Biography of King Stephen I England 1094-1154

Paternal Family Tree: Blois

Maternal Family Tree: Gerberge Unknown Viscountess Anjou

1135 Death of King Henry I

1135 Coronation of King Stephen

1138 Battle of the Standard aka Northallerton

1141 First Battle of Lincoln

1153 Henry II sails to England

1153 Henry II Relieves Wallingford Castle

1153 Treaty of Wallingford aka Winchester aka Westminster

1153 Eustace of Blois Dies

1154 Death of King Stephen

In 1080 [his father] Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres (age 35) and [his mother] Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 13) were married at Chartres [Map]. She by marriage Countess Blois. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 52) and [his grandmother] Matilda Flanders Queen Consort England (age 49). He the son of [his grandfather] Theobald Blois III Count Blois (age 68) and [his grandmother] Gersenda Maine Countess Blois. They were third cousins.

Around 1094 King Stephen I England was born to Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres (age 49) and Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 27). He a grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

On 19th May 1102 [his father] Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres (age 57) died. His son [his brother] William (age 17) succeeded Count Blois, Count Chartres.

In 1123 Furness Abbey [Map] was founded by Stephen Count of Boulogne (age 29), the future King Stephen, as an Order of Savigny.

Around 1125 Bishop Hugh de Puiset was born to Hugh III of Le Puiset and [his sister] Agnes Blois. He was, through his mother, a nephew of King Stephen I England (age 31). He a great grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

In 1125 King Stephen I England (age 31) and Matilda Flanders (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Eustace Flanders III Count Boulogne and Mary Dunkeld Countess Boulogne. He the son of Stephen Blois II Count Blois and Chartres and Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 58). They were half fourth cousin once removed. He a grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.

Around 1130 [his son] Eustace Blois IV Count Boulogne was born to King Stephen I England (age 36) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 25).

In 1133 [his daughter] Matilda Blois Countess of Worcester was born to King Stephen I England (age 39) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 28).

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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Around 1135 [his son] Baldwin Blois died.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. [1st December 1135]. In this year went the [his uncle] King Henry (age 67) over sea at the Lammas; and the next day, as he lay asleep on ship, the day darkened over all lands, and the sun was all as it were a three night old moon, and the stars about him at midday. Men were very much astonished and terrified, and said that a great event should come hereafter. So it did; for that same year was the king dead, the next day after St. Andrew's mass-day [01 Dec 1135], in Normandy. Then was there soon tribulation in the land; for every man that might, soon robbed another. Then his sons and his friends took his body, and brought it to England, and buried it at Reading. A good man he was; and there was great dread of him. No man durst do wrong with another in his time. Peace he made for man and beast. Whoso bare his burthen of gold and silver, durst no man say ought to him but good. Meanwhile was his nephew come to England, Stephen de Blois (age 41).

Death of King Henry I

On 1st December 1135 [his uncle] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 67) died at Lyons-la-Forêt, Normandy [Map]. The succession fell between Henrys daughter Empress Matilda (age 33) and Henry's nephew King Stephen I England (age 41), son of [his mother] Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 68) daughter of [his grandfather] King William "Conqueror" I of England. The period from 1135 to 1153 during which the succession was fought over is known as The Anarchy.

The phrase "surfeit of lampreys" to describe the cause of his death appears first to have been used in the Chronicle of Richard Baker. "Lampreys", in Latin "murenarum", may mean "eel". The word is used in the Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon and The Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover.

On 3rd January 1136 [his uncle] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England was buried at Reading Abbey, Berkshire [Map]. The Archbishop of Canterbury William of Corbeil (age 66), Bishop of Winchester [his brother] Henry of Blois (age 38), Bishop Roger of Sailsbury and Edwar,d Abbot of Reading, were present at the burial, where masses were sung, rich offerings made and alms were distributed to the poor of Reading. The dead king's effigy was displayed on a hearse, and his body was buried in a tomb before the abbey church's High Altar, while King Stephen (age 42) sat enthroned watching the rituals. The abbey church and the ground immediately outside became a desirable location for other royals and nobles to be buried.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In this king's time was all dissention, and evil, and rapine; for against him rose soon the rich men who were traitors; and first of all Baldwin de Redvers, who held Exeter, Devon [Map] against him. But the king beset it; and afterwards Baldwin accorded. Then took the others, and held their castles against him; and David, King of Scotland, took to Wessington against him. Nevertheless their messengers passed between them; and they came together, and were settled, but it availed little.

