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Stephen and Matilda's Civil War

Cousins of Anarchy

ISBN: 1526718332

The Anarchy was the first civil war in post-Conquest England, enduring throughout the reign of King Stephen between 1135 and 1154.

It ultimately brought about the end of the Norman dynasty and the birth of the mighty Plantagenet kings.

Stephen and Matilda's Civil War

When Henry I died having lost his only legitimate son in a shipwreck, he had caused all of his barons to swear to recognize his daughter Matilda, widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, as his heir and remarried her to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. When she was slow to move to England on her father's death, Henry's favourite nephew Stephen of Blois rushed to have himself crowned, much as Henry himself had done on the death of his brother William Rufus.

Supported by his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester, Stephen made a promising start, but Matilda would not give up her birthright and tried to hold the English barons to their oaths. The result was more than a decade of civil war that saw England split apart. Empress Matilda is often remembered as aloof and high-handed, Stephen as ineffective and indecisive. By following both sides of the dispute and seeking to understand their actions and motivations, Matthew Lewis aims to reach a more rounded understanding of this crucial period of English history and asks to what extent there really was anarchy.

Goodreads Review
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Rebecca Hill

I cannot say enough good things about this book! While I know the ins and outs of this Civil War, Matthew Lewis brought it around in a few ways that I had not considered before. I found myself going back and forth, and comparing different theories through his writing. Absolutely loved it - and I will be adding this book to my student approved reading list for future semesters

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Michi

The book's greatest strength, however, is that it succeeds very well at being unbiased. Lewis favours neither Stephen nor Matilda over each other, but shows up the strengths and weaknesses of them both and their respective parties without himself taking a side.

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Amazon Review
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Sharon Connolly

Matthew Lewis digs deep into the personalities involved in both sides of the war and puts flesh on the bones of these characters. The result is a fair and balanced appraisal of the conflict between these two cousins, both as rival claimants to the throne and as leaders of their disparate supporters. The story is told in alternate chapters from the views of Stephen and Matilda, helping to keep the analysis and narrative balanced and fresh.

Read full review

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See all reviews on Amazon.co.uk

See all reviews on Goodreads.com

Stephen and Matilda's Civil War

When Henry I died having lost his only legitimate son in a shipwreck, he had caused all of his barons to swear to recognize his daughter Matilda, widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, as his heir and remarried her to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. When she was slow to move to England on her father's death, Henry's favourite nephew Stephen of Blois rushed to have himself crowned, much as Henry himself had done on the death of his brother William Rufus.

Supported by his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester, Stephen made a promising start, but Matilda would not give up her birthright and tried to hold the English barons to their oaths. The result was more than a decade of civil war that saw England split apart. Empress Matilda is often remembered as aloof and high-handed, Stephen as ineffective and indecisive. By following both sides of the dispute and seeking to understand their actions and motivations, Matthew Lewis aims to reach a more rounded understanding of this crucial period of English history and asks to what extent there really was anarchy.

Reviews of Stephen and Matilda's Civil War

Goodreads Review
Card image

Rebecca Hill

I cannot say enough good things about this book! While I know the ins and outs of this Civil War, Matthew Lewis brought it around in a few ways that I had not considered before. I found myself going back and forth, and comparing different theories through his writing. Absolutely loved it - and I will be adding this book to my student approved reading list for future semesters

Read full review
Goodreads Review
Card image

Michi

The book's greatest strength, however, is that it succeeds very well at being unbiased. Lewis favours neither Stephen nor Matilda over each other, but shows up the strengths and weaknesses of them both and their respective parties without himself taking a side.

Read full review
Amazon Review
Card image

Sharon Connolly

Matthew Lewis digs deep into the personalities involved in both sides of the war and puts flesh on the bones of these characters. The result is a fair and balanced appraisal of the conflict between these two cousins, both as rival claimants to the throne and as leaders of their disparate supporters. The story is told in alternate chapters from the views of Stephen and Matilda, helping to keep the analysis and narrative balanced and fresh.

Read full review


See all reviews of Stephen and Matilda's Civil War on Amazon.com

See all reviews of Stephen and Matilda's Civil War on Amazon.co.uk

See all reviews of Stephen and Matilda's Civil War on Goodreads.com

Where to buy Stephen and Matilda's Civil War

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