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The Reign of King Stephen, 1135 - 1154

david crouch

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At last: an authoritative, up to date account of the troubled reign of King Stephen, by a leading scholar of the Anglo-Norman world. David Crouch covers every aspect of the period - the king and the empress, the aristocracy, the Church, government and the nation at large. He also looks at the wider dimensions of the story, in Scotland, Wales, Normandy and elsewhere. The result (weaving its discussions around a vigorous narrative core) is a a work of major scholarship. A must for specialist and amateur medievalists alike.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 24,2000

This edition

Format
384 pages, Paperback
Published
January 4, 2000 by Routledge
ISBN
9780582226579
ASIN
0582226570
Language
English
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
asei
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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When David Crouch's study of Stephen was released in 2000, it marked a significant milestone.

It was the first major work dedicated to his reign since Ralph Davis's biography had been published over three decades earlier.

During that intervening time, the continuous scholarship on the period had cast doubt on some of the conclusions and suppositions that Davis's book was founded upon.

Although Keith Stringer had addressed this in his commendable short study of Stephen's reign, the nature of his work - a concise study intended as a targeted introduction to the subject - prevented the more extensive reexamination that Crouch offers in this present work.

For the remainder of my review, simply click on the link:

https://www.bestbritishbios.com/2022/...
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
GloomyGod
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Stephen's reign was marred by misfortunes, but what truly damaged his posthumous reputation was being the first victim of modern scientific history. He was the successor of Henry I and the predecessor of Henry II, both favored by Anglo-American constitutionalist and administrative historians. Through their lenses, Stephen seemed a disappointment, though they acknowledged his effectiveness as a warrior. His reign was seen as a blip between Henry I and Henry II. For historiographical reasons dating back to the 18th century, this blip became an 'anarchy' and Stephen the villain. However, as we've seen, he was trying to rule a kingdom.

Stephen was not a failure in England, but in Wales and Normandy. There, he proved inadequate, but who could have done better except the greatest of kings? Instead of comparing his record to Henry I's success, we should compare it to Louis VII of France. Louis VII had military successes, but they were not decisive. He also attempted to rule two realms and lost one. He could only contain his rivals in key provinces and ultimately lost ground. Yet, he is not considered such a failure, perhaps because his predecessor and successor's reigns were not markedly different. It is for the next generation of historians to look at Stephen and his reign more objectively and judge them accordingly.

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Profile Image for Kimberly .
dubsnobb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is an excellent biography of King Stephen written by one of the top medieval scholars.

It provides a detailed and in-depth look into the life and times of King Stephen.

The author's expertise in the field is evident throughout the book, as they present a comprehensive account of Stephen's reign, including his political struggles, military campaigns, and personal relationships.

For those conducting research on the Middle Ages, this biography is an invaluable resource.

It offers a wealth of information and insights that can help to shed light on this fascinating period of history.

My second reading of this book was for research purposes, and I found it just as engaging and informative as the first time.

The author's writing style is clear and accessible, making it easy to understand even for those who are not familiar with the subject matter.

Overall, I highly recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about King Stephen and the Middle Ages.
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