Stephen and his supporters appear in Ellis Peters' historical detective series The Cadfael Chronicles, set between 1137 and 1145. He was also "full of Gods grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). [168] He threatened to execute Geoffrey unless the Earl handed over his various castles, including the Tower of London, Saffron Walden and Pleshey, all important fortifications because they were in, or close to, London. The character was portrayed by Justine Lupe in the Audience show Mr. Mercedes and by Cynthia Erivo in the HBO series The Outsider. [171] Meanwhile, Geoffrey of Anjou finished securing his hold on southern Normandy and in January 1144 he advanced into Rouen, the capital of the duchy, concluding his campaign. [78] Events in England meant that Stephen was unable to travel to Normandy himself, so Waleran de Beaumont, appointed by Stephen as the lieutenant of Normandy, and Theobald led the efforts to defend the duchy. [127] Stephen was forced to give up his western campaign, returning east to stabilise the situation and protect his capital. R. Davis and W. L. Warren argue that the typical earldom involved the delegation of considerable royal powers; Keith Stringer and Judith Green capture the current consensus that the degree of delegated powers followed the degree of threat, and that perhaps less powers in total were delegated than once thought. He gained the throne by usurpation but failed to consolidate his power during the ensuing civil strife. Stephen King is returning to the character of Holly Gibney in a new novel titled Holly. He's a devoted Christian and is very passionate about his beliefs while keeping an open mind. 1 SEASON. WebWhat does Stephen mean? Stephen, also called Stephen Of Blois, (born c. 1097died Oct. 25, 1154, Dover, Kent, Eng. Cultural depictions of Stephen, King of England, Review of King Stephen, (review no. [37] Stephen also had a personal Augustinian confessor appointed to him by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who implemented a penitential regime for him, and Stephen encouraged the new order of Cistercians to form abbeys on his estates, winning him additional allies within the church. Stephen Hawking, in full Stephen William Hawking, (born January 8, 1942, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Englanddied March 14, 2018, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire), English theoretical physicist whose theory of exploding black holes drew upon both relativity theory and quantum mechanics. Geoffrey of Anjou invaded in early 1136 and, after a temporary truce, invaded later the same year, raiding and burning estates rather than trying to hold the territory. [204] Stephen's preferred option was to have Eustace crowned while he himself was still alive, as was the custom in France, but this was not the normal practice in England, and Celestine II, during his brief tenure as pope between 1143 and 1144, had banned any change to this practice. [176] The war in the west progressed better in 1145, with the King recapturing Faringdon Castle in Oxfordshire. (1974) "King Stephen and the Anglo-Norman Aristocracy". Both Stephen's wife, Queen Matilda, and his older brother Theobald died in 1152. [222] After a busy summer in 1154, however, Stephen travelled to Dover to meet Thierry, Count of Flanders; some historians believe that the King was already ill and preparing to settle his family affairs. [138] Many of his supporters, including Waleran de Beaumont and William of Ypres, fled from the field at this point but Stephen fought on, defending himself first with his sword and then, when that broke, with a borrowed battle axe. Certainly lands in Normandy, passed by hereditary right, were usually considered more important to major barons than those in England, where their possession was less certain. [36] Chroniclers recorded that despite his wealth and power he was a modest and easy-going leader, happy to sit with his men and servants, casually laughing and eating with them. [29] At the same time, tensions continued to grow as a result of Henry's domestic policies, in particular the high level of revenue he was raising to pay for his various wars. Stephen King is returning to the character of Holly Gibney in a new novel titled Holly. God's War: a New History of the Crusades. