Matilda was the third daughter of Emperor Otto II and Empress Theophanu.

It was presumed that Matilda would stay in the abbey and become an abbess like her older sisters Adelaide and Sophia.

Matilda lived a different life from her two sisters; she was to marry Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia.

The family gave the couple large gifts to secure an adequate standard of living.

Later romantic embellishments even claimed Ezzo had previously been secretly in love with the young Matilda.