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When Christ and all his Saints slept

© Viola Ashford

WHEN CHRIST AND ALL HIS SAINTS SLEPT

For nineteen long years from 1135 to 1153 England was in the throes of civil war. Anarchy and lawlessness reigned. There were pillagings, burnings and feuds. The people yearned for peace and for their previous good King, Henry 1. This was the time called 'When Christ and all his Saints slept'.

The war concerned King Henry's daughter, Matilda (now considered an Australian name1, but once English) and her cousin, Stephen of Blois, both contenders for the throne.

The young Princess Matilda was born in England in 1102, the daughter of King Henry's English wife, another Matilda. She was descended from Alfred the Great. The Princess was just a child of 12 when she married the German Emperor, Henry V who was much older - 32. They had no children and Matilda arrived back at her father's court at 19 when the Emperor died.

When her only legitimate brother drowned in the horrifying Wreck of the White Ship, the fastest ship in the fleet, King Henry decided to make Matilda heir to the throne. Although his Barons pretended to support this decision, they were really in favour of having a man on the throne. Women in those days were regarded as highly unsuitable rulers. Their role was to be a good mother and wife, not to meddle in politics. Matilda was 23 when she married Geoffrey of Anjou who was only 13. (Her husbands were unfortunate choices - one too old and one too young.) Although the marriage was supposed to be unhappy she did have three sons in four years, the first, Henry destined to be the next King of England. His wife was also a strong and older woman, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

When King Henry died Matilda was in France. The Barons turned their back on her regarding her as a bossy, foreign woman, who had spent most of her life outside England. They preferred her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Geoffrey of Anjou was also unpopular with the Normans, and the Barons thought that if Matilda were on the throne, he would be the true ruler.

Stephen had sworn an oath of allegiance to his cousin, but could not resist the grand prize of the throne of England. He gained the help of his powerful brother, Henry, Bishop of Winchester, who assisted him in securing the royal treasury and persuaded the Archbishop of Canter- bury to crown him. He had the support of the Norman aristocracy.

Haughty Matilda was naturally extremely upset at losing her throne, and her cousin's betrayal. Helped by her powerful and very popular half-brother, Robert of Gloucester and the support of the Barons of the West Country she invaded England.