Stephen of Blois

Stephen of Blois was King of England from 1135 to 1154. His reign was described in the AnglSaxon Chronicle as "nineteen years in which Christ and his saints slept".
His ursurpation of the crown promised to Henry I's daughter Matilda. Matilda was initially supported by both the church and the most of the barons of England and Normandy. But in 1138 Mathilda's half-brother, Robert, Earl of Gloucester, issued his defiance to Stephen and declared support for Matilda, instigating the civil war knwn as the Anarchy, which lasted for the rest of Stephen's reign.
Since his eldest son, Eustace, had died before him, Stephen ultimately accepted Matilda's son, Henry FitzEmpress as his heir.

Date of Death

25 October

Life

1096 AD 1154 AD 58 years old

Birthplace

Blois

Place of Death

Dover

Gender

Male