Coronation of King Stephen

                    On 22nd December 1135 King Stephen I England (age 41) was crowned King of England by Archibishop of Canterbury William de Corbeil (age 65).
                
                    The date of his coronation described differently by many Chroniclers:
                
                    Florence of Worcester: "on the thirteenth of the calends of January" i.e. 20th December 1135.
                
                    Orderic Vitalis: "on the eighteenth of the calends of January" i.e. 15th December 1135; the editor provided a note suggesting this date is incorrect and the correct date is the 26th December 1135.
                
                    The Annals of Winchester: "on the 22nd day after the death of his uncle, on the 1st of January." We should note that if King Henry died on the 1st  December this date would refer to the 22nd or 23rd of December.
                
                    Roger of Wendover's Flowers of History: "on the day of the proto-martyr St. Stephen" i.e. 26th December 1135.
                
                    Chronicle of Richard Baker: "and so upon St. Stephen's day, in Anno 1135"  i.e. 26th December 1135.
                
                    Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: "on midwinter day" i.e. probably 20th or 21st of December but possibly the 25th.
                
                    Matthew Paris Chronica Majora: "on the Feast of Saint Stephen" i.e. 26th December 1135.

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The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy by Orderic Vitalis. 15th December 1135. As soon as Stephen, count of Boulogne (age 41), heard of his uncle's death¹ he immediately crossed over to England, and being well received by William, archbishop of Canterbury, and the other bishops and temporal lords, ascended the throne, and was crowned on the eighteenth of the calends of January [15th December], being the fourth king of the Norman race who reigned in England.

Note 1. Stephen was probably at Boulogne when he heard of his uncle's death, and he lost not a moment in taking a swift vessel and crossing over to England. The auguries were unfavourable, for, on the morning of his embarkation, although it was in the depth of winter, there was a violent thunder-storm, and the peals were so loud, that people thought, we are told, that the end of the world was come.

Note 2. The coronation took place not on the 15th, but, according to most of the chroniclers, on the 26th of December, the feast of his patron saint, The ceremony was performed by William de Curboil, archbishop of Canterbury, with such carelessness, that he let the consecrated host fall on the ground. Perhaps his conscience was troubled by his perjury; of which all present were guilty, commencing with the archbishop himself, of whom it was predicted, that he would not outlive the year, in punishment of his treason; and this actually happened. It must be recollected, that Henry had caused all the great men of the realm to take the oath of fealty to his daughter, as his successor, twice at least; once at the council of Northampton, before she left England to be confined at Mans, the other ceremony dated back to a period anterior to Matilda's second marriage, probably in the winter or early spring-time of 1127. On this occasion, it was very solemn. The archbishop was the first of the ecclesiastics who took the oath, and after him followed all the bishops and abbots. Then came the king of Scots, Stephen count de Mortain, and the earl of Gloucester; and there was a great discussion among them as to which of them should swear first, It appears that there was a third oath of fealty after the birth of Prince Henry; but several of the great men who had taken the first, and among others Roger, bishop of Salisbury, pretended to be released from their obligation, the king having married his daughter to a foreigner without consulting them.

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Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 20th December 1135, possibly 21st December. He [Stephen de Blois (age 41)] came to London, and the people of London received him, and sent after the Archbishop William Curboil (age 65), and hallowed him to king on midwinter day.

. 20th December 1135 ... and Stephen (age 41), his sister's son, being elected to the kingdom of England, was consecrated king, by William (age 65), archbishop of Canterbury, on the thirteenth of the calends of January [20th December], at London, where he held his court, at Christmas, surrounded by the nobles of England, with great courtesy and royal pomp.

Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover 1135. 26th December 1135. When Henry was dead, but before his body was buried, as I have before related, Stephen (age 41), his nephew by his sister Adela, wife of Theobald count of Boulogne, and brother of Theobald the younger, count of Blois, a man of great bravery and vigour, although he had taken the oath of fidelity to the empress, now tempted God, and seized the crown of the kingdom. For when the nobles of the kingdom were assembled at London, he promised that the laws should be reformed to the satisfaction of every one of them, and William archbishop of Canterbury, who was the first of all the nobles to take the oath of fidelity to the empress as queen of England, now consecrated Stephen to be king. In fine, all the bishops, earls, and barons, who had sworn fealty to the king's daughter and her heirs, gave their adherence to king Stephen, saying that it would be a shame for so many nobles to submit themselves to a woman. Meanwhile, Hugh Bigod, king Henry's seneschal, took the oath, and proved before the archbishop of Canterbury, that whilst the king was on his death-bed, he disinherited the empress, and made Stephen his successor. Wherefore, on the day of the proto-martyr St. Stephen, the new king received the crown of the kingdom from the hands of William archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster, amid the acclamations and favour of the people; and a royal banquet was held with the utmost splendour. The coronation was completed with much magnificence, and when the ceremony of doing homage was finished, king Stephen proceeded to Oxford, where he confirmed the promises which he had made to God, the people, and the holy church, on the day of his coronation, as follows:

The Feast Day of St Stephen the 26th of December probably chosen since he was his namesake.

Chronicle of the Kings of England by Richard Baker. 26th December 1135 ... and so upon St. Stephen's day, in Anno 1135, he [King Stephen I England (age 41)] was Crowned at Westminster, in the presence of but three Bishops, few of the Nobility, and not one Abbit, by William Archbishop of Canterbury, with great solemnity.

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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

Chronica Majora. 26th December 1135. Therefore, on the Feast of Saint Stephen, with the favour of all, the often-mentioned Stephen (age 41) received the crown through the ministry of William, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster, and he was acclaimed king by all, and he celebrated the royal feast splendidly. After the coronation was magnificently completed and the homages were received, King Stephen proceeded to Oxford, where he confirmed the agreements that he had granted to God, the people, and the Holy Church on the day of his coronation. These were as follows:

Igitur in die Sancti Stephani, omnium favore Stephanus sæpe dictus per ministerium Willelmi Cantuariensis archiepiscopi apud Westmonasterinm diadema suscepit, et rex est ab omnibus acclamatus, et regale festum splendide celebravit. Coronatione itaque magnifice completa, homagiis receptis, perrexit rex Stephanus ad Oxoniam, ibi confirmavit pacta, quæ Deo et populo atque ecclesim sanctes in die coronationis sue concesserat, quæ hæc fuerunt:

Annals of Winchester. 1st January 1136. His [King Henry I's] nephew Stephen (age 42) came to England, and after breaking the treaty he had made with a solemn oath, a treaty made with the consent of his daughter, Queen Matilda, and witnessed by his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester, Roger of Salisbury, William, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the people of London, he was crowned in London almost clandestinely on the 22nd day after the death of his uncle, on the 1st of January.¹

Stephanus autem nepos ejus venit Angliam, et rupto fœdere quod cum sacramento fide interposita filiæ Leonis justitiæ fecerat, consentientibus sibi tantum Henrico Wintoniensi episcopo fratre suo, et Rogero Saresbiriensi, et Willelmo archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, et Londoniensibus, apud Londoniam quasi furtive coronatus est kal. Januarii, die vicesima secunda post decessum avunculi.

Note. His uncler King Henry I died on the 1st of December so the twenty-second day after would be the 22nd or 23rd of December?

Before 1136 [his son] Adela Blois died.

In 1136 [his daughter] Marie Blois I Countess Boulogne was born to King Stephen I England (age 42) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 31).

Around March 1136 [his son-in-law] Waleran Beaumont 1st Earl of Worcester Count Meulan (age 32) and [his daughter] Matilda Blois Countess of Worcester (age 3) were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. The difference in their ages was 29 years. She the daughter of King Stephen I England (age 42) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 31). He the son of Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan and Elizabeth Capet Countess Leicester, Meulan and Surrey. They were third cousin once removed.

Around 1137 [his son] William Blois I Count Boulogne was born to King Stephen I England (age 43) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 32).

