In 1086, Mary and her sister,
Matilda, were sent by their parents to
Romsey Abbey. Their maternal aunt,
Christina, was abbess there. The girls spent their early years at the monastery, where they also received part of their education. Some time before 1093, they went to
Wilton Abbey, which also had a reputation as a centre of learning, to finish their education. Matilda received many proposals for marriage but refused them all for the time being. Matilda finally left the monastery in 1100 to marry King
Henry I of England. The marriage was controversial because it was not clear whether the girls had been veiled as nuns. Mary herself had left the abbey in 1096. Matilda wanted her to marry as well, so Henry I arranged a match with
Eustace III, Count of Boulogne. The couple had a daughter,
Matilda, who succeeded Eustace and later became
Queen of England. Mary died in 1116, nine years before her husband. She was buried at the
Cluniac abbey at Bermondsey. == References ==