Stephen

He was a son of Stephen, Count of Blois and his wife Adela, daughter of William 'the Conqueror' and was born in about 1096. Most of his reign was taken up with fighting his cousin, the Empress Matilda, for the throne.

Marriage

In 1125 he married Matilda, daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne and his wife Mary of Scotland.

Coronation

Stephen of Blois, nephew of Henry I of England, was crowned on St Stephen's Day, 26th December 1135, by William de Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. He promised to all his Englishmen "all the liberties and good laws" which they had enjoyed under his predecessors. His queen was crowned the following year.

Burial

He died at Dover Castle on 25th October 1154 and was buried with his family at Faversham Abbey in Kent, which he had founded.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

English Monarchs