King Stephen (1135 - 1154)
Name: King Stephen
Born: c.1097 at Blois, France
Parents: Stephen, Count of Blois, and Adela (daughter of William I)
Relation to Charles III: 1st cousin 26 times removed
House of: Blois
Ascended to the throne: December 22, 1135
Crowned: December 26, 1135 at Westminster Abbey
Married: Matilda, Daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne
Children: 3 sons and 2 daughters, plus at least 5 illegitimate children
Died: October 25, 1154 at Dover, Kent
Buried at: Faversham, Kent
Reigned for: 18 years, 10 months, 3 days
Succeeded by: Henry II his 1st cousin once removed
King of England from 1135. A grandson of William the Conqueror, he was elected king in 1135, although he had previously recognized Henry I's daughter Matilda as heiress to the throne. Matilda landed in England in 1139, and civil war disrupted the country with fighting between Stephen and forces loyal to Matilda. Stephen was briefly taken prisoner and Matilda declared Queen until she was defeated at the Battle of Farringdon in 1145. In 1153 Stephen acknowledged Matilda's son, Henry II, as his own heir
Timeline for King Stephen
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1135 | Stephen usurps the throne from Matilda, Henry’s daughter. |
| 1136 | The Earl of Norfolk leads the first rebellion against Stephen starting civil war known as 'The Anarchy'. |
| 1136 | Owain Gwynedd of Wales defeats the English at Crug Mawr |
| 1138 | Robert, Earl of Gloucester, an illegitimate son of Henry I, deserts Stephen and pledges allegiance to Matilda. |
| 1138 | David I of Scotland invades England in support of his niece, Matilda, but is defeated at Northallerton. |
| 1139 | Matilda leaves France and lands in England. |
| 1141 | Matilda’s forces take Stephen prisoner at the Battle of Lincoln, and Matilda is proclaimed queen. |
| 1141 | Earl Robert is captured and exchanged for Stephen’s freedom. |
| 1145 | Stephen defeats Matilda’s forces at the Battle of Faringdon. |
| 1148 | Matilda abandons her cause and leaves England. |
| 1147 | Matilda's son Henry Plantagenet (later Henry II) invades England but runs out of money. Stephen pays for Henry's return to Normandy |
| 1151 | Matilda's husband Geoffrey of Anjou dies and their son, Henry Plantagenet, succeeds his father as Count of Anjou. |
| 1153 | Henry lands in England again, and gathers support for further war against Stephen. |
| 1153 | Henry and Stephen agree terms for ending the civil war. Under the terms of the Treaty of Westminster, Stephen is to remain King for life, but thereafter the throne passes to Henry. |
| 1154 | Stephen dies. |