Stephen of England facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen of Blois
King of the English
King of the English (1st Reign)
Reign	22 December 1135 – April 1141
Coronation	26 December 1135
Predecessor	Henry I
Successor	Matilda
King of the English (2nd Reign)
Reign	November 1141 – 25 October 1154
Predecessor	Matilda
Successor	Henry II
Born	c. 1096 Blois, France
Died	(1154-10-25)25 October 1154 Dover, Kent
Burial	Faversham Abbey, Kent
Spouse	Matilda I of Boulogne
Issue	Eustace IV of Boulogne William of Blois Marie of Boulogne
House	Normandy
Father	Stephen II, Count of Blois
Mother	Adela of Normandy

Stephen of England (born around 1096, died October 25, 1154) was the King of England from 1135 to 1154. He became king after his uncle, King Henry I, passed away. Stephen ruled until his own death in Dover, Kent.

He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on December 26, 1135. King Stephen was buried at the Clunaic Monastery in Faversham, Kent. Stephen was born in Blois, France, in 1096. His parents were Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy. His mother, Adela, was the daughter of William I of England. Stephen married Matilda of Boulogne around 1125, and they had five children.

What Was the Anarchy?

King Stephen fought a long civil war against Matilda, who was King Henry I's only daughter. This conflict lasted from 1139 to 1153. People often call this period "The Anarchy" because there was so much fighting and disorder.

How Did the War End?

The war ended with the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153. This happened after Stephen's son and heir, Eustace IV, died. The treaty stated that Stephen would remain King for the rest of his life. After Stephen's death, the throne would pass to Henry, who was Matilda's son. This meant Stephen's other son, William, would not become king.

When Was Stephen Captured?

King Stephen was captured during the Battle of Lincoln in April 1141. He was held prisoner for a while. However, he was later released and was able to return to his throne.

Images for kids

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  Northern France around the time of Stephen's birth

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  A contemporary depiction of Stephen's family tree, with his mother Adela at the top, and, left to right, William, Theobald and Stephen

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  An early 14th-century depiction of the White Ship sinking in 1120

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  A 13th-century depiction of the coronation of Stephen, by Matthew Paris

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  Contemporary depiction of Stephen's brother Henry of Blois, with his bishop's staff and ring

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  14th century depiction of Stephen with a hunting bird

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  The stone keep at Goodrich in Herefordshire, an example of the style of fortification slowly beginning to replace wooden motte and bailey castle design by the late 1130s

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  A Henry of Northumbria silver penny, minted in his own name at Corbridge in Northumberland after his peace deal with Stephen

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  Stephen's Great Seal

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  Contemporary depiction of the Empress Matilda

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  Political map of the Angevin and Welsh revolt in 1140; red indicates those areas under Stephen's control; blue – Angevin; grey – indigenous Welsh

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  Near contemporary illustration of the Battle of Lincoln; Stephen (fourth from the right) is listening to Baldwin of Clare orating a battle speech (left).

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  St George's Tower at Oxford Castle, where Stephen almost captured the Empress Matilda

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  Geoffrey of Anjou's invasion of Normandy, 1142–43

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  14th-century depiction of Henry FitzEmpress and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine

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  A 13th-century depiction of Bernard of Clairvaux, with whom Stephen argued over ecclesiastical policy

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  A political map of Britain in 1153; red indicates those areas broadly under Stephen's control; blue – Angevin; grey – indigenous Welsh; cream – Ranulf of Chester and Robert of Leicester; green – David I of Scotland

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  The first page of the Peterborough element of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written around 1150, which details the events of Stephen's reign

See also

In Spanish: Esteban de Inglaterra para niños