon Matilda of Huntingdon
Parents	Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester Bertrade de Montfort

Matilda of Chester,Countess of Huntingdon(1171 – 6 January 1233)was anAnglo-Normannoblewoman, sometimes known asMaudand sometimes known with the surnamede Kevelioc.She was a daughter ofHugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester,and the wife ofDavid of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon.

Family

Lady Maude was born in 1171, the eldest child of Hugh de Kevelioc (aka Hugh de Meschines), 5th Earl of Chester and Bertrade de Montfort, a cousin of KingHenry II of England.Her paternal grandparents wereRanulf de GernonandMaud (Matilda) of Gloucester,the granddaughter of KingHenry I of England,and her maternal grandparents wereSimon III de Montfort,Count of Évreux and Mahaut.

Lady Matilda's five siblings were:

• Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester
• Richard(died young)
• Mabel of Chester,Countess of Arundel
• Agnes (Alice) of Chester, Countess of Derby
• Hawise of Chester, Countess of Lincoln.

She also had a sister, Amice (or Amicia) of Chester, who may have been illegitimate.

Matilda's father died in 1181 when she was ten years of age. He had served in King Henry's Irish campaigns after his estates had been restored to him in 1177. They had been confiscated by the King as a result of his taking part in the baronialRevolt of 1173–1174.His son Ranulf succeeded him asEarl of Chester,and Matilda became a co-heiress of her brother.

Dervorguilla of Galloway,a granddaughter of Matilda of Chester

Marriage and issue

On 26 August 1190, she marriedDavid of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon,a Scottish prince, son ofHenry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon,and a younger brother ofMalcolm IV of ScotlandandWilliam I of Scotland.He was almost twenty years Matilda's senior. The marriage was recorded byBenedict of Peterborough.

David and Matilda had seven children:

• Margaret of Huntingdon(c. 1194 – after 1 June 1233), marriedAlan, Lord of Galloway,by whom she had two daughters, includingDervorguilla of Galloway.
• Robert of Huntingdon (died young)
• Ada of Huntingdon, married SirHenry de Hastings,by whom she had one son,Henry de Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings.
• Matilda (Maud) of Huntingdon (-aft.1219, unmarried)
• Isobel of Huntingdon(1199–1251), marriedRobert Bruce, 4th Lord of Annandale,by whom she had two sons, includingRobert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale.
• John of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon(1207 – 6 June 1237), marriedElen ferch Llywelyn.He succeeded his uncleRanulfasEarl of Chesterin 1232, but died childless.
• Henry of Huntingdon (died young)

Her husband David had four illegitimate children by various mistresses.

On her brother Ranulf's death in October 1232 Matilda inherited a share in his estates with her other 3 sisters, and his Earldom of Chestersuo jure.Less than a month later with the consent of the King, Matilda gave aninter vivosgift of the Earldom to her sonJohn the Scotwho became Earl of Chester by right of his mother.He was formally invested by King Henry III as Earl of Chester on 21 November 1232.He became Earl of Chester in his own right on the death of his mother six weeks later.

Matilda died on 6 January 1233 at the age of about sixty-two. Her husband had died in 1219. In 1290, upon the death ofMargaret, Maid of Norway,which caused the extinction of the legitimate line of William I, the descendants of David and Matilda became primecompetitors for the crown of Scotland,includingJohn Balliol,who was chosen king, andRobert de Brus,grandfather of kingRobert I.