Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The GRUESOME DEATH of Matilda de Briouze in 1210 is remembered as the case of the mother who ate her own son and is one of the darkest stories in medieval English history and possibly the worst thing King John ever did. The year was 1210 and after being on the run for over a year, the middle-aged Lady of Bramber, as she was also known and her eldest child were captured by the ruthless King John, who had fallen out with the once favoured de Briouze family. Imprisoned in either Windsor Castle or Corffe Castle they were locked in a dungeon, supposedly with only a piece of raw bacon and a sheaf of oats between them and left to go mad with starvation. When the door was finally opened eleven days later, what was found was like a scene out of a horror movie. Both were dead and Matilda had seemingly gnawed at her son’s face as the hunger took her.
In this medieval history documentary from History Calling I take you through the reasons that Matilda and William de Briouze were targeted, their attempts to escape first to Ireland then Scotland, how they were captured and murdered, how Matilda’s husband, also called William reacted and what Prince Arthur of Brittany’s murder had to do with it all. I’ll also tell you how the English barons reacted to this horrific murder of a noblewoman and her child and how the episode damaged the reign and authority of King John and influenced the creation of Magna Carta, written just five years later.
As I uncover this dark story of cannibalism in a dungeon and what happened to Matilda de Briouze, I’ll use original medieval sources including the Histoire des ducs de Normandie, the Annals of Margan (or Annals of Margam) and Roger of Wendover’s Flowers of History.
Please note that you may also see Matilda called Matilda de Braose, Maud de Briouze, Maud de Braose, Matilda de St Valéry (which was her maiden name) or Maud de St Valéry in historical accounts.
If you love chilling stories from the past, royal scandals and true crime from the Middle Ages, make sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any of my deep dives into history’s most shocking events.
#MatildaDeBraose #MatildaDeBriouze #MaudDeBraose #MaudDeBriouze
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
ALL THE ENGLISH MONARCHS 1066-1603
youtu.be/4N70g5funMY
ALL THE BRITISH MONARCHS 1603-NOW
youtu.be/7FlLvV_JXuo
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
The GRUESOME DEATH of Matilda de Briouze in 1210 is remembered as the case of the mother who ate her own son and is one of the darkest stories in medieval English history and possibly the worst thing King John ever did. The year was 1210 and after being on the run for over a year, the middle-aged Lady of Bramber, as she was also known and her eldest child were captured by the ruthless King John, who had fallen out with the once favoured de Briouze family. Imprisoned in either Windsor Castle or Corffe Castle they were locked in a dungeon, supposedly with only a piece of raw bacon and a sheaf of oats between them and left to go mad with starvation. When the door was finally opened eleven days later, what was found was like a scene out of a horror movie. Both were dead and Matilda had seemingly gnawed at her son’s face as the hunger took her.
In this medieval history documentary from History Calling I take you through the reasons that Matilda and William de Briouze were targeted, their attempts to escape first to Ireland then Scotland, how they were captured and murdered, how Matilda’s husband, also called William reacted and what Prince Arthur of Brittany’s murder had to do with it all. I’ll also tell you how the English barons reacted to this horrific murder of a noblewoman and her child and how the episode damaged the reign and authority of King John and influenced the creation of Magna Carta, written just five years later.
As I uncover this dark story of cannibalism in a dungeon and what happened to Matilda de Briouze, I’ll use original medieval sources including the Histoire des ducs de Normandie, the Annals of Margan (or Annals of Margam) and Roger of Wendover’s Flowers of History.
Please note that you may also see Matilda called Matilda de Braose, Maud de Briouze, Maud de Braose, Matilda de St Valéry (which was her maiden name) or Maud de St Valéry in historical accounts.
If you love chilling stories from the past, royal scandals and true crime from the Middle Ages, make sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any of my deep dives into history’s most shocking events.
#MatildaDeBraose #MatildaDeBriouze #MaudDeBraose #MaudDeBriouze
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
ALL THE ENGLISH MONARCHS 1066-1603
youtu.be/4N70g5funMY
ALL THE BRITISH MONARCHS 1603-NOW
youtu.be/7FlLvV_JXuo
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
Blue Yeti Microphone: amzn.to/3FgEDYq
Go-Pro Hero 13 camera: amzn.to/41H4Xnt
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/3vaVxjU
Memory Card: amzn.to/3KeLZZs
DJI Drone: amzn.to/39hROZm
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
