The Treaty of Wallingford, also known as the Treaty of Winchester or the Treaty of Westminster, was an agreement reached in England in the summer of 1153. It effectively ended a civil war known as the Anarchy (1135–54), caused by a dispute over the English crown between King Stephen and his cousin Matilda. The Treaty of Wallingford allowed Stephen to keep the throne until his death (which was to come in October 1154), but ensured that he would be succeeded by Matilda's son Henry II.
In 1153, the Anarchy had dragged on for nearly 15 years of armed combat, in which neither King Stephen nor Empress Matilda could achieve victory in the struggle for the English throne. This long period was characterised by a breakdown in law and order and allowed rebel barons to acquire ever greater power in northern England and in East Anglia, with widespread devastation in the regions of major fighting. By the early 1150s the barons and the Church mostly wanted a long-term peace.
King Stephen, however, targeted Matilda's supporter Brien FitzCount at Wallingford Castle by building countercastles near Wallingford. Matilda's son Henry Curtmantle launched attacks on those countercastles, and a battle between the forces was expected. However William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel successfully argued the futility of further fighting. A temporary truce was reached at Wallingford on the banks of the Thames, but Stephen's son Eustace opposed settling. However, after Eustace's sudden death in August 1153, it appears that a more formal agreement was written at Winchester in November 1153, signed later at Westminster.
Fighting continued after Wallingford, but in a rather half-hearted fashion. Stephen lost the towns of Oxford and Stamford to Henry while the king was diverted fighting Hugh Bigod in the east of England, but Nottingham Castle survived an Angevin attempt to capture it.[1] Meanwhile, Stephen's brother Bishop Henry of Winchester and Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury were for once unified in an effort to broker a permanent peace between the two sides, putting pressure on Stephen to accept a deal.[2] Stephen and Henry Curtmantle's armies met again at Winchester, where the two leaders would ratify the terms of a permanent peace in November.[3]
Terms of the treaty
Stephen announced the Treaty of Winchester in Winchester Cathedral: he recognised Henry Curtmantle as his adopted son and successor, in return for Henry doing homage to him. Other conditions included:
Stephen promised to listen to Henry's advice, but retained all his royal powers;
Stephen's remaining son, William, would do homage to Henry and renounce his claim to the throne, in exchange for promises of the security of his lands;
Key royal castles would be held on Henry's behalf by guarantors, whilst Stephen would have access to Henry's castles;
The numerous foreign mercenaries would be demobilised and sent home.[4]
Stephen and Henry sealed the treaty with a kiss of peace in the cathedral.[5] Henry II later rewarded Wallingford for its assistance in the struggle by giving the town its royal charter in 1155.
Bradbury, Jim. (1996) Stephen and Matilda: The Civil War of 1139–53. Sutton Publishing. ISBN0-7509-0612-X.
King, Edmund. (2010) King Stephen. New Haven, U.S.: Yale University Press. ISBN978-0-300-11223-8.
External links
Wallingford History Gateway
February 07, 2023
treaty, wallingford, also, known, treaty, winchester, treaty, westminster, agreement, reached, england, summer, 1153, effectively, ended, civil, known, anarchy, 1135, caused, dispute, over, english, crown, between, king, stephen, cousin, matilda, allowed, step. The Treaty of Wallingford also known as the Treaty of Winchester or the Treaty of Westminster was an agreement reached in England in the summer of 1153 It effectively ended a civil war known as the Anarchy 1135 54 caused by a dispute over the English crown between King Stephen and his cousin Matilda The Treaty of Wallingford allowed Stephen to keep the throne until his death which was to come in October 1154 but ensured that he would be succeeded by Matilda s son Henry II Ruins of Wallingford Castle where a truce was agreed Contents 1 Prelude to the treaty 2 Terms of the treaty 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksPrelude to the treaty EditIn 1153 the Anarchy had dragged on for nearly 15 years of armed combat in which neither King Stephen nor Empress Matilda could achieve victory in the struggle for the English throne This long period was characterised by a breakdown in law and order and allowed rebel barons to acquire ever greater power in northern England and in East Anglia with widespread devastation in the regions of major fighting By the early 1150s the barons and the Church mostly wanted a long term peace King Stephen however targeted Matilda s supporter Brien FitzCount at Wallingford Castle by building countercastles near Wallingford Matilda s son Henry Curtmantle launched attacks on those countercastles and a battle between the forces was expected However William d Aubigny 1st Earl of Arundel successfully argued the futility of further fighting A temporary truce was reached at Wallingford on the banks of the Thames but Stephen s son Eustace opposed settling However after Eustace s sudden death in August 1153 it appears that a more formal agreement was written at Winchester in November 1153 signed later at Westminster Fighting continued after Wallingford but in a rather half hearted fashion Stephen lost the towns of Oxford and Stamford to Henry while the king was diverted fighting Hugh Bigod in the east of England but Nottingham Castle survived an Angevin attempt to capture it 1 Meanwhile Stephen s brother Bishop Henry of Winchester and Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury were for once unified in an effort to broker a permanent peace between the two sides putting pressure on Stephen to accept a deal 2 Stephen and Henry Curtmantle s armies met again at Winchester where the two leaders would ratify the terms of a permanent peace in November 3 Terms of the treaty EditStephen announced the Treaty of Winchester in Winchester Cathedral he recognised Henry Curtmantle as his adopted son and successor in return for Henry doing homage to him Other conditions included Stephen promised to listen to Henry s advice but retained all his royal powers Stephen s remaining son William would do homage to Henry and renounce his claim to the throne in exchange for promises of the security of his lands Key royal castles would be held on Henry s behalf by guarantors whilst Stephen would have access to Henry s castles The numerous foreign mercenaries would be demobilised and sent home 4 Stephen and Henry sealed the treaty with a kiss of peace in the cathedral 5 Henry II later rewarded Wallingford for its assistance in the struggle by giving the town its royal charter in 1155 See also EditList of treatiesReferences Edit Bradbury p 184 King 2010 pp 279 280 Bradbury p 187 King 2010 p 280 King 2010 pp 280 283 Bradbury pp 189 190 Barlow pp 187 188 King 2010 p 281 Sources EditBradbury Jim 1996 Stephen and Matilda The Civil War of 1139 53 Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 0612 X King Edmund 2010 King Stephen New Haven U S Yale University Press ISBN 978 0 300 11223 8 External links EditWallingford History Gateway Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Treaty of Wallingford amp oldid 1082867644, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
