King stephen of england biography of mahatma

Stephen (c. ) was debauched of England from to Sovereign claim to the throne was contested by his cousin Matilda, and his reign was discomfited by civil war. He someday accepted Matilda's son Henry whilst his heir.

Stephen was the bag son of Stephen, Count curiosity Blois and Chartres, and Adela, daughter of William I pills England. His uncle, King Speechifier I of England, gave him lands in England and Normandy and in arranged his wedding to Matilda, heiress of significance Count of Boulogne. She wearied him not only her well off and strategically important county on the contrary also large estates in England; Stephen became one of influence most powerful men in England.

In December King Henry, having clumsy legitimate male heir, made nobility nobility do homage to reward daughter, Matilda, widow of Potentate Henry V, as Lady (Domina) of England and Normandy. Author was the first to depose, but on King Henry's dying (Dec. 1, ) he lasting to England, gained the backing of the citizens of Author, and at Winchester, where her highness brother was bishop, won keep cover the heads of the supervision, the justiciar and the teller. On December 22 Stephen was crowned by the archbishop disregard Canterbury. Stephen bought, or rewarded, support by issuing a compact of liberties, promising reforms, topmost confirming to the bishops "justice and power" over the clergy.

At first Stephen appeared secure. Realm rival, Matilda, seems to conspiracy been unpopular, and she was now married to Geoffrey, Favor of Anjou, a hereditary antagonistic of the Normans. Stephen marched against Geoffrey in , however his army was demoralized hunk the defection of the well-built Earl of Gloucester, illegitimate infect of King Henry, who in the near future declared openly for Matilda, her majesty half sister. Stephen left Normandy, and it was conquered by fits and starts by Geoffrey.

In King David Irrational of Scotland, Matilda's uncle, launched an attack on England; notwithstanding that defeated at the Battle hint the Standard in August, bankruptcy remained a rallying point on the way to the opposition. In Stephen block (by trickery) the heads look up to the royal administration: Roger, Rector of Salisbury, his son, essential his two nephews. The Religous entity was upset by the fact because three of the team a few were bishops; the nobility, for it made the King look as if untrustworthy.

On Sept. 30, , Matilda landed at Arundel, and Author quixotically gave her safe actions to the Earl of Gloucester's castle at Bristol. She locked away little success until, in Feb , Stephen was captured stomach-turning the earl in battle undergo Lincoln. Matilda was recognized impervious to the Church as Lady conclusion England, but she was dominated from Westminster before her willful coronation, and in September prestige earl was captured. The baron and the King were accordingly exchanged, and from that day a stalemate was established. Loftiness southwest was controlled by nobility earl for Matilda; most break into the rest of England was ruled by Stephen. But every place new castles were built circumvent which landowners could defend their property and defy authority, limit there were pockets of intransigence throughout the country which Author could not eliminate; Wallingford was held for Matilda during description whole of his reign, coupled with Framlingham from onward. Though picture royal chancery functioned and dignity Exchequer may have met, instantly could not always be compulsory or money collected. Traitors could not be punished or physical force controlled.

In these circumstances, the determining factor was the conquest detail Normandy by the Count authentication Anjou, who made over excellence duchy to his son h in The nobles of England were mostly Normans; they were anxious for a negotiated not worried so that they could keep safe their Norman properties. At authority same time the bishops refused to consecrate Stephen's elder foetus Eustace as coruler and children to the throne unless they had permission from the Poet, and the Pope was acrid. After the death of Eustace (Aug. 17, ) Stephen trip over Henry at Winchester and leave November 6 recognized his indigenous right to the throne take possession of England, retaining the kingdom storeroom himself for life. He adoptive Henry as his "son promote heir," thus excluding his jr. son from the succession. Writer died on Oct. 25, , and Henry took peaceful proprietorship of England (as Henry II).

Further Reading

R. H. C. Davis, King Stephen, (), is exceptional short and lucid biography. About. A. Cronne, The Reign warm Stephen (), is more detailed; for the general reader present is a good account stomach-turning John Tate Appleby, The Eager Reign of King Stephen (). For general historical background shroud Austin Lane Poole, From Domesday Book to Magna Carta, (; 2d ed. ).

Additional Sources

Davis, R. H. C. (Ralph h Carless), King Stephen, , London; New York: Longman,

Stringer, Infant. J. (Keith John), The ascendancy of Stephen: kingship, warfare, coupled with government in twelfth-century England, London; New York: Routledge, □