Battle of Wilton (1143)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Wilton was a battle of the civil war in England
known as The Anarchy
. It was fought on 1 July 1143 The date is from Gervase of Canterbury
(Davis, p.72n; Crouch, p.207), but Gervase only began writing his chronicle around 1188 (Davis, p.148). The contemporary chronicle Gesta Stephani
dates the battle as being after the siege of Oxford Castle
(Davis, p.72n), which ended in December 1142 (Davis, p.69; Crouch, p.203; Bradbury, p.123). at Wilton
in Wiltshire
. An army under King Stephen
was stationed at Wilton Abbey
, where it was attacked by an army led by Robert Earl of Gloucester
. Although King Stephen's army was defeated, the king himself escaped capture.
of England designated his daughter, the Empress Matilda
, as heir to the throne. However, when Henry died in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois crossed the Channel from Boulogne to England and claimed the throne. He quickly gained the support of London's magnates and the church, and seized control of the treasury at Winchester
. He was crowned king on 22 December 1135.
By 1138, Matilda had gathered enough support to challenge Stephen for the throne. Her supporters were led by her half-brother Robert Earl of Gloucester.
The ensuing civil war lasted until 6 November 1153 when, by the Treaty of Winchester
, Stephen recognised Matilda's son Henry
as heir to the throne.
, most of the sieges took place around that area.
In 1143, Stephen embarked on a new campaign to strengthen his position in the west country
. He marched on Wareham
, the port used by Matilda's party to maintain communications with Normandy
. Wareham was too strongly defended for the king to capture, so he turned towards Salisbury
instead. On his way there, he occupied Wilton Abbey while waiting for reinforcements from Winchester.
fought a rearguard action to delay the pursuers. After the battle, Earl Robert's forces looted and burned houses in Wilton.
to Earl Robert as ransom for the captured William Martel. Sherborne had been an important strategic outpost for the king in the west country. R.H.C. Davis
suggested that Stephen was prepared to pay such a heavy ransom because he was keen to avoid his father
's reputation for deserting his friends (Davis, p.73). As a result of its surrender, Earl Robert's power extended from the Bristol Channel
to the south coast of Dorset
. The civil war settled into a stalemate, with Stephen unable to extend his power into the west country, while Matilda was unable to extend hers beyond that region.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
known as The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
. It was fought on 1 July 1143 The date is from Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury
Gervase of Canterbury was an English chronicler.- Life :...
(Davis, p.72n; Crouch, p.207), but Gervase only began writing his chronicle around 1188 (Davis, p.148). The contemporary chronicle Gesta Stephani
Deeds of King Stephen
Deeds of King Stephen or Acts of Stephen or Gesta Stephani is a mid-12th-century English history by an anonymous author about King Stephen and his struggles with his cousin Matilda of England, also known as the Empress Maud...
dates the battle as being after the siege of Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
(Davis, p.72n), which ended in December 1142 (Davis, p.69; Crouch, p.203; Bradbury, p.123). at Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. An army under King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
was stationed at Wilton Abbey
Wilton Abbey
Wilton Abbey was a Benedictine convent in Wiltshire, England, three miles from Salisbury on the site now occupied by Wilton House. A first foundation was made as a college of secular priests by Wulfstan, Ealdorman of Wiltshire, about 773, but after his death was changed into a convent for twelve...
, where it was attacked by an army led by Robert Earl of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
. Although King Stephen's army was defeated, the king himself escaped capture.
Background
On 1 January 1127, King Henry IHenry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
of England designated his daughter, the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
, as heir to the throne. However, when Henry died in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois crossed the Channel from Boulogne to England and claimed the throne. He quickly gained the support of London's magnates and the church, and seized control of the treasury at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. He was crowned king on 22 December 1135.
By 1138, Matilda had gathered enough support to challenge Stephen for the throne. Her supporters were led by her half-brother Robert Earl of Gloucester.
The ensuing civil war lasted until 6 November 1153 when, by the Treaty of Winchester
Treaty of Wallingford
The Treaty of Wallingford of 1153, aka Treaty of Winchester or as the Treaty of Westminster, was an agreement that effectively ended the civil war known as the Anarchy, caused by a dispute between Empress Matilda and her cousin King Stephen of England over the English crown...
, Stephen recognised Matilda's son Henry
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
as heir to the throne.
Campaign
By 1142 both sides had become cautious of risking open battle, and the civil war became a war of sieges as each side attempted to capture strongholds held by the other. With Matilda's strongholds mainly confined to south west EnglandSouth West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
, most of the sieges took place around that area.
In 1143, Stephen embarked on a new campaign to strengthen his position in the west country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
. He marched on Wareham
Wareham, Dorset
Wareham is an historic market town and, under the name Wareham Town, a civil parish, in the English county of Dorset. The town is situated on the River Frome eight miles southwest of Poole.-Situation and geography:...
, the port used by Matilda's party to maintain communications with Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
. Wareham was too strongly defended for the king to capture, so he turned towards Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
instead. On his way there, he occupied Wilton Abbey while waiting for reinforcements from Winchester.
Battle
While King Stephen was stationed at Wilton, mustering his forces for an attack on Salisbury, Earl Robert mounted a surprise attack at sunset on 1 July 1143. Stephen attempted to break out from the siege, but his army was forced back and dispersed by a cavalry charge from Earl Robert's army. In the darkness, Stephen escaped from the burning abbey while his steward William MartelWilliam Martel
William Martel was a steward of the royal households of King Henry I and King Stephen of England. He was castellan of Sherborne Castle until 1143....
fought a rearguard action to delay the pursuers. After the battle, Earl Robert's forces looted and burned houses in Wilton.
Aftermath
King Stephen surrendered Sherborne CastleSherborne Castle
Sherborne Castle is a 16th-century Tudor mansion southeast of Sherborne in Dorset, England. The park formed only a small part of the Digby estate.-Old castle:Sherborne Old Castle is the ruin of a 12th-century castle in the grounds of the mansion...
to Earl Robert as ransom for the captured William Martel. Sherborne had been an important strategic outpost for the king in the west country. R.H.C. Davis
Ralph Henry Carless Davis
Ralph Henry Carless Davis , always known publicly as R. H. C. Davis, was a British historian specialising in the European Middle Ages...
suggested that Stephen was prepared to pay such a heavy ransom because he was keen to avoid his father
Stephen II, Count of Blois
Stephen II Henry , Count of Blois and Count of Chartres, was the son of Theobald III, count of Blois, and Garsinde du Maine. He married Adela of Normandy, a daughter of William the Conqueror around 1080 in Chartres...
's reputation for deserting his friends (Davis, p.73). As a result of its surrender, Earl Robert's power extended from the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
to the south coast of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. The civil war settled into a stalemate, with Stephen unable to extend his power into the west country, while Matilda was unable to extend hers beyond that region.