Stephen and Matilda's Civil War: Cousins of Anarchy

This is a review of the Kindle edition of Stephen and Matilda's civil war: Cousins of anarchy.The anarchy was England's first great civil war from 1135 to 1154. Now, that's a great name for a civil war but wouldn't the country have fallen apart if the war really had been that bad over that length of time. Matthew Lewis presents a new look at the Anarchy starting from the White ship and ending with the accession of Henry II.The story is told in pairs of chapters Stephen's side and Matilda's side. The format is a litle jarring when first encountered but actually helps makes sense of a conflict that lasted so long and involved England, Scotland, Normandy and France. The detailed history makes the point that Stephen can't have been that bad a king to not only win but stay in power even if he eventually had to agree to the making Henry Fitzempress his heir.It is inevitable that such a history will fall into quoting dates but this i s minimized due to the format chosen. Matthew Lewis also makes the point that the religious writers who chronicled most of this period were in the parts of the country where the most conflict was. It was the Victorians who coined the term "The Anarchy" though. As someone who an amateur interest in medieval history I found this very useful in clarifying my understanding of the transition between the Norman and Plantagenet dynasties. This is not a narrative history per se but it is a good read about a fascinating conflict.

The civil war between the English King Stephen and the Empress Matilda possesses many different interpretations depending on the historians. To this day it is impossible to determine who had the most valid claim to the throne. A singular example of what poor succession planning can cause.

The author gave a great detailed explanation of how the conflict between Stephen and Matilda started and how it evolved during 20 years. The resolution was described carefully. I gained a broader understanding of personalities and events through the best facts available for the time and beyond. A great read. Thank you. More p!ease.

I find the Anarchy and early Plantagenets to be utterly fascinating and this volume certainly lays the groundwork for that period.

AUTHORMatthew Lewis was born in England. He obtained a law degree, but history has always been his passion. He has authored numerous historical books, both fiction and non-fiction.WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?This book is best suited for historians, students of medieval history or anyone who enjoys learning about the English ancient ruling class.SYNOPSISStephen and Matilda’s Civil War is the tale of two cousins fight over the throne of England. King Henry I died in 1135 and had no legitimate male heir. His only legitimate son, William Adelin, drowned in the “White Ship” disaster in 1120. His only other legitimate child was Empress Matilda, a female. No female had ever ruled England at this time, but Henry I wanted her to reign after him. Unfortunately for Matilda she was in Anjou at the time of her father’s death. Her first cousin Stephen of Blois rushed in and usurped the crown in her absence. This led to The Anarchy (civil-war) that endured nearly two decades.Matthew Lewis composes a compelling tale of a tumultuous time in English history. His research and writing ability are evident throughout the book. He delves into the chaos of the time and brings to light the suffering of all those involved. The war ebbs and flows back and forth with no one really seeming to get the upper hand. The external and internal conflicts surrounding this event in history are too numerous to comprehend, but Matthew does an excellent job. He uses personal accounts, quotes, and even a few images to help the reader try to understand the complexities of the times. CONCLUSIONStephen and Matilda’s Civil War is an exceptionally researched historic look at The Anarchy. The author is able to describe in detail the look and feel of the era, as if you were standing there observing it in real time. The battles, both political and literal are played out across the pages of this manuscript. A great read for anyone who is interested in medieval England.

A gift to someone else, so cannot comment, but was interesting on reading before I gave it.

Detailed but easy to read. Matthew has written a great book for anyone wanting a more in-depth understanding of the anarchy!

Having no prior knowledge on this period of English history, this book filled it with a very detailed and unbiased account of the period.

I was ignorant of the real history of King Stephen’s reign. This was a fascinating journey through a turbulent time in Europe.