Adela of Normandy, daughter of William the Conqueror, was the mother of Stephen, King of England, whose right to the throne derived through her. She was married to Stephen, Count of Meaux en Brie. Upon the death of his father in 1090, her husband succeeded to the counties of Blois and Chartres. She took an active interest in civil and ecclesiastical affairs and was instrumental in rebuilding the cathedral of Chartres in stone.

In 1095 Adela became Regent when her husband took part in the first crusade. He had no enthusiasm for this duty but Adela considered that he ought to go, so he went. There was never any nonsense in their household about who made the decisions---she did. Stephen de Blois went together with Adela's brother, Robert, Duke of Normandy. In 1099, Stephen returned to France but was forced by Adela to return to the East to redeem his, according to Adela, 'tarnished' reputation, which he did by being killed in the battle of Ramleh, on 19 May 1102.

Adela continued as Regent during the minority of her sons and was increasingly active in public life. Anselm, her guest and teacher in 1097, was often entertained by her during 1103 and 1105. Consequently she affected a temporary reconciliation between him and her brother, King Henry I of England. In 1107 Adela entertained Pope Pascal during Easter and the following year was hostess to Boemund of Antiochia.

She made her son Thibaud her successor in 1109 and entered a convent in the diocese of Autun. Here she continued to wield an important influence in public and clerical affairs. She persuaded Thibaut to join her brother, Henri I, against France in 1117 and was a benevolent patroness of churches and monasteries. She died in 1137 and was buried at Caen. 

Source: Leo van de Pas