Battle of Lincoln (1141) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Lincoln
Part of The Anarchy
The Battle of Lincoln in the Historia Anglorum
Date 2 February 1141 Location Lincoln, England Result Angevin victory
Belligerents
House of Blois	House of Anjou
Commanders and leaders
Stephen of Blois  (POW)	Robert of Gloucester
Strength
1,250	1,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Lincoln, also called the First Battle of Lincoln, happened on February 2, 1141. It took place in Lincoln, England. This important battle was fought during a time of civil war in England called The Anarchy.

The main people involved were King Stephen and the forces loyal to Empress Matilda. Matilda was trying to claim the English throne. King Stephen was captured during the battle. He was then imprisoned, and Matilda briefly took control of England.

What Happened at Lincoln?

A map showing the Battle of Lincoln in 1141. It shows the positions of the Welsh forces, Robert of Gloucester, King Stephen, and important landmarks like Lincoln Castle and the River Witham.

Before the battle, King Stephen's army was surrounding Lincoln Castle. They were trying to capture it. However, a rescue army arrived to help the castle defenders. This rescue force was loyal to Empress Matilda. It was led by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, who was Matilda's half-brother.

Robert's army included his own soldiers and those of Ranulf, Earl of Chester. There were also many knights who had lost their lands because of King Stephen. On the side, there were Welsh soldiers led by Madog ap Maredudd and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd.

King Stephen's army had several important leaders. These included William of Ypres, Simon of Senlis, and Alan of Richmond. However, Stephen's army did not have many cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

The Battle Begins

As soon as the fighting started, many of King Stephen's important leaders ran away. Other important noblemen were captured with the king. These included Baldwin fitz Gilbert and Bernard de Balliol. Only the powerful earls had managed to escape.

King Stephen's soldiers were listening to a speech from Baldwin fitz Gilbert. Suddenly, the enemy army charged forward. The knights loyal to Empress Matilda attacked the cavalry of Stephen's earls.

On one side, Earl William of Aumale and William of Ypres attacked the Welsh soldiers. The Welsh fought bravely but were quickly defeated. However, Earl Ranulf's well-organized soldiers then quickly defeated William of Aumale's men.

The earls fighting for Stephen were outnumbered and outfought. They soon fled the battle. Many of their soldiers were killed or captured. King Stephen and his knights were quickly surrounded by Matilda's forces.

King Stephen's Capture

The fighting around the king was fierce. Swords clashed against helmets, making a terrible noise. Soldiers on horseback charged the king's group. They killed some, wounded others, and took some as prisoners.

King Stephen fought incredibly bravely. He used a huge battle-axe, striking down many enemies. The Earl of Chester saw how well the king was fighting and attacked him with all his men. Stephen's battle-axe broke from all the blows. He then pulled out his sword and kept fighting. His sword also broke.

Finally, a powerful knight named William de Keynes grabbed the king by his helmet. He shouted, "Come here, everyone! I have taken the king!"

The rest of Stephen's soldiers fought on, but they had no hope. All of them were either killed or surrendered. Baldwin fitz Gilbert and Richard fitz Urse fought very hard and were taken prisoner after getting many wounds.

After intense fighting in the city streets, King Stephen's army was defeated. King Stephen himself was captured. He was taken to Bristol and put in prison. Later, he was exchanged for Robert of Gloucester. Robert had been captured in another battle called the Rout of Winchester a few months later. This exchange ended Empress Matilda's short time in power during the civil war.

The Battle in Stories

The Battle of Lincoln is a famous event. It has been featured in several historical novels:

• The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett includes a description of the battle. It shows King Stephen's capture and exchange.
• When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Penman also tells the story of this battle.
• Dead Man's Ransom, a novel in the Brother Cadfael series by Edith Pargeter (writing as Ellis Peters), uses the battle as an important part of its plot.
• The Villains of the Piece (also known as Oath and the Sword) by Graham Shelby has a chapter about the First Battle of Lincoln.

The first Battle of Lincoln is also shown in the 2021 video game Age of Empires 4 as a campaign mission.

See also

• Battle of Lincoln (1217)

Images for kids

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  The Battle of Lincoln in the Historia Anglorum