In 1137 [his daughter] Matilda Blois Countess of Worcester (age 4) died.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1137. This year went the King Stephen (age 43) over sea to Normandy, and there was received; for that they concluded that he should be all such as the uncle was; and because he had got his treasure: but he dealed it out, and scattered it foolishly. Much had [his uncle] King Henry gathered, gold and silver, but no good did men for his soul thereof. When the King Stephen came to England, he held his council at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map]; where he seized the Bishop Roger of Sarum, and Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, and the chancellor Roger, his nephew; and threw all into prison till they gave up their castles. When the traitors understood that he was a mild man, and soft, and good, and no justice executed, then did they all wonder. They had done him homage, and sworn oaths, but they no truth maintained. They were all forsworn, and forgetful of their troth; for every rich man built his castles, which they held against him: and they filled the land full of castles. They cruelly oppressed the wretched men of the land with castle-works; and when the castles were made, they filled them with devils and evil men. Then took they those whom they supposed to have any goods, both by night and by day, labouring men and women, and threw them into prison for their gold and silver, and inflicted on them unutterable tortures; for never were any martyrs so tortured as they were. Some they hanged up by the feet, and smoked them with foul smoke; and some by the thumbs, or by the head, and hung coats of mail on their feet. They tied knotted strings about their heads, and twisted them till the pain went to the brains. They put them into dungeons, wherein were adders, and snakes, and toads; and so destroyed them. Some they placed in a crucet-house; that is, in a chest that was short and narrow, and not deep; wherein they put sharp stones, and so thrust the man therein, that they broke all the limbs. In many of the castles were things loathsome and grim, called "Sachenteges", of which two or three men had enough to bear one. It was thus made: that is, fastened to a beam; and they placed a sharp iron [collar] about the man's throat and neck, so that he could in no direction either sit, or lie, or sleep, but bear all that iron. Many thousands they wore out with hunger. I neither can, nor may I tell all the wounds and all the pains which they inflicted on wretched men in this land. This lasted the nineteen winters while Stephen was king; and it grew continually worse and worse. They constantly laid guilds on the towns, and called it "tenserie"; and when the wretched men had no more to give, then they plundered and burned all the towns; that well thou mightest go a whole day's journey and never shouldest thou find a man sitting in a town, nor the land tilled. Then was corn dear, and flesh, and cheese, and butter; for none was there in the land. Wretched men starved of hunger. Some had recourse to alms, who were for a while rich men, and some fled out of the land. Never yet was there more wretchedness in the land; nor ever did heathen men worse than they did: for, after a time, they spared neither church nor churchyard, but took all the goods that were therein, and then burned the church and all together. Neither did they spare a bishop's land, or an abbot's, or a priest's, but plundered both monks and clerks; and every man robbed another who could. If two men, or three, came riding to a town, all the township fled for them, concluding them to be robbers. The bishops and learned men cursed them continually, but the effect thereof was nothing to them; for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and abandoned. To till the ground was to plough the sea: the earth bare no corn, for the land was all laid waste by such deeds; and they said openly, that Christ slept, and his saints. Such things, and more than we can say, suffered we nineteen winters for our sins. In all this evil time held Abbot Martin his abbacy twenty years and a half, and eight days, with much tribulation; and found the monks and the guests everything that behoved them; and held much charity in the house; and, notwithstanding all this, wrought on the church, and set thereto lands and rents, and enriched it very much, and bestowed vestments upon it. And he brought them into the new minster on St. Peter's mass-day with much pomp; which was in the year, from the incarnation of our Lord, 1140, and in the twenty-third from the destruction of the place by fire. And he went to Rome, and there was well received by the Pope Eugenius; from whom he obtained their privileges:-one for all the lands of the abbey, and another for the lands that adjoin to the churchyard; and, if he might have lived longer, so he meant to do concerning the treasury. And he got in the lands that rich men retained by main strength. Of William Malduit, who held the castle of Rockingham, he won Cotingham and Easton; and of Hugh de Walteville, he won Hirtlingbury and Stanwick, and sixty shillings from Oldwinkle each year. And he made many monks, and planted a vine-yard, and constructed many works, and made the town better than it was before. He was a good monk, and a good man; and for this reason God and good men loved him. Now we will relate in part what happened in King Stephen's time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him after the same manner as our Lord was tortured; and on Long-Friday¹⁶⁴ hanged him on a rood, in mockery of our Lord, and afterwards buried him. They supposed that it would be concealed, but our Lord showed that he was a holy martyr. And the monks took him, and buried him with high honour in the minster. And through our Lord he worketh wonderful and manifold miracles, and is called St. William.

Note 164. Now called "Good-Friday".

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On 8th March 1137 [his mother] Adela Normandy Countess Blois (age 70) died.

