General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Earl of Chester
Note: DESCENDANT OF CHARLEMAGNE AND ALFRED THE GREAT
DESCENDANT OF THE ANCIENT KINGS OF DENMARK AND SWEDEN
VICOMTE DE AVRANCHES, 4TH EARL OF CHESTER
Ranulph was a military leader who initially supported Steph
en, then switched sides and fought for Empress Matilda an
d her son Prince Henry (later Henry I), capturing Stephen a
t the Battle of Lincoln, 1141. Ranulph switched sides again
, so motivated by his own personal interests, that, in th
e end, no one could trust him. He may have been poisoned b
y William Peverell Lord of Nottingham.
THE CIVIL WARS OF MATILDA (MAUD) AND STEPHEN:
Stephen seems to have been a likeable fellow, mild-mannered
, brave and chivalrous, though he could also be obstinate a
nd rash. On Henry I's death, with baronial support, he seiz
ed the throne, but he made many enemies of the Church and a
lienated most of the nobles, many of whom threw their suppo
rt to Henry I's daughter Matilda, resulting in Civil War. T
here is an interesting story told about the conflict. In 11
39, Matilda landed with a force at Arundel. Stephen besiege
d her at the castle and could have destroyed her there, bu
t Matilda's stepmother Adeliza appealed to his chivalric in
stincts and bargained for an end to the siege. Amazingly, S
tephen even provided Matilda with an escort to Bristol. Fro
m there, Matilda wasted little time in resuming her blood
y campaign against Stephen. She defeated and captured Steph
en at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, marking the beginnin
g of her brief rule of England. Stephen finally prevailed
, defeating Matilda at Winchester. However, in 1153, Matild
a's son Henry, the Duke of Normandy, invaded England and wa
s recognized as Stephen's heir in place of his own sons Eus
tace and William. Henry would rule as one of England's grea
test kings, Henry II.