Matilda of Boulogne and William of Ypres as mediators
The wiser queen Matilda of Boulogne, aided by William of Ypres—Stephen’s truest friend despite his other sins—at her request induced Theobald to remove to St.…
The wider political dimensions of the quarrel
Theobald and Matilda of Boulogne alike recognized that the quarrel involved far more than strictly ecclesiastical questions: the issue that battle had failed to decide was now bei…
Brian Fitz-Count’s treatise in defence of Matilda
A striking symptom of this wider dimension was the action of Brian Fitz-Count, Matilda’s long-time military champion, who suddenly exchanged sword for pen and produced a treatise…
Geoffrey Plantagenet’s challenge to Stephen
Geoffrey Plantagenet, with Angevin quickness, was the first to proclaim the true situation openly: through Bishop Miles of Térouanne he sent Stephen a formal challenge to surrende…
Cession of Normandy to Henry Fitz-Empress
Taking Stephen at his word in a way he had not intended, Geoffrey did give up Normandy—by making it over to his own son, Henry Fitz-Empress—thus bringing Stephen face to face with…
The trial at Rome on Matilda’s legitimacy
Stephen consented in desperation to a trial at Rome on Matilda’s claims, where his envoys revived Anselm’s half-century-old doubts about the validity of her parents’ marriage; tho…
Gilbert Foliot’s appointment and consecration as bishop of Hereford
Gilbert Foliot himself—a Cluniac monk, abbot of Gloucester since 1139, renowned for learning and holiness—reluctantly obeyed Theobald’s summons and threw his energies into organiz…
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