Stephen was King of England from December 1135 until his passing in October 1154.

Though he was one of William the Conqueror’s grandsons, Stephen wasn’t in line to become King of England and probably never expected to take such a role probably until he was approaching 30.

As we’ll see, when King Henry died in 1135, opportunity would come knocking and it would be Stephen who answered the call.

Stephen’s passage from loyal nephew in the court of his uncle … to King of England leaves an open question … how on on earth did it happen?

How did the relatively obscure fourth son of one of William the Conquerer’s youngest daughters end up on the English throne?

The answer seems to lie somewhere in-between good fortune and charm.

By all accounts Stephen was skilled at winning people over.

He would dine and joke around and have good crack - as we’d say in the North East of England - with almost anyone, whether they were low born or high.

And Henry I hadn’t only acted as Stephen’s patron; he’d also boosted the career of Stephen’s younger brother Henry who was made, firstly Abbot of Glastonbury, then Bishop of Winchester.

So when Stephen arrived in England to stake his claim, he was was a popular candidate with more or less everyone he’d encountered and crucially he also had the support of the Church, via his brother.

Another factor in his favour was that Henry I’s nominated successor, his daughter Matilda, was not a popular candidate.

Not only was she a woman, but her marriage raised the unwelcome prospect of her husband the Count of Anjou sitting on the throne alongside her.


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