Stephen and Matilda: The Civil War of 1139-53Civil war and the battle for the English Crown dominated the reign of King Stephen, and this popular account is the only complete account of the complex and fascinating military situation. The war is examined in detail throughout the various campaigns, battles and sieges of the period, including the two major battles at the Standard and Lincoln, showing that Stephen always held more ground than his opponents and was mostly on the offensive. The nature of the warfare and the reasons for its outcome are examined, along with comment on the strategy, tactics, technology in arms and armour, and the important improvements in fortifications. Full use has been made of the numerous detailed chronicle sources which give some indication of the horrors of twelfth-century war, the depredations which affected the ordinary people of the land, and the atrocities which sometimes accompanied it. Full of colourful characters - the likeable king, the domineering Matlida, the young and vital Henry of Anjou (later Henry II), his intelligent and effective father Geoffrey Count of Anjou, the powerful barons from Geoffrey de Mandeville to Ranulf of Chester - and illustrated with photographs, maps and manuscript illustrations, this is a fascinating story of rivalry for the English throne which throws new light on a much-neglected aspect of Stephen's reign. |
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agreement anarchy army Arnold arrest Arundel attack Baldwin barons battle besiege Bishop Henry Brian fitz Count brother built captured castellan cause cavalry charters church civil claim counter castle Davis death Devizes duchy Earl Robert earldom empress enemies England and Normandy English Eustace father favour fighting force Forester gained garrison Geoffrey de Mandeville Geoffrey of Anjou Geoffrey’s Gesta Stephani Gesta Stephani says Gilbert Henry I’s Henry of Anjou Henry of Blois Henry of Huntingdon Henry’s Hereford Howlett Ibid John of Marmoutier king king’s knights lands Lincoln London lords loyal magnates medieval mercenaries Miles military motte Nigel Norman oath Oxford peace position proAngevin probably promises rebellion Robert of Gloucester Robert of Torigny Roger royal royalists Salisbury Scots seems settlement side siege Stephen Stephen’s reign Stevenson strongholds success suggests surrender territories Theobald throne troops twelfth century Waleran Wallingford Welsh west country William of Malmesbury William of Newburgh William of Ypres Winchester Worcester