The Anarchy: War and Status in 12th-Century Landscapes of Conflict (Exeter Studies in Medieval Europe LUP)

The turbulent reign of Stephen, King of England (1135-54), has been styled since the late 19th century as 'the Anarchy', although the extent of political breakdown during the period has since been vigorously debated. Rebellion and bitter civil war characterised Stephen's protracted struggle with rival claimant Empress Matilda and her Angevin supporters over 'nineteen long winters' when, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 'Christ and his Saints slept'. Drawing on new research and fieldwork, this innovative volume offers the first ever overview and synthesis of the archaeological and material record for this controversial period. It presents and interrogates many different types of evidence at a variety of scales, ranging from nationwide mapping of historical events through to conflict landscapes of battlefields and sieges. The volume considers archaeological sites such as castles and other fortifications, churches, monasteries, bishops' palaces and urban and rural settlements, alongside material culture including coins, pottery, seals and arms and armour. This approach not only augments but also challenges historical narratives, questioning the 'real' impact of Stephen's troubled reign on society, settlement, church and the landscape, and opens up new perspectives on the conduct of Anglo-Norman warfare Cover Contents Acknowledgements List of Figures List of Colour Plates Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Historical Outline and the Geography of ‘Anarchy’ Chapter 3 Waging War: Fields of Conflict and Siege Warfare Chapter 4 Architecture and Authority: Castles Chapter 5 Material Culture: From Arts to Coins Chapter 6 Performing Violence: Arms, Armour and Military Apparel Chapter 7 Faith and Fortification: The Church Chapter 8 Town, Village and Country Chapter 9 Anarchy on the Fen Edge: Case Study of the Isle of Ely Chapter 10 The Twelfth-Century Civil War in Context: Assessment and Reassessment Appendix: Key Sites to Visit Bibliography Index Plates section The first ever archaeologically based study of the turbulent period of English history often known as the 'Anarchy' of King Stephen's reign in the mid-twelfth century, covering battlefields and conflict landscapes, arms, armour and material culture, fortifications and the church.