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Stephen is "garland, crown". Common until the late 18th century. Other supporters of the Empress were restored in their former strongholds, such as Bishop Nigel of Ely, or received new earldoms in the west of England. [180] Numerous "adulterine", or unauthorised, castles had been built as bases for local lordsthe chronicler Robert of Torigny complained that as many as 1,115 such castles had been built during the conflict, although this was probably an exaggeration as elsewhere he suggested an alternative figure of 126. The story of Saint Stephen's ordination as a deacon is found in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which also recounts the plot against Stephen and the beginning of the trial that resulted in his martyrdom; the seventh chapter [208] Stephen's castle at Malmesbury was besieged by Henry's forces, and the King responded by marching west with an army to relieve it. In English, Stephen is most commonly pronounced as STEEV-n. [209] He unsuccessfully attempted to force Henry's smaller army to fight a decisive battle along the river Avon. [159] Louis VII recognised him as Duke of Normandy shortly after. [194] He wanted to confirm his eldest son, Eustace, as his successor, although chroniclers recorded that Eustace was infamous for levying heavy taxes and extorting money from those on his lands. The character was portrayed by Justine Lupe in the Audience show Mr. Mercedes and by Cynthia Erivo in the HBO series The Outsider. [230], Much of the modern history of Stephen's reign is based on accounts of chroniclers who lived in, or close to, the middle of the 12th century, forming a relatively rich account of the period. He gained the throne by usurpation but failed to consolidate his power during the ensuing civil strife. [166], In late 1143, Stephen faced a new threat in the east, when Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, rose up in rebellion against him in East Anglia. [101] Stephen responded to rumours of this plan by escorting Henry himself north, but this gesture proved the final straw for Ranulf. WebStephen or Steven is a common English first name. [248] Peters paints Stephen as a tolerant man and a reasonable ruler, despite his execution of the Shrewsbury defenders after the taking of the city in 1138. [101] Nonetheless, Stephen could now focus his attention on the anticipated invasion of England by Robert and Matilda's forces. From stephanos. The King tried to convince the Church to agree to crown Eustace to reinforce his claim; Pope Eugene III refused, and Stephen found himself in a sequence of increasingly bitter arguments with his senior clergy. 189190; Barlow, pp. In 1138, the Empress's half-brother Robert of Gloucester rebelled against Stephen, threatening civil war. [182] Some parts of the country, though, were barely touched by the conflictfor example, Stephen's lands in the south-east and the Angevin heartlands around Gloucester and Bristol were largely unaffected, and David I ruled his territories in the north of England effectively. [146], Once news of Stephen's capture reached him, Geoffrey of Anjou invaded Normandy again and, in the absence of Waleran of Beaumont, who was still fighting in England, Geoffrey took all the duchy south of the river Seine and east of the river Risle. Medieval financial figures are notoriously hard to convert into modern currency; for comparison, 2,000 marks equated to around 1,333 in a period in which a major castle rebuilding project might cost around 1,115. (1990) "The End of Stephen's Reign,", Yoshitake, Kenji. [25] Many of these barons had taken an oath to stay in Normandy until the late King was properly buried, which prevented them from returning to England. [176] In the north, Stephen came to a fresh agreement with Ranulf of Chester, but then in 1146 repeated the ruse he had played on Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1143, first inviting Ranulf to court, before arresting him and threatening to execute him unless he handed over a number of castles, including Lincoln and Coventry. [45] Stephen's elder brother Theobald was further south still, in Blois. [160] In September, he spotted an opportunity to seize the Empress Matilda herself in Oxford. [202] Stephen also cut his links to the Cistercian order, and turned instead to the Cluniacs, of which Henry was a member. [70] The Easter court was a lavish event, and a large amount of money was spent on the event itself, clothes and gifts. [247], Stephen and his reign have been occasionally used in historical fiction. [114][nb 15], The Angevin invasion finally arrived in 1139. [128] Nigel hoped to seize East Anglia and established his base of operations in the Isle of Ely, then surrounded by protective fenland. [18] Stephen was also given lands in Alenon in southern Normandy by Henry, but the local Normans rebelled, seeking assistance from Fulk IV, Count of Anjou. [221] Although Stephen's son William was unprepared to challenge Henry for the throne in 1153, the situation could well have shifted in subsequent yearsthere were widespread rumours during 1154 that William planned to assassinate Henry, for example. [5] Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Awards and nominations 4 Filmography Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to be responsible over the distribution of food to widows in the early church after a dispute arose and the apostles recognized they needed help. David Crouch argues that in fact it was the royalist weakness in infantry that caused their failure at Lincoln, proposing the city militia was not as capable as Robert's Welsh infantry. WebStephen Sharer - Jump In! [39] His