The Reign of Stephen would not be complete without a history of the Norman Conquest. In 1066, William Duke of Normandy defeated Edward the Confessor ending the reigns of the Anglo-Saxon Kings. The Battle of Hastings was fought on Saturday, October 14 from morning until dusk and marked the beginning of the Anglo-Norman era. With William I the newly crowned King of England, the modern age of English monarchy began.

He was tall and extremely fat, with a fierce look and

a forehead bare of hair, with arms of such strength

that nobody else could draw his bow, though he himself

could bend it while his horse was at full gallop. He was

majestic, whether sitting or standing-though the outward

swell of his big belly deformed his royal person-of r

of England had willingly gone over to his side.

To admit her fitness to govern required a new vision

Robert, Earl of Gloucester was the catalyst of the civil war. He originally supported Stephen with the rest of the nobles, however when it seemed that some nobles were becoming discontented, Robert spoke out of his allegiance to Matilda and renounced Stephen.

When Lady Jane was nine years old, she went to live in the household of Catherine Parr, the widow of Henry VIII and the new wife of Thomas Seymour. After Catherine Parr died in 1548, Lady Jane was made the ward of Thomas Seymour. Seymour was a power hungry man with jealousy and aspirations of power. He was jealous that his brother and not him was made Lord Protector and wanted to find a way to gain power. His idea was to marry his ward to the king.

Some topics in this essay:
Earl Gloucester, London England, Henry VIII, Westminster Abbey, Mary Queen, Empress Matilda, Catherine Aragon, King England, Mary Edward, Henry FitzRoy, civil war, henry viii, lady jane, male heir, henry died, king henry, female ruler, henry married, robert earl gloucester, earl gloucester, empress matilda, idea female ruler, lady jane grey, annul marriage catherine, throne lady jane,