Stephen: The Reign of Anarchy (Penguin Monarchs)

Known as 'the anarchy', the reign of Stephen (1135-1141) saw England plunged into a civil war that illuminated the fatal flaw in the powerful Norman monarchy: without rules ordering succession, conflict within William the Conqueror's family was inevitable. But there was another problem: Stephen himself. With the nobility of England and Normandy anxious about the prospect of a world without the tough love of the old king Henry I, Stephen styled himself a political panacea—a promise he was unable to keep. Unable to transcend his flawed claim to the throne, Stephen's actions betrayed his uneasiness. As Watkins shows here, the resulting violence throughout England arose from the struggle to navigate a new and turbulent kind of politics. Known As 'the Anarchy', The Reign Of Stephen (1135-1141) Saw England Plunged Into A Civil War That Illuminated The Fatal Flaw In The Powerful Norman Monarchy, That Without Clear Rules Ordering Succession, Conflict Between Members Of William The Conqueror's Family Were Inevitable. But There Was Another Problem, Too: Stephen Himself. With The Nobility Of England And Normandy Anxious About The Prospect Of A World Without The Tough Love Of The Old King Henry I, Stephen Styled Himself A Political Panacea, Promising Strength Without Oppression. As External Threats And Internal Resistance To His Rule Accumulated, It Was A Promise He Was Unable To Keep. Unable To Transcend His Flawed Claim To The Throne, And To Make The Transition From Nobleman To King, Stephen's Actions Betrayed Uneasiness In His Role, His Royal Voice Never Quite Ringing True. The Resulting Violence That Spread Throughout England Was Not, Or Not Only, The Work Of Bloodthirsty Men On The Make. As Watkins Shows In This Resonant New Portrait, It Arose Because Great Men Struggled To Navigate A New And Turbulent Kind Of Politics That Arose When The King Was In Eclipse. Remembered as time in which 'Christ and his saints slept', Stephen's troubled rule plunged England into Civil War. Without clear rules of succession in the Norman monarchy, conflict between members of William the Conqueror's family was inevitable. But there was another problem, too: Stephen himself. Stephen styled himself a political panacea, promising strength without oppression. Yet as external threats and internal resistance to his rule accumulated, it was a promise he was unable to keep. Unable to transcend his flawed claim to the throne, and to make the transition from nobleman to king, Stephen's royal voice never quite rang true. The resulting violence that spread throughout England was not, or not only, the work of bloodthirsty men on the make. As Watkins shows in this resonant new portrait, it arose because great men struggled to navigate a new and turbulent kind of politics that arose when the king was in eclipse. Remembered As A Time In Which 'christ And His Saints Slept', Stephen's Troubled Rule Plunged England Into Civil War. Without Clear Rules Of Succession In The Norman Monarchy, Conflict Between Members Of William The Conqueror's Family Was Inevitable. But There Was Another Problem, Too- Stephen Himself. Stephen Styled Himself A Political Panacea, Promising Strength Without Oppression. Yet, As External Threats And Internal Resistance To His Rule Accumulated, It Was A Promise He Was Unable To Keep. Unable To Transcend His Flawed Claim To The Throne, And To Make Good The Transition From Nobleman To King, Stephen's Royal Voice Never Quite Rang True. The Resulting Violence That Spread Through England Was Not Only The Work Of Bloodthirsty Men On The Make. As Watkins Shows In This Resonant New Portrait, It Arose Because Of A New And Turbulent Kind Of Politics That Appeared When The King Was In Eclipse. Known as 'The Anarchy', the reign of Stephen, saw England plunged into a civil war that illuminated the fatal flaw in the powerful Norman monarchy, that without clear rules ordering succession, conflict between members of William the Conqueror's family were inevitable. In 1135 the popular Stephen was elected king, but by 1153, Stephen had lost control over Normandy and other important regions, England had lost prestige, and the weakened king was forced to cede his family's right to succession