wife, Matilda, played a major role in running their vast English estates, which contributed to the couple being the second-richest lay household in the country after the King and Queen. White (1990), p. 12, cited Bradbury, p. 211. [128], At the start of 1140, Nigel, Bishop of Ely, whose castles Stephen had confiscated the previous year, rebelled against Stephen as well. [56] The Normans argued that the count, as the more senior grandson of William the Conqueror, had the most valid claim over the kingdom and the duchy, and was certainly preferable to Matilda. Neither mission was particularly successful, and by the end of 1137 the King appears to have abandoned attempts to put down the rebellion. WebStephen Colletti (born February 7, 1986) is an American actor and television personality. The spelling as Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. [214] Eustace's death removed an obvious claimant to the throne and was politically convenient for those seeking a permanent peace in England. [213], In the aftermath of Wallingford, Stephen and Henry spoke together privately about a potential end to the war; Stephen's son Eustace, however, was furious about the peaceful outcome at Wallingford. Common until the late 18th century. From stephanos. Davies, R. H. C. (1964) "What happened in Stephen's reign 113554?". Some historians, including David Crouch and Helmerichs, argue that Theobald and Stephen had probably already made a private deal to seize the throne when Henry died. His wife Matilda was sent to Kent with ships and resources from Boulogne, with the task of retaking the key port of Dover, under Robert's control. [52] Henry was also able to persuade Hugh Bigod, the late King's royal steward, to swear that the King had changed his mind about the succession on his deathbed, nominating Stephen instead. He's very intelligent and focused, but can also be considered oblivious to something begging to be noticed. [22] Stephen had intended to sail on the same ship but changed his mind at the last moment and got off to await another vessel, either out of concern for overcrowding on board the ship, or because he was suffering from diarrhoea. Le Patourel, John (1973) "What did not happen in Stephen's reign?". [15] Stephen probably first visited England in either 1113 or 1115, almost certainly as part of Henry's court. In English, Stephen is most commonly pronounced as STEEV-n. WebStephen Hawking. [4] His eldest brother was William, who under normal circumstances would have ruled Blois and Chartres. [100] Stephen's wife Matilda was sent to negotiate another agreement between Stephen and David, called the treaty of Durham; Northumbria and Cumbria would effectively be granted to David and his son Henry, in exchange for their fealty and future peace along the border. But an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS represented more of a gamble. Eventually, a truce was declared, and William Clito died the following year. [80] As part of this deal, Louis recognised Stephen's son Eustace as Duke of Normandy in exchange for Eustace giving fealty to the French King. [18] In 1127, William Clito, a potential claimant to the English throne, seemed likely to become the Count of Flanders; Stephen was sent by the King on a mission to prevent this, and in the aftermath of his successful election, William Clito attacked Stephen's lands in neighbouring Boulogne in retaliation. [221] Despite the issuing of new currency and administrative reforms, Stephen might potentially have lived for many more years, whilst Henry's position on the continent was far from secure. In return, Stephen confirmed the English possessions of David's son Henry, including the Earldom of Huntingdon. [31], Henry attempted to build up a base of political support for Matilda in both England and Normandy, demanding that his court take oaths first in 1127, and then again in 1128 and 1131, to recognise Matilda as his immediate successor and recognise her descendants as the rightful rulers after her. [209] Despite only modest military successes, Henry and his allies now controlled the south-west, the Midlands and much of the north of England. WebThe name Stephen is boy's name of Greek origin meaning "garland, crown". 50m. [108], Stephen took steps to remove a group of bishops he regarded as a threat to his rule. [168] Geoffrey gave in, but once free he headed north-east into the Fens to the Isle of Ely, from where he began a military campaign against Cambridge, with the intention of progressing south towards London. [171] By this point, however, Stephen's practice of inviting barons to court and arresting them had brought him into some disrepute and increasing distrust. [78] In 1136, Archbishop of Canterbury William de Corbeil died. