Stephen

King Stephen was king of England (and not Normandy), although he was born in France. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey, like his father before him. Stephen was nephew of Henry I and grandson of William I, and was elected to be king in 1135 - although he presumed Henry I daughter Matilda would take the thrown. This decision was made by a council that threw the country into civil war.

In 1136 the country began a civil war as Matildas forces began fighting Stephen's. In 1141 Stephen was taken prisoner by Matilda but not killed. Matilda was then declared Lady of the English and was briefly leader. She was then defeated in the Battle of Farringdon in 1145. In December of 1153 Stephen signed the Treaty of Westminster. Stephen was the last in the line of Norman Kings, so on his death in 1154, the line of Normans ended.