Paul Dalton

King Stephen's reign (1135-1154)

The turbulent reign of King Stephen is here subjected to a full assessment by leading scholars in the field. All of the most important aspects are fully covered: the impact of developments under Henry I on the origins of civil war; relations with the continent, as they affected Stephens overall strategy and the foundation of religious houses; the opportunities which lured foreign mercenaries to England; mid-twelfth century legal developments and trends in revenue-raising; baronial and episcopal allegiances; violent disorder and civil unrest; and the sequence of events which unfolded during the political crisis of July 1141. Taken together, they provide the fruits of the most recent research into and the most up to date interpretations of the intense political and military activity of the reign.

The accession of King Henry I, August 1100

This article reexamines the dramatic and rapid accession of Henry I as king of England in August 1100. It casts new light on accounts of the sudden death of Henry’s predecessor, William Rufus, and the steps taken by Henry to secure power. Henry is shown to have been ruthless to the point of using violence to secure his ends, and crucially supported by a small group of magnates who had been among the closest men of William Rufus. The article supports the possibility that Henry’s famous “coronation charter” actually post-dates his coronation and was foreshadowed by developments in Rufus’s reign. It explores the importance of ideas about the will of God and the common counsel of the barons in legitimizing Henry’s accession. It also elucidates the significance of the letter by which Henry sought the support of Archbishop Anselm, including its appeal to Anselm’s deepest religious beliefs, and the nature of the alliance it proposed between king and archbishop.