The Succession Crisis That Tore England Apart

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Stephen (left) and Henry II, from Les Roys de Engeltere, Anglo-Norman manuscript, late 13th century. © British Library Board. Up until this point the author had always referred to Empress Matilda and Henry as ‘the countess of Anjou and her son’; now he begins to call Henry ‘the lawful heir’ to England and ceases to mention Matilda at all. Dynastic rule in the direct line of Henry I had returned to England.

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