King Stephen
This compelling new biography provides the most authoritative picture yet of King Stephen, whose reign (1135-1154), with its "nineteen long winters" of civil war, made his name synonymous with failed leadership. After years of work on the sources, Edmund King shows with rare clarity the strengths and weaknesses of the monarch. Keeping Stephen at the forefront of his account, the author also chronicles the activities of key family members and associates whose loyal support sustained Stephen's kingship. In 1135 the popular Stephen was elected king against the claims of the empress Matilda and her sons. But by 1153, Stephen had lost control over Normandy and other important regions, England had lost prestige, and the weakened king was forced to cede his family's right to succession. A rich narrative covering the drama of a tumultuous reign, this book focuses well-deserved attention on a king who lost control of his destiny.
|
Contents
|
The Accession
|
|
|
Mixed Fortunes
|
|
|
War and Peace
|
|
|
1141
|
|
|
Provincial Government
|
|
|
7A Variety of Coin
|
|
|
The Family
|
|
|
Blessed are the Peacemakers
|
|
|
Appraisal
|
|
|
BIBLIOGRAPHY
|
|
|
INDEX OF ROYAL CHARTERS
|
|
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abbey abbot Adela agreement Angevins Anglo-Norman Annals archbishop of Canterbury Baldwin barons battle Blois Boulogne Brian Fitz Count brother castle cathedral charter Chronicle church claim clergy council count of Anjou count of Mortain crown Crusade David death diocese earl of Chester earl of Gloucester earldom empress English Essex Eustace garrison Geoffrey de Mandeville Gervase Gesta Stephani Gilbert granted heir Henry of Huntingdon Henry of Winchester Henry's Hereford homage honour Hugh ibid ii)n iii)n iv)n John king of England king of Scots King Stephen king's kingdom knights lands legate Liber Eliensis Lincoln London lord lordship magnates Matilda Medieval Miles of Gloucester monastery monks Norman Normandy Oxford papal peace pope Priory queen Ranulf of Chester Regesta regis reign Richard de Lucy Robert of Gloucester Roger of Salisbury Rouen royal court siege Theobald Torigni Warenne William Clito William of Malmesbury William of Ypres Worcester York