English Royalty. Grandson of William the Conqueror and the last Norman king of England (1135-1154). After his father's death in 1102, Stephen was raised by his uncle, Henry I. Henry was fond of Stephen, and granted his nephew estates on both sides of the English Channel. By 1130, Stephen was the richest man in England and Normandy. The first few years of his reign were peaceful, but by 1139 he was seen as weak and indecisive, setting the country up for a civil war, commonly called The Anarchy. His cousin Matilda, accompanied by her husband Geoffrey of Anjou and her half-brother Robert, Earl of Gloucester, invaded England and joined a rebellion against Stephen. Robert captured Stephen in battle at Lincoln; Stephen's government collapsed and Matilda was recognized as Queen. The contentious and arrogant Matilda quickly angered the citizens of London and was expelled from the city. Stephen's forces rallied, captured Robert, and exchanged the Earl for the King. Matilda had been defeated but the succession remained in dispute: Stephen wanted his son Eustace to be named heir, and Matilda wanted her son Henry of Anjou to succeed to the crown. Civil war continued until Matilda departed for France in 1148. The two sides finally reached a compromise with the Treaty of Wallingford - Stephen would rule unopposed until his death but the throne would pass to Henry of Anjou. Stephen died in Dover, at Dover Priory, and was buried in Faversham Abbey, which he had founded with his wife.
English Royalty. Grandson of William the Conqueror and the last Norman king of England (1135-1154). After his father's death in 1102, Stephen was raised by his uncle, Henry I. Henry was fond of Stephen, and granted his nephew estates on both sides of the English Channel. By 1130, Stephen was the richest man in England and Normandy. The first few years of his reign were peaceful, but by 1139 he was seen as weak and indecisive, setting the country up for a civil war, commonly called The Anarchy. His cousin Matilda, accompanied by her husband Geoffrey of Anjou and her half-brother Robert, Earl of Gloucester, invaded England and joined a rebellion against Stephen. Robert captured Stephen in battle at Lincoln; Stephen's government collapsed and Matilda was recognized as Queen. The contentious and arrogant Matilda quickly angered the citizens of London and was expelled from the city. Stephen's forces rallied, captured Robert, and exchanged the Earl for the King. Matilda had been defeated but the succession remained in dispute: Stephen wanted his son Eustace to be named heir, and Matilda wanted her son Henry of Anjou to succeed to the crown. Civil war continued until Matilda departed for France in 1148. The two sides finally reached a compromise with the Treaty of Wallingford - Stephen would rule unopposed until his death but the throne would pass to Henry of Anjou. Stephen died in Dover, at Dover Priory, and was buried in Faversham Abbey, which he had founded with his wife.
Bio by: julia&keld
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