Great Collapses Codexery

The Anarchy

A civil war over the English throne between Matilda and Stephen.

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The Anarchy

Vedder, Elihu, 1836-1923, artist · Public domain

The label "the Anarchy" was introduced by historians in the Victorian era to describe the widespread disorder, but its appropriateness is now debated by contemporary scholars.[1]

Key facts and history

Henry I then looked to his daughter Matilda as his intended heir, demanding oaths from his court to recognize her.[2][3] Robert of Gloucester rebelled against Stephen in 1138, declaring support for Matilda and triggering major regional revolts.[4] The Battle of Lincoln in 1141 resulted in Stephen's capture by Robert of Gloucester's forces.[5][6] Empress Matilda was declared "Lady of England and Normandy" but fled London before her coronation after the city rose against her.[7][8]

The war reached a stalemate in the mid-1140s while Geoffrey of Anjou consolidated control of Normandy.[9] Stephen was the child of Stephen-Henry of Blois and Adela of Normandy, which made him and Matilda first cousins.[10] Even by medieval standards of warfare, this conflict was regarded as exceptionally destructive.[1]

What the cited sources add

Contemporary chronicler Robert of Torigni suggested as many as 1,115 adulterine castles were built during the war, though this was probably an exaggeration.[11] During the war, the monarchy's authority over coin production collapsed, resulting in local lords and bishops minting their own currency.[12] Documentary and archaeological evidence has located at least 17 sites of counter-castles built during the conflict.[13]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bradbury, p. 215. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bradbury, p.3; Chibnall, p.64.; Bradbury, pp.6–7. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bradbury, p.9; Barlow, p.161.; King (2010), pp.30–31; Barlow, p.161. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Carpenter, p.169.; Barlow, p.169.; Stringer, p.18.; Chibnall, pp.70–71; Bradbury, p.25. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Davis, p.52.; Davis, p.52.; Bradbury, p.105.; Bradbury, p.105.; Bradbury, p.104.; Bradbury, p.108.; Bradbury, p.108.; Bradbury, pp.108–109.; Bradbury, pp.108–109. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: King (2010), p.154.; King (2010), p.154.; King (2010), p.155. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: King (2010), p.158; Carpenter, p.171.; Chibnall, pp.98–99.; Chibnall, p.98.; Chibnall, p.102.; Chibnall, p.103.; King (2010), p.163; Chibnall, p.104-105. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Carpenter, p.173; Davis, p.68; Crouch (2008b), p.47.; Crouch (2008b), p.52.; Davis, p.67. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Davis, p.78.; Bradbury, p.139. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: King (2010), p.13.; Davis, p.8.; King (2010), p.29.; Stringer, p.66. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Walker, p.15.; Creighton, p.59.; Coulson, p.69.; Coulson, p.69; Bradbury, p.191. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Blackburn, p.199. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Wikipedia, "The Anarchy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Creighton and Wright, p.53.; Creighton, p.56.; Creighton, p.56.; Creighton, p.57. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article The Anarchy (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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Read the full story: The Anarchy: England's Forgotten Civil War by Harold Carver  ·  All booksAs an Amazon Associate, Harold Carver earns from qualifying purchases.