In 1138 Gilbert de Lacy was besieged by King Stephen I England (age 44) at Weobley Castle, Hereforshire [Map].

Battle of the Standard aka Northallerton

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 22nd August 1138. In this year came David, King of Scotland (age 54), with an immense army to this land. He was ambitious to win this land; but against him came William, Earl of Albemarle (age 37), to whom the king (age 44) had committed York, and other borderers, with few men, and fought against them, and routed the king at the Standard, and slew very many of his gang.

In 1139 Josce de Dinan and Sybil de Lacy were married by which he gained control of Ludlow Castle [Map]. The marriage arranged by King Stephen I England (age 45).

In 1139 [his son-in-law] Harvey Le Breton 1st Earl of Wiltshire (age 29) and [his illegitimate daughter] Sybilla were married. She the illegitmate daughter of King Stephen I England (age 45).

First Battle of Lincoln

On 2nd February 1141 the army of Empress Matilda (age 38) commanded by Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 42) defeated the army of King Stephen I England (age 47). Matilda's army included Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 42) and Madog ap Maredudd Mathrafal Prince Powys. King Stephen I England, Gilbert Gaunt 1st Earl Lincoln (age 15), William "The Younger" Peverell (age 61) and Ilbert Lacy 3rd Baron Pontefract were captured. William of Blois 1st Earl Albemarle 1st Earl York (age 40) fought for Stephen, his cousin.

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Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1140. Thereafter died William, Archbishop of Canterbury; and the king (age 46) made Theobald (age 50) archbishop, who was Abbot of Bec. After this waxed a very great war betwixt the king and Randolph, Earl of Chester (age 41); not because he did not give him all that he could ask him, as he did to all others; but ever the more he gave them, the worse they were to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the king, and took away from him all that he ought to have. And the king went thither, and beset him and his brother William de Romare in the castle.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1140. In this year wished the King Stephen (age 46) to take Robert, Earl of Gloucester (age 41), the son of [his uncle] King Henry; but he could not, for he was aware of it.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1140. And the earl stole out, and went after Robert, Earl of Glocester (age 41), and brought him thither with a large army. And they fought strenuously on Candlemas day against their lord, and took him; for his men forsook him and fled. And they led him to Bristol, and there put him into prison in close quarters. Then was all England stirred more than ere was, and all evil was in the land. Afterwards came the daughter of [his uncle] King Henry, who had been Empress of Germany (age 37), and now was Countess of Anjou. She came to London; but the people of London attempted to take her, and she fled, losing many of her followers. After this the Bishop of Winchester, [his brother] Henry (age 42), the brother of King Stephen (age 46), spake with Earl Robert, and with the empress, and swore them oaths, "that he never more would hold with the king, his brother," and cursed all the men that held with him, and told them, that he would give them up Winchester; and he caused them to come thither. When they were therein, then came the king's queen with all her strength, and beset them, so that there was great hunger therein. When they could no longer hold out, then stole they out, and fled; but those without were aware, and followed them, and took Robert, Earl of Glocester, and led him to Rochester, and put him there into prison; but the empress fled into a monastery. Then went the wise men between the king's friends and the earl's friends; and settled so that they should let the king out of prison for the earl, and the earl for the king; and so they did. After this settled the king and Earl Randolph at Stamford, and swore oaths, and plighted their troth, that neither should betray the other. But it availed nothing. For the king afterwards took him at Northampton, through wicked counsel, and put him into prison; and soon after he let him out again, through worse counsel, on the condition that he swore by the crucifix, and found hostages, that he would give up all his castles. Some he gave up, and some gave he not up; and did then worse than he otherwise would. Then was England very much divided. Some held with the king, and some with the empress; for when the king was in prison, the earls and the rich men supposed that he never more would come out: and they settled with the empress, and brought her into Oxford, and gave her the borough. When the king was out, he heard of this, and took his force, and beset her in the tower.¹⁶⁵ And they let her down in the night from the tower by ropes. And she stole out, and fled, and went on foot to Wallingford [Map]. Afterwards she went over sea; and those of Normandy turned all from the king to the Earl of Anjou (age 26); some willingly, and some against their will; for he beset them till they gave up their castles, and they had no help of the king. Then went Eustace, the king's son, to France, and took to wife the sister of the King of France. He thought to obtain Normandy thereby; but he sped little, and by good right; for he was an evil man. Wherever he was, he did more evil than good; he robbed the lands, and levied heavy guilds upon them. He brought his wife to England, and put her into the castle at…¹⁶⁶ Good woman she was; but she had little bliss with him; and Christ would not that he should long reign. He therefore soon died, and his mother also. And the Earl of Anjou died; and his son Henry took to the earldom. And the Queen of France parted from the king; and she came to the young Earl Henry; and he took her to wife, and all Poitou with her. Then went he with a large force into England, and won some castles; and the king went against him with a much larger force. Nevertheless, fought they not; but the archbishop and the wise men went between them, and made this settlement: That the king should be lord and king while he lived, and after his day Henry should be king: that Henry should take him for a father; and he him for a son: that peace and union should be betwixt them, and in all England. This and the other provisions that they made, swore the king and the earl to observe; and all the bishops, and the earls, and the rich men. Then was the earl received at Winchester, and at London, with great worship; and all did him homage, and swore to keep the peace. And there was soon so good a peace as never was there before. Then was the king stronger than he ever was before. And the earl went over sea; and all people loved him; for he did good justice, and made peace.

