Death of William of Dover
After capturing the commandant of Malmesbury and sending him as a prize to the Empress, William of Dover suddenly abandoned his evil ways and departed to die in Palestine.
Death of Geoffrey de Mandeville
Geoffrey de Mandeville, the worst of England’s troublers, who had accepted titles from both sovereigns while serving neither, met his death in the summer of 1144 in a skirmish wit…
Death of Robert of Marmion
Robert of Marmion, Mandeville’s fellow-sinner, was soon slain by the earl of Chester’s men at the gates of Bath Abbey, which he had desecrated.
Philip of Gloucester at Cricklade
Philip of Gloucester, Earl Robert’s son, took William of Dover’s place at Cricklade but was so hard pressed by the Oxford garrison that he called his father for aid.
Siege of Farringdon Castle
Robert built a great castle at Farringdon in support of his son, but Stephen besieged it with such vigour that its defenders were compelled to surrender.
Philip Defects to Stephen
Young Philip of Gloucester went over to Stephen and turned his arms against his own father, marking the rapid disintegration of the Angevin party.
Earl of Chester Submits at Stamford
The earl of Chester came to meet Stephen at Stamford, humbly apologizing for his rebellion and seeking to prove his repentance by recovering Bedford for the king, accompanying him…
Building of Crowmarsh
As proof of his renewed loyalty, Ralf of Chester helped Stephen build a fortress at Crowmarsh to contain the garrison of Wallingford.
Crisis at Northampton
In summer 1146, mutual distrust between Ralf and the king reached a crisis at Northampton when Ralf requested Stephen’s help against the Welsh.
Arrest of Ralf of Chester
When Stephen’s barons answered that he would only aid Ralf if the earl surrendered his castles and gave hostages, Ralf refused indignantly.…
Surrender of Lincoln
Among the castles Ralf surrendered to regain his freedom was Lincoln, the one Stephen valued most.
Stephen’s Triumph at Lincoln
Triumphant at last, Stephen resolved to hold his midwinter feast in Lincoln—defying the old superstition forbidding any English king to appear in regal state within its walls.…
Geoffrey’s Triumph in Normandy
While Stephen exulted over Matilda in England, her husband achieved complete triumph across the Channel.…
Negotiations with Theobald of Blois
Despairing of Stephen but unwilling to accept Geoffrey, the Norman barons at a Mortagne meeting during Lent once more entreated Theobald of Blois to take possession of both duchy…
Norman Barons Submit to Geoffrey
The proposed terms nonetheless served Geoffrey’s purpose. The twin earls of Meulan and Leicester, Stephen’s most active partisans, accepted them as final and made peace with Anjou…
Robert’s Visit to Geoffrey
While the Empress triumphed in England, word of her fall and Robert’s capture arrived, followed by his release in exchange for Stephen and finally, at Whitsuntide 1142, Robert’s o…
Campaign in Western Normandy
Geoffrey refused to go to England until Robert first helped him bring Normandy to order. Robert agreed, and together they undertook a campaign that occupied them until year’s end,…
Taking of Bastebourg
Starting from Robert’s native Caen, the brothers-in-law’s first success was probably the taking of Bastebourg above the ford of Varaville.
Conquest of Tinchebray and Mortain
The expedition moved south-westward through the diocese of Bayeux and up the left bank of the Orne through Villers, Aunay, Plessis, and Vire, winning the historic site of Tinchebr…
Submission of Pontorson
Geoffrey marched on to Pontorson, the south-western outpost of the Norman duchy near the Breton frontier.…
Submission of Cérences
Turning northward again into the Avranchin, Geoffrey reached Cérences, which likewise surrendered without a blow.
KAPITEL VI.
Chapter VI traces Geoffrey of Anjou’s completion of the Norman conquest, the entry into Rouen, the formal investiture from King Louis VII, the subsequent revolt of Angevin barons, the return of young Henry to Normandy, and the final collapse of the Empress Matilda’s cause in Eng…
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