A Series of Notable Deaths
A Series of Notable Deaths Eustace’s death was the climax of a striking sequence. The roll opened with Geoffrey of Anjou in September 1151, followed in January 1152 by Suger and T…
The Treaty of Wallingford
The Treaty of Wallingford With Eustace dead and his other sons mere boys, Stephen’s resistance collapsed.…
Ratification and Henry’s Return to Normandy
Ratification and Henry’s Return to Normandy The treaty was ratified at the end of November at Winchester in an assembly of bishops, earls, and barons.…
CHAPITRE VIII.
Chapter VIII describes the final months of King Stephen’s reign and the peaceful accession of Henry Fitz-Empress to the English throne, covering Henry’s achievement of order in England, Stephen’s death, Henry’s settling of Norman affairs, and his eventual coronation at Westminst…
Henry’s Achievement of Peace
In just fifteen months in England—and only five since the Treaty of Wallingford—Henry had established such firm peace that no equal period of order had been seen since the death o…
Stephen as King at Last
Contemporary writers observed that Stephen only now, at the close of his reign, seemed truly a king.…
Stephen’s Final Campaign Against the Northern Castles
Gathering his failing strength, Stephen launched a campaign against rebellious northern castles, with youthful valor still partially intact.…
Stephen’s Meeting with the Count of Flanders
Stephen traveled south to Dover to hold another meeting with the count of Flanders.
The Death of King Stephen
Stephen’s health finally collapsed at Dover, and he died peacefully eight days before the feast of All Saints, ending nineteen troubled years of reign marked by blunders, failures…
The Burial at Feversham Abbey
The archbishop and nobles laid Stephen to rest in Feversham Abbey beside his wife and son.
The Message to Henry, King-Elect
The primate and nobles dispatched a message to Henry, the king-elect, urging him to come and receive his crown without delay.
Disturbances in Normandy
The message reached Henry as he was suppressing disturbances in Normandy. French attacks during his 1153 absence had encouraged turbulence among the Norman barons, who relapsed to…
Peace with the King of France
After a hurried visit to Aquitaine, Henry made peace with King Louis of France in August 1154; Louis at last recognized that his opposition was as futile as Stephen’s had been.
Henry’s Illness
Shortly after the peace with France, the young duke was struck down by a severe illness.
The Campaign in the Vexin
By October, Henry had sufficiently recovered to join Louis in a campaign to settle disturbances in the Vexin.
The Siege of Torigni
From the Vexin, Henry moved to besiege his rebellious cousin and vassal Richard Fitz-Count at Torigni, which had apparently just surrendered.
News of Stephen’s Death Reaches Henry
As Torigni capitulated, the tidings of Stephen’s death reached Henry.
Counsel with the Empress Matilda
Henry first took counsel with his mother, the Empress Matilda.
The Assembly at Barfleur
He then summoned his brothers and the Norman barons to meet him at Barfleur, arriving there with Eleanor.
The Delay in Crossing to England
At Barfleur, contrary winds delayed the crossing for an entire month. Henry, however, could afford to wait, as could England.
Archbishop Theobald Guards the Rights of the Crown
The six-week interregnum passed without the disorder that had followed Henry I’s death, because Archbishop Theobald safeguarded the rights of the Crown for one already proven the…
The Landing in Hampshire
On December 8, Henry landed in Hampshire.
Henry’s Reception at Winchester and London
He received a rapturous welcome first at Winchester and then in London.
The Coronation of Henry Fitz-Empress
On the Sunday before Christmas, Henry Fitz-Empress—duke of the Normans, count of Anjou, and duke of Aquitaine—was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey.
CHAPITRE IX.
Chapter IX, “Henry and England” (1154–1157), opens with the Christmas coronation of Henry Fitz-Empress as a watershed moment in English history.…
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