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Stephen is "garland, crown". But an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS represented more of a gamble. [244] Stephen's lack of sound policy judgement and his mishandling of international affairs, leading to the loss of Normandy and his consequent inability to win the civil war in England, is also highlighted by another of his biographers, David Crouch. The King tried to convince the Church to agree to crown Eustace to reinforce his claim; Pope Eugene III refused, and Stephen found himself in a sequence of increasingly bitter arguments with his senior clergy. Historian David Crouch suggests that Stephen effectively "bowed out of Wales" around this time to concentrate on his other problems. Stephen was born in the County of Blois in central France as the fourth son of Stephen-Henry, Count of Blois, and Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. [102], Stephen prepared for the Angevin invasion by creating a number of additional earldoms. Making a Living in the Middle Ages: The People of Britain, 850 1520. (2001) "'Ad tutandos partriae fines': The Defense of Normandy, 1135," in Abels, Richard Philip and Bernard S. Bachrach. Roger and his family were also enemies of Waleran, who disliked their control of the royal administration. 164165; Crouch (1998), p. 258. [116][nb 16] The Empress stayed at Arundel Castle, whilst Robert marched north-west to Wallingford and Bristol, hoping to raise support for the rebellion and to link up with Miles of Gloucester, a capable military leader who took the opportunity to renounce his fealty to the King. He gained the throne by usurpation but failed to consolidate his power during the ensuing civil strife. Stephen was the third son of Stephen, Count of Blois and Chartres, and Adela, daughter of King William I the [17] The gift of the Honour of Lancaster also followed after it was confiscated by Henry from Roger the Poitevin. [246] Historian Keith Stringer provides a more positive portrayal of Stephen, arguing that his ultimate failure as king was the result of external pressures on the Norman state, rather than the result of personal failings. [109] These bishops were powerful landowners as well as ecclesiastical rulers, and they had begun to build new castles and increase the size of their military forces, leading Stephen to suspect that they were about to defect to the Empress Matilda. [225] He began issuing royal writs for the south-west of England once again and travelled to York where he held a major court in an attempt to impress upon the northern barons that royal authority was being reasserted. WebStephen or Steven is a common English first name. David of Scotland also invaded the north of England once again, announcing that he was supporting the claim of his niece the Empress Matilda to the throne, pushing south into Yorkshire. TV-PG. [212] By this point in the war, the barons on both sides seem to have been eager to avoid an open battle. [42] Henry of Winchester was keen to reverse what he perceived as encroachment by the Norman kings on the rights of the church. Following the battle of Tinchebray in 1106, Henry confiscated the County of Mortain from his cousin William, and the Honour of Eye, a large lordship previously owned by Robert Malet. 50m. [232] In Normandy, Orderic Vitalis wrote his Ecclesiastical History, covering Stephen's reign until 1141, and Robert of Torigni wrote a later history of the rest of the period. Barlow, pp. [81] Stephen was less successful, however, in regaining the Argentan province along the Normandy and Anjou border, which Geoffrey had taken at the end of 1135. The royal charter of 1136 had promised to review the ownership of all the lands that had been taken by the crown from the church since 1087, but these estates were now typically owned by nobles. [172] By this point in the war, Stephen was depending increasingly on his immediate royal household, such as William of Ypres and others, and lacked the support of the major barons who might have been able to provide him with significant additional forces; after the events of 1141, Stephen made little use of his network of earls. [43] The Norman kings had traditionally exercised a great deal of power and autonomy over the church within their territories. He left his father and returned home to Cambridge to gather more funds for a fresh campaign, where he fell ill and died the next month. [238], Historians in the "Whiggish" tradition that emerged during the Victorian era traced a progressive and universalist course of political and economic development in England over the medieval period. WebHow to use Stephen in a sentence. [219] Stephen and Henry sealed the treaty with a kiss of peace in the cathedral. WebAbout Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features [58][nb 8], Stephen's new Anglo-Norman kingdom had been shaped by the Norman conquest of England in 1066, followed by the Norman expansion into south Wales over the coming years. He was known for his qualities as a statesman, his military experience, and leadership ability. [188], The young Henry FitzEmpress returned to England again in 1149, this time planning to form a northern alliance with Ranulf of Chester. TV-PG. They hadnt seen each other since Stephen moved out of the neighborhood two years before, and as they catch up Teichner laments the recent [113] Stephen sent Aubrey de Vere II as his spokesman to the council, who argued that Roger of Salisbury had been arrested not as a bishop, but rather in his role as a baron who had been preparing to change his support to the Empress Matilda. [125] He then left behind some forces to blockade the castle and continued west into Wiltshire to attack Trowbridge Castle, taking the castles of South Cerney and Malmesbury en route. 