The Anarchy: The Darkest Days of Medieval England

The Anarchy was a period of chaos in England after the death of Henry I, with Stephen and Matilda both claiming the throne. The struggle was complex, with supporting players such as Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester, Robert of Gloucester, and Geoffrey of Anjou. The Anarchy blends contemporary accounts with modern analysis to describe a period of Englands history so dark and lawless that those who lived through it declared that 'Christ and his saints slept.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2024
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

When the mighty Henry I died in December 1135, leaving no legitimate son to replace him on the throne of England, a question arose: who would take the crown? The answer was not straightforward, as two potential candidates emerged. One was Stephen, the nephew of the king and a favorite of the court, who had been showered with favors that may have given him ideas above his station. The other was Henry's own daughter, Matilda, who had been sent away when she was eight years old to marry the Holy Roman Emperor, but was later forced into a hated second marriage for political reasons.

Stephen was the first to act, seizing the throne that had been promised to Matilda. However, he would soon find that taking a crown was far easier than keeping it. The resulting struggle became known as "the Anarchy," a time when fortune changed sides as frequently and dramatically as in any page-turning thriller, and with a cast of characters to match. Some passionately supported Stephen or Matilda, while others were simply out to grab what they could from the chaos.

Among the supporting players in this war between cousins were Henry of Blois, brother of Stephen and Bishop of Winchester, who was largely orchestrator of the church's response to the conflict. Robert of Gloucester, an illegitimate son of Henry I and chief supporter of his half-sister, also played a significant role. Geoffrey of Anjou, husband of Matilda, was determined to secure Normandy (a traditional enemy of Anjou) for himself.

Covering all the twists and turns of this war between cousins, as first one side then the other seemed within touching distance of total victory, "The Anarchy" blends contemporary, sometimes eye-witness accounts with modern analysis to describe a period of England's history so dark and lawless that those who lived through it declared that "Christ and his saints slept."

Weight: 237g
Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398122512