Note 165. The tower of the castle at Oxford, built by D'Oyley, which still remains.

Note 166. The MS. is here deficient.

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Annals of Winchester. [1141]. In this year, King Stephen (age 47) came to Lincoln with a great army, thinking he could easily subdue the Earl of Chester (age 42) and his brother, along with their castle. However, Robert, Earl of Gloucester (age 42), whose sister [daughter] had been married to the Earl of Chester, came to their aid. Crossing the river Trent with difficulty, Robert and the Earl of Chester fought valiantly against the king and his forces. After many of the king's men were killed and captured, the king himself was captured, having been struck by a stone. He was then presented to the Empress Matilda (age 38), imprisoned in the castle, and held in chains. The Empress was received as the ruler by nearly all the leaders of England in Winchester, with the Lord Legate [his brother] Henry (age 43), the Bishop of Winchester, presiding over the ceremony. She received the homage and fealty of all. However, the people of London did not submit willingly, or if they did, they did so grudgingly. Regardless, they continually plotted against her. When she happened to be in London, they made every attempt to capture her, but she was forewarned, leaving her belongings behind and escaping with her supporters. Finally, a dispute arose between the legate and the Empress. The Empress and her followers held the royal castle and the eastern part of Winchester, along with the townsmen. The legate and his supporters held their castle with the western part of the city and the Londoners. To make a long story short, the city was set on fire and laid waste. The nunnery church was burned, as was the church of Hyde, and a large crucifix was stripped of over two hundred marks of silver and thirty marks of gold. In the end, the Earl was captured and released as part of a ransom deal with the king. And so, the others were exchanged for others. The king regained his realm.

MCXLI. Hoc anno venit rex Lincolniam cum magno exercitu, æstimans comitem Cestrensem cum fratre suo et castello facile sibi posse subicere. Sed Robertus comes Glouecestriæ, cujus sororem comes Cestrensis dudum duxerat, venit eis in auxilium. Transitoque, licet cum difficultate, flumine Trenta, cum invento ibi rege et exercitu viriliter dimicavit, et comes Cestrensis cum suis ex parte altera. Exclusus rex, interfectis multis ex suis et captis, ictu denique lapidis procumbens, captus est, et imperatrici præsentatus, et in castello in annulis missus. Imperatrix igitur a domino legato Henrico, Wintoniensi episcopo, et omnibus fere capitaneis Angliæ apud Wintoniam in dominam suscepta est, suscepitque omnium homagia et fidelitates. Londonienses tamen non fecerunt fidelitatem, aut si fecerunt hoc, inviti. Licet autem fecerunt an non, semper ei insidiabantur, ita ut cum forte fuisset Londoniæ, illam capere modis omnibus temptaverunt; sed præmunita, relictis supellectilibus suis, clanculo cum suis aufugit. Facta demum inter legatum et imperatricem discordia, imperatrix cum suis castellum tenuit regium et orientalem partem Wintoniæ, et burgenses cum ea; legatus cum suis castrum suum cum parte occidentali et Londoniensibus. Quid multa? Combusca est civitas et depopulata. Ecclesia sanctimonialiurn combusta, et ecclesia de Hida, et excrustata est magna crux, inventæqne sunt in illa plus quam D. marcæ argenti et auri xxx. Comes postremo captus est, et redditus pro excambio regis, et sic cæteri alii pro aliis. Recepitque regnum suum rex.