171172; Crouch (2008a), p. 29. Stephen Colbert spotted a weird moment involving Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), the newly elected Long Island House member caught in so many lies that his local GOP leaders are calling on him to resign. Ken Follett: The Transformation of a Writer. [142] Stephen's brother Henry summoned a council at Winchester before Easter in his capacity as papal legate to consider the clergy's view. [89] Stephen was also rapidly running out of money: Henry's considerable treasury had been emptied by 1138 due to the costs of running Stephen's more lavish court and the need to raise and maintain his mercenary armies fighting in England and Normandy. [96] These forces were either feudal levies, drawn up by local nobles for a limited period of service during a campaign, or, increasingly, mercenaries, who were expensive but more flexible and often more skilled. [101] Ranulf had previously claimed that he had the rights to Lincoln Castle, held by Stephen, and under the guise of a social visit, Ranulf seized the fortification in a surprise attack. [129] Nigel escaped to Gloucester, but his men and castle were captured, and order was temporarily restored in the east. [51] There was the slight problem of the religious oath that Stephen had taken to support the Empress Matilda, but Henry convincingly argued that the late King had been wrong to insist that his court take the oath. In 1153, the Empress's son Henry invaded England and built an alliance of powerful regional barons to support his claim for the throne. [7], The rulers across this region spoke a similar language, albeit with regional dialects, followed the same religion, and were closely interrelated; they were also highly competitive and frequently in conflict with one another for valuable territory and the castles that controlled them. The marriage made Henry the future ruler of a huge swathe of territory across France. [29], Stephen was a well established figure in Anglo-Norman society by 1135. The Feudal Kingdom of England, 10421216. He's very intelligent and focused, but can also be considered oblivious to something begging to be noticed. [98] In response to the revolts and invasions, he rapidly undertook several military campaigns, focusing primarily on England rather than Normandy. [4][nb 2], France in the 12th century was a loose collection of counties and smaller polities, under the minimal control of the King of France. [162], The war between the two sides in England reached a stalemate in the mid-1140s, while Geoffrey of Anjou consolidated his hold on power in Normandy. Common until the late 18th century. [79] Stephen himself only returned to the duchy in 1137, where he met with Louis VI and Theobald to agree to an informal regional alliance, probably brokered by Henry, to counter the growing Angevin power in the region. Stephen Colbert spotted a weird moment involving Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), the newly elected Long Island House member caught in so many lies that his local GOP leaders are calling on him to resign. [106] From 1138 onwards, Stephen gave them the earldoms of Worcester, Leicester, Hereford, Warwick and Pembroke, which especially when combined with the possessions of Stephen's new ally, Prince Henry, in Cumberland and Northumbria created a wide block of territory to act as a buffer zone between the troubled south-west, Chester, and the rest of the kingdom. France in the Middle Ages 9871460: From Hugh Capet to Joan of Arc. WebStephen Announces New Book on Podcast. Stephen was born in Blois, France, in either 1092 or 1096. [192][nb 22], Although still young, Henry was increasingly gaining a reputation as an energetic and capable leader. [207] Theobald escaped again into temporary exile in Flanders, pursued to the coast by Stephen's knights, marking a low point in Stephen's relationship with the church. [95] The cost of warfare had risen considerably in the first part of the 12th century, and adequate supplies of ready cash were increasingly proving important in the success of campaigns. Posted: March 2nd, 2022 7:29:15 pm EST. Henry had increased the authority and capabilities of the central royal administration, often bringing in "new men" to fulfil key positions rather than using the established nobility. King (2010), p. 9; Crouch (2002), p. 241. Watch Now. Stephen Stephen is an innocent and honest person, yet full of unexpected