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King Stephen (c.1097 - 1154)

When King Henry I died in December 1135, there was widespread unhappiness throughout the country, at the thought of a woman, Henry's daughter, Matilda, becoming the successor to the throne. 

Consequently, his nephew Stephen became ruler. However Stephen was not a natural leader, rapidly making concessions that exposed his weakness. He appointed vast numbers of new earls and alienated his nobles with his desperate measures to build support.

In 1138, Matilda's half brother, Robert, Earl of Gloucester, took up arms on Matilda's behalf. A state of civil war then existed for nearly two decades.

Seizing her opportunity, Matilda invaded England in September 1139 and proceeded to take control of western England .

Wiltshire was the scene of much warfare during the disputes between King Stephen and Matilda. In 1139, Stephen forcibly seized the castles of Salisbury , Devizes, and Malmesbury

In 1150, Trowbridge castle was besieged and taken by Stephen.

In the course of this war also, Stephen, having marched to Wilton with the design of there raising a fortress to check the garrisons of Wareham and Salisbury . He was attacked by Matilda's forces, under the command of the Earl of Gloucester, and his army routed with great slaughter, while he himself narrowly escaped being taken prisoner: the town was then plundered and burned by the victors.

In 1152, Henry of Anjou, Matilda's son, invaded England to make his claim to his royal inheritance. Shortly after his landing he besieged and captured Malmesbury Castle ,

However, Stephen had only ever had nominal control over most of the kingdom and was unable to enforce the law or mediate between warring nobles. Stephen eventually agreed that Henry should be his successor. At Stephen's death, Henry ascended the throne as King Henry II.

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