The Historian Circle

Enemy of queenship historians? A historiographical assessment of the factors that enabled Stephen of Blois to succeed the throne in 1135 and upon succession, maintain his kingship. Darcy R. Keim, MA The instability of Anglo-Norman succession in the early twelfth-century resulted in nineteen years of political insecurity and civil war. The Anarchy was the product of a succession crisis that had been brought about by war and conquests during the eleventh-century. 1 It was undoubtedly a period of conflict and uncertainty due to ongoing dynastic rivalry. A determining factor was Henry I’s failure to eliminate the threat of a troubled succession. 2 As a consequence at the loss of Henry’s only legitimate son, William Adelin (also referred to as ‘William the Atheling’), alliances had evidently shifted from the direct line of succession. 3 An observation from Dr. Paul Dalton highlights the extent of which this caused issue; remarking that “the resulting civil war, during which Matilda ...