surprises. William's children were still fighting over the collective Anglo-Norman inheritance. [216] Meanwhile, Stephen's brother Henry of Blois and Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury were for once unified in an effort to broker a permanent peace between the two sides, putting pressure on Stephen to accept a deal. [218] Stephen announced the Treaty of Winchester in Winchester Cathedral: he recognised Henry FitzEmpress as his adopted son and successor, in return for Henry doing homage to him; Stephen promised to listen to Henry's advice, but retained all his royal powers; Stephen's remaining son, William, would do homage to Henry and renounce his claim to the throne, in exchange for promises of the security of his lands; key royal castles would be held on Henry's behalf by guarantors, whilst Stephen would have access to Henry's castles; and the numerous foreign mercenaries would be demobilised and sent home. He was also "full of Gods grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). King (2010), pp. [185] In 1147 Robert of Gloucester died peacefully, and the next year the Empress Matilda left south-west England for Normandy, both of which contributed to reducing the tempo of the war. [47] Nonetheless, Stephen probably reached his own estate on the edge of London by 8 December and over the next week he began to seize power in England. [224] Stephen burst into activity in early 1154, travelling around the kingdom extensively. [196] In 1148, Stephen built the Cluniac Faversham Abbey as a resting place for his family. [63][nb 9], Stephen had to intervene in the north of England immediately after his coronation. [94][nb 12], Anglo-Norman warfare during the reign of Stephen was characterised by attritional military campaigns, in which commanders tried to seize key enemy castles in order to allow them to take control of their adversaries' territory and ultimately win a slow, strategic victory. [44], When news began to spread of Henry I's death, many of the potential claimants to the throne were not well placed to respond. [68] Stephen issued a new royal charter, confirming the promises he had made to the church, promising to reverse Henry I's policies on the royal forests and to reform any abuses of the royal legal system. [227] The destruction of castles under Henry was not as dramatic as once thought, and although he restored royal revenues, the economy of England remained broadly unchanged under both rulers. [119] He also faced a military dilemma at Arundelthe castle was considered almost impregnable, and he may have been worried that he was tying down his army in the south whilst Robert roamed freely in the west. 136137; Crouch (2002), p. 245. [190] Following this peace agreement, Henry and Ranulf agreed to attack York, probably with help from the Scots. [60] Both the kingdom and duchy were dominated by a small number of major barons who owned lands on both sides of the English Channel, with the lesser barons beneath them usually having more localised holdings. Historian Robert Helmerichs, for example, describes some of the inconsistencies in these accounts. [74], Troubles continued across Stephen's kingdom. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to be responsible over the distribution of food to widows in the early church after a dispute arose and the apostles recognized they needed help. First, Robert, Earl of Gloucester, rebelled against the King, starting the descent into civil war in England. ), king of England from 1135 to 1154. [210], Over the summer, Stephen intensified the long-running siege of Wallingford Castle in a final attempt to take this major Angevin stronghold. [148] Geoffrey's success in Normandy and Stephen's weakness in England began to influence the loyalty of many Anglo-Norman barons, who feared losing their lands in England to Robert and the Empress, and their possessions in Normandy to Geoffrey. Stephen is kind hearted and family oriented. [82] Stephen formed an army to retake it, but the frictions between his Flemish mercenary forces led by William of Ypres and the local Norman barons resulted in a battle between the two halves of his army. (1994) "1066 and the Introduction of Chivalry into England," in, Green, J. Weiler, Bjorn. Stephen is kind hearted and family oriented. [84] He agreed to another truce with Geoffrey, promising to pay him 2,000 marks a year in exchange for peace along the Norman borders. Huscroft, pp. The name, in both the forms Stephen and Steven, is often shortened to Steve or Stevie. The north of England was now controlled by David and Prince Henry, Stephen had abandoned Wales, the fighting in Normandy had considerably destabilised the duchy, and an increasing number of barons felt that Stephen had given them neither the lands nor the titles they felt they deserved or were owed. