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Quiz about The Anarchy of King Stephens Reign

The Anarchy of King Stephen's Reign Quiz

King Stephen spent most of his 19 year reign at war with his cousin, Empress Matilda. How much do you know about the other English civil war?

A multiple-choice quiz by helenwalkling. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
helenwalkling

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
327,334

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
402

Last 3 plays: Guest 91 (3/10), Guest 90 (3/10), Guest 67 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. King Stephen became king of England on 22nd December 1135. Who was his predecessor? Hint

Edward II

Henry II

Henry I

William Rufus

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Question 2 of 10

2. Stephen married a wealthy European heiress. Who was she? Hint

Constance of Brittany

Matilda of Flanders

Matilda of Boulogne

Adeliza of Louvain

3. There was another Matilda in Stephen's life - his cousin, the daughter of the late king Henry I. She came to England, ostensibly to visit her step-mother but her arrival sparked the period known subsequently as "The Anarchy", when barons took sides as to who had the right to rule England.

When did she arrive on English shores to claim the throne? Hint

1st September 1139

30th September 1139

1st January 1136

30th August 1138

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was Matilda's half-brother who proved to be one of her most loyal and capable commanders? Hint

Ranulf of Chester

Brien Fitz Count

Robert of Gloucester

Reginald Fitz Roy

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Question 5 of 10

5. King David I of Scots (uncle of both Empress Matilda and Stephen's queen, also called Matilda) invaded England a number of times early in Stephen's reign. When and where was the Battle of the Standard, following which his raids into England were effectively stopped? Hint

20th August 1141 at Ripon

22nd August 1138 at Northallerton

22nd May 1138 at York

22nd June 1139 at Malton

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Question 6 of 10

6. King Stephen's younger brother, Henry, was a powerful churchman at the time, and carried a lot of influence. What was his office? Hint

Bishop of Winchester

Archbishop of Canterbury

Bishop of Salisbury

Bishop of Ely

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Question 7 of 10

7. At which battle in 1141 did Empress Matilda manage to capture King Stephen? Hint

The Battle of Dover

The Battle of Worcester

The Battle of Lincoln

The Battle of the Standard

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Question 8 of 10

8. Stephen secured a very good marriage for his son, Eustace, betrothing and wedding him to a girl named Constance in 1140. Who was she? Hint

A daughter of the Count of Toulouse

A sister of Alfonso of Navarre

A niece of David of Scots

A sister of Louis VII of France

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Question 9 of 10

9. Stephen and his wife founded an abbey which they had intended to also serve as a mausoleum for their royal house. What was it called? Hint

Dover

Rievaulx

Faversham

Fountains

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1153, Stephen finally gave up any hopes of passing the crown of England to his son, Eustace. By which agreement did he formally acknowledge Henry of Anjou, Empress Matilda's son, as his heir? Hint

Treaty of Winchester

Truce of Wallingford

Declaration of Westminster

Winchester Agreement

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. King Stephen became king of England on 22nd December 1135. Who was his predecessor?

Answer: Henry I

Henry I died in Normandy some 3 weeks before Stephen seized the crown. A "surfeit of lampreys" (eel-like fish) was the cause, apparently.

2. Stephen married a wealthy European heiress. Who was she?

Answer: Matilda of Boulogne

Matilda was the daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne. As his only surviving child, she inherited his lands on his death. Of impeccable stock, Matilda claimed kinship with the Kings of Scotland and England, and Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

3. There was another Matilda in Stephen's life - his cousin, the daughter of the late king Henry I. She came to England, ostensibly to visit her step-mother but her arrival sparked the period known subsequently as "The Anarchy", when barons took sides as to who had the right to rule England. When did she arrive on English shores to claim the throne?

Answer: 30th September 1139

She took her time, as she was pregnant with her youngest son William during 1135-1136. She is often referred to as Empress Matilda, as she married the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V in 1114 and was his consort until his death in 1125.

4. Who was Matilda's half-brother who proved to be one of her most loyal and capable commanders?

Answer: Robert of Gloucester

Both Reginald (whom Empress Matilda made Earl of Cornwall) and Robert were illegitimate sons of Henry I but Robert is generally acknowledged as the one without whom there would have been no civil war.

Brien Fitz Count was not a blood relative but fought her corner loyally all his life.

Answer: 22nd August 1138 at Northallerton

The Battle of the Standard was named for the standard (which bore the flags of the minsters of York, Ripon and Beverly) which was mounted on a cart. It was, apparently, the first time that such a thing had been employed in a battle on British soil and it was not done again.

It took place on Cowton Moor, near Northallerton.

6. King Stephen's younger brother, Henry, was a powerful churchman at the time, and carried a lot of influence. What was his office?

Answer: Bishop of Winchester

He was also the abbot of Glastonbury, the richest abbey in the country. The Archbishopric of Canterbury, which Henry dearly coveted, was given to Theobald of Bec in 1139 much to Henry's displeasure.

7. At which battle in 1141 did Empress Matilda manage to capture King Stephen?

Answer: The Battle of Lincoln

The Battle of Worcester was the last conflict in the second, better-known English Civil War.

The Battle of the Standard was fought against David of Scots (who had sided with Empress Matilda rather than his other niece Matilda, Stephen's queen).

The Battle of Dover occurred in 1217, when Philip of France tried to seize the English throne from the infant Henry III.

8. Stephen secured a very good marriage for his son, Eustace, betrothing and wedding him to a girl named Constance in 1140. Who was she?

Answer: A sister of Louis VII of France

Constance was the daughter of Louis VI ("le gros") and sister of Louis VII ("le jeune").

9. Stephen and his wife founded an abbey which they had intended to also serve as a mausoleum for their royal house. What was it called?

Answer: Faversham

Faversham Abbey was in Kent and founded for the Savignac order of which Stephen was a chief patron.

As it turned out, only Stephen, Queen Matilda and their son Eustace were buried there.

Answer: Treaty of Winchester

Stephen's son, Eustace, did not take kindly to being disinherited. He left his father's court in ill temper and proceeded to ravage the countryside around Cambridge. He died in August 1153, in circumstances which are unclear.

Most historians agree that the correct name for the document settling the succession on the House of Anjou is the "Treaty of Winchester", where it was drawn up rather than Wallingford where its terms were agreed in principle, or Westminster where it was promulgated.

Source: Author helenwalkling

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