The war was not defined by decisive battles but by a persistent erosion of centralized authority. England became a patchwork of fortified castles and private armies, as barons exploited the chaos to pursue personal ambitions. Chroniclers like the Anglo-Saxon Peterborough Chronicle lamented the era as a time "when Christ and his saints slept," underscoring the widespread suffering, lawlessness, and destruction.
Stephen’s tenuous control was challenged on multiple fronts. The Scots invaded northern England under King David I, and Welsh resistance intensified. In 1139, Matilda landed in England with the backing of her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester. The conflict escalated, culminating in key episodes such as the 1141 Battle of Lincoln, where Stephen was captured, and the dramatic 1142 Siege of Oxford, during which Matilda escaped a besieged castle under the cover of snow.
Despite moments of advantage, Matilda failed to secure the crown, largely due to her inability to rally widespread support. As the war dragged on, both factions suffered attrition, and public exhaustion grew. In 1153, a turning point arrived when Matilda’s son, Henry Plantagenet—backed by growing noble support and foreign allies—invaded England. Facing mounting pressure and the recent death of his own son, Eustace, Stephen agreed to the Treaty of Wallingford.
The treaty recognized Stephen as king for life but named Henry as his successor. When Stephen died in 1154, Henry II ascended the throne, inaugurating the Plantagenet dynasty. The Anarchy’s end restored royal authority and marked the beginning of one of the most powerful dynasties in English history.
The Anarchy: A Civil War of Succession and Chaos (1138–1153)