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Stephen is "garland, crown". [91] A small number of Stephen's household knights were sent north to help the fight against the Scots, where David's forces were defeated later that year at the battle of the Standard in August by the forces of Thurstan, the Archbishop of York. WebStephen became increasingly concerned with ensuring that his son Eustace would inherit his throne. [113] The incident successfully removed any military threat from the bishops, but it may have damaged Stephen's relationship with the senior clergy, and in particular with his brother Henry. [132] Stephen marched north to Lincoln and agreed to a truce with Ranulf, probably to keep him from joining the Empress's faction, under which Ranulf would be allowed to keep the castle. [103] Only a handful of earldoms had existed under Henry I and these had been largely symbolic in nature. [144] Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury was unwilling to declare Matilda queen so rapidly, however, and a delegation of clergy and nobles, headed by Theobald, travelled to see Stephen in Bristol and consult about their moral dilemma: should they abandon their oaths of fealty to the King? [21], In 1120, the English political landscape changed dramatically. [222] Stephen's middle son, Baldwin, and second daughter, Matilda, had died before 1147 and were buried at Holy Trinity Priory, Aldgate. ), king of England from 1135 to 1154. [61] The extent to which lands and positions should be passed down through hereditary right or by the gift of the King was still uncertain, and tensions concerning this issue had grown during the reign of Henry I. [233] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was past its prime by the time of Stephen but is remembered for its striking account of conditions during "the Anarchy". [78][nb 10][nb 11], In the years following his succession, Stephen's relationship with the church became gradually more complex. Stephen, also spelled Steven, is a strong and likable classic, with the he's-a-great-guy short form Steve. [7] [17] [18] Between 1979 and 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, widely viewed as one of the When Henry died in 1135, Stephen quickly crossed the English Channel and with the help of his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester and Abbot of Glastonbury, took the throne, arguing that the preservation of order across the kingdom took priority over his earlier oaths to support the claim of Henry I's daughter, the Empress Matilda. [141] He was initially left confined in relatively good conditions, but his security was later tightened and he was kept in chains. [88] There were significant underlying problems, nonetheless. [57] Theobald then agreed to the Normans' proposal that he be made king, only to find that his former support immediately ebbed away: the barons were not prepared to support the division of England and Normandy by opposing Stephen, who subsequently financially compensated Theobald, who in return remained in Blois and supported his brother's succession. War and society in medieval and early modern Britain. Historians, Economists, and Economic History. From the 1040s onwards, however, successive popes had put forward a reforming message that emphasised the importance of the church being "governed more coherently and more hierarchically from the centre" and established "its own sphere of authority and jurisdiction, separate from and independent of that of the lay ruler", in the words of historian Richard Huscroft. [239] William Stubbs focused on these constitutional aspects of Stephen's reign in his 1874 volume the Constitutional History of England, beginning an enduring interest in Stephen and his reign. Gibney previously appeared in the Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch),The Outsider, and If It Bleeds. From Latin Stephanus, from Ancient Greek (Stphanos), from (stphanos, crown, wreath), from (stph, to put round, to surround) . [13], Henry responded by forming a network of alliances with the western counties of France against Louis, resulting in a regional conflict that would last throughout Stephen's early life. [226] Stephen fell ill with a stomach disease and died on 25 October at the local priory, being buried at Faversham Abbey with his wife Matilda and son Eustace. [199] The row between Henry and Bernard grew increasingly personal, and Henry used his authority as legate to appoint his nephew William of York to the post in 1144 only to find that, when Pope Innocent II died in 1145, Bernard was able to get the appointment rejected by Rome. 121138. WebStephen Hawking. [153] The Queen appears to have generated genuine sympathy and support from Stephen's more loyal followers. Stephen began to examine a negotiated peace, a process hastened by the sudden death of Eustace. [121][nb 17], Having released the Empress, Stephen focused on pacifying the south-west of England. [4], His younger brother, Henry of Blois, was probably born four years after him. [3][nb 3] Stephen's remaining older brother, Odo, died young, probably in his early teens. [1] She had a strong matriarchal