William Fitz Alan, who in the contest between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, being then Governor of Shrewsbury and Sheriff of Salop, held the Castle for the Empress (daughter of Henry I, King of England and widow of the Emperor of Germany. She married 2nd Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and their son Henry II was first King of the House of Plantagenet) until it was taken by assault. He was also with the Empress at the seige of Winchester Castle in the 6th of King Stephen (1140) when she and her whole party were put to flight. Afterwards, continuing to adhere stoutly to the same cause, he was reconstituted Sheriff of Salop so soon as Henry II obtained the crown.