Treaty of Wallingford

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Wallingford?

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Treaty of Wallingford

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1153 agreement ending The Anarchy, securing Henry II's succession to the English throne.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

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 (1138–1154), caused by a dispute over the English crown between King Stephen and Empress 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.

Career & Major Achievements

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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1138: 1138 Milestone — It effectively ended a civil war known as The Anarchy (1138–1154), caused by a dispute over the English crown between King Stephen and Empress Matilda.
2. 1153: 1153 Milestone — 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.
3. 1154: 1154 Milestone — 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.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Wallingford

True or False: “True or False: The Treaty of Wallingford explicitly guaranteed that King Stephen would be succeeded by Matilda's son, Henry II.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The treaty's most vital clause was the stipulation that Stephen, upon his death, must yield the crown to Henry II, thereby ending the succession dispute.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anna Komnene — Historical peer (Died in 1153) (1153): Byzantine princess and celebrated historian, author of the Alexiad.
• Bernard of Clairvaux — Historical peer (Died in 1153) (1153): Burgundian saint, mystic, and key reformer of the Cistercian Order.
• Bolesław III Wrymouth — Historical peer (Died in 1138) (1138): Duke of Poland, known as Bolesław III Wrymouth, ruled during a period of intense political struggle.
• Hōjō Tokimasa — Historical peer (Born in 1138) (1138): First Shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate and head of the powerful Hōjō clan.
• Minamoto no Yoshinaka — Historical peer (Born in 1154) (1154): Samurai lord of the Minamoto clan, central figure in the tumultuous Genpei War.
• Roger II of Sicily — Historical peer (Died in 1154) (1154): King of Sicily and Africa, establishing a powerful Norman dynasty in Southern Italy.

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