influence on Stephen during his early years. Three hundred passengers embarked on the White Ship to travel from Barfleur in Normandy to England, including the heir to the throne, William Adelin, and many other senior nobles. He portrayed Chase Adams on The CW drama series One Tree Hill [2] [3] [4] and appeared for two seasons on the MTV reality television series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. The name, in both the forms Stephen and Steven, is often shortened to Steve or Stevie. His reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda, whose son, Henry II, succeeded Stephen as the first of the Angevin kings of England. [180] Stephen's overall income from his estates, however, declined seriously during the conflict, particularly after 1141, and royal control over the minting of new coins remained limited outside of the south-east and East Anglia. One of the first seven deacons of the Christian Church, Saint Stephen is also the first Christian to be martyred for the Faith (hence the title, often applied to him, of protomartyr that is, "first martyr"). [72] His accession to the throne still needed to be ratified by the Pope, however, and Henry of Blois appears to have been responsible for ensuring that testimonials of support were sent both from Stephen's brother Theobald and from the French king Louis VI, to whom Stephen represented a useful balance to Angevin power in the north of France. War and Society in Medieval and Early Modern Britain. [35] A fresh rebellion broke out in southern Normandy, and Geoffrey and Matilda intervened militarily on behalf of the rebels. [241][nb 24] The late-Victorian scholar Frederic William Maitland also introduced the possibility that Stephen's reign marked a turning point in English legal historythe so-called "tenurial crisis". 1038), Blood on Their Hands, and Sex on Their Minds. 159160; Chibnall, pp. [62] In the process he had been able to maximise revenues and contain expenditures, resulting in a healthy surplus and a famously large treasury, but also increasing political tensions. [54][nb 7], Meanwhile, the Norman nobility gathered at Le Neubourg to discuss declaring Theobald king, probably following the news that Stephen was gathering support in England. [119] The reasoning behind Stephen's decision to release his rival remains unclear. From *steg- (to enlace) + - (-nos, suffix forming an adjective or noun) from Proto-Indo-European *-ns (suffix forming a verbal adjective from a verb stem) . https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen,_King_of_England&oldid=1132051530, Matilda (died before 1141), married in infancy to, Bennett, Matthew. In 1106 he invaded and captured the Duchy of Normandy, controlled by his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, defeating Robert's army at the battle of Tinchebray. [65] Stephen responded by sending Richard's brother Baldwin and the Marcher Lord Robert Fitz Harold of Ewyas into Wales to pacify the region. WebThe name Stephen is boy's name of Greek origin meaning "garland, crown". Together with his close advisor, Waleran de Beaumont, Stephen took firm steps to defend his rule, including arresting a powerful family of bishops. [17] In 1113, Stephen was granted both the title and the honour, although without the lands previously held by William in England. 4647; Crouch (2002), p. 252. [248] Peters' depiction of Stephen's reign is an essentially local narrative, focused on the town of Shrewsbury and its environs. Theobald was appointed a papal legate in 1151, adding to his authority. [100], Stephen's military campaign in England had progressed well, and historian David Crouch describes it as "a military achievement of the first rank". He's very intelligent and focused, but can also be considered oblivious to something begging to be noticed. In 1153, the Empress's son Henry invaded England and built an alliance of powerful regional barons to support his claim for the throne. [171] As with Geoffrey, the moment Ranulf was released he immediately rebelled, but the situation was a stalemate: Stephen had few forces in the north with which to prosecute a fresh campaign, whilst Ranulf lacked the castles to support an attack on Stephen. Crouch (2002), p. 269; White (1998), p. 133. 279280; Bradbury, p. 187. Stephen became increasingly concerned with ensuring that his son Eustace would inherit his throne. [170], For a period, the situation continued to worsen. [78] Henry wanted to succeed to the post, but Stephen instead supported Theobald of Bec, who was eventually appointed. Carpenter, pp. [16] As a third surviving son, even of an influential regional family, Stephen still needed the support of a powerful patron to progress in life. Opinions vary over the degree to which Stephen's acquisition of power resembled a coup. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen, an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the first martyr of the Christian Church.

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