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After 1143 William Roumare 1st Earl Lincoln (age 47) was created 1st Earl Lincoln by King Stephen I England (age 49).

In 1148 [his son] Eustace Blois IV Count Boulogne (age 18) and [his daughter-in-law] Constance Capet Countess Boulogne and Toulose (age 20) were married. She by marriage Countess Boulogne. She the daughter of King Louis VI of France and Adelaide Savoy Queen Consort France. He the son of King Stephen I England (age 54) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 43). They were third cousin once removed.

Around 1148 [his son] William Blois I Count Boulogne (age 11) and [his daughter-in-law] Isabella Warenne Countess Boulogne 4th Countess of Surrey (age 11) were married. She by marriage Countess Boulogne. She the daughter of William Warenne 3rd Earl of Surrey (age 29) and Adela Montgomery Countess of Salisbury and Surrey. He the son of King Stephen I England (age 54) and [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 43). They were fourth cousins.

On 3rd May 1152 [his wife] Matilda Flanders (age 47) died. Her son [his son] Eustace (age 22) succeeded IV Count Boulogne.

Henry II sails to England

In January 1153 King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 19) sailed from Barfleur to England, arriving the next day, with a fleet of twenty-six ships, and an army, to bring King Stephen I England (age 59) submit to Henry's authority.

Henry II Relieves Wallingford Castle

In July 1153 King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 20) arrived at Wallingford Castle [Map] to relieve the siege that King Stephen I England (age 59) had commenced in 1152.

Treaty of Wallingford aka Winchester aka Westminster

Around August 1153 King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England (age 20) and King Stephen I England (age 59) agreed the Treaty of Wallingford aka Winchester aka Westminster by which King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England would inherit the throne on the death of King Stephen I England. The Treaty was ratified by Archbishop Theobald of Bec (age 63) at Westminster [Map] in Christmas 1153.

Eustace of Blois Dies

On 17th August 1153 King Stephen's eldest son [his son] Eustace Blois IV Count Boulogne (age 23) died at Bury St Edmunds [Map]. Probably from food poisoning, possibly murdered for having sacked the Abbey. His brother [his son] William (age 16) succeeded I Count Boulogne.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1154. When the king (age 60) died, then was the earl beyond sea; but no man durst do other than good for the great fear of him. When he came to England, then was he received with great worship, and blessed to king (age 20) in London on the Sunday before midwinter day. And there held he a full court. The same day that Martin, Abbot of Peterborough, should have gone thither, then sickened he, and died on the fourth day before the nones of January; and the monks, within the day, chose another of themselves, whose name was William de Walteville¹⁶⁷, a good clerk, and good man, and well beloved of the king, and of all good men. And all the monks buried the abbot with high honours. And soon the newly chosen abbot, and the monks with him, went to Oxford to the king. And the king gave him the abbacy; and he proceeded soon afterwards to Peterborough; where he remained with the abbot, ere he came home. And the king was received with great worship at Peterborough, in full procession. And so he was also at Ramsey, and at Thorney, and at…. and at Spalding, and at….

Note 167. Or Vaudeville.

Death of King Stephen

On 25th October 1154 King Stephen I England (age 60) died at Priory of St Martin, Dover [Map]. His first cousin once removed Henry (age 21) succeeded II King of England.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1154. In this year died the King Stephen (age 60); and he was buried where his wife and his son were buried, at Faversham [Map]; which monastery they founded.

[his illegitimate daughter] Sybilla was born illegitimately to King Stephen I England. Her mother isn't known but it may have been Stephen's mother to his other illegitimate children Damette?

[his illegitimate son] Gervaise Blois Abbot of Westminster was born illegitimately to King Stephen I England. His mother was Damette?

All About History Books

[his son] Adela Blois was born to King Stephen I England and Matilda Flanders.

[his son] Baldwin Blois was born to King Stephen I England and Matilda Flanders.

Biography of King Stephen I England 1094-1154

King Stephen I England 1094-1154 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Royal Ancestors of King Stephen I England 1094-1154

Royal Descendants of King Stephen I England 1094-1154

Ancestors of King Stephen I England 1094-1154