Rout of Winchester
Encyclopedia
In the Rout of Winchester on September 14, 1141 the army of Stephen of England
, led by his queen Matilda of Boulogne
and William of Ypres
, defeated the army of Empress Matilda
's Angevin
faction, commanded by Earl Robert of Gloucester
. This was a major event during the civil war known as The Anarchy
as the captured Robert of Gloucester was subsequently exchanged for Stephen, who was returned to the throne of England, replacing the Empress Matilda.
King Stephen, a nephew of Henry I of England
, contended with Henry's daughter Matilda (also called Maud) for the throne Stephen had usurped. At the Battle of Lincoln
on February 2, 1141, rebel barons Robert of Gloucester and Ranulf of Chester
defeated and captured Stephen. Empress Matilda went on to seize London
but its residents forced her out of the city on June 24. The forces of Stephen's queen, also named Matilda (Matilda of Boulogne
), soon occupied London.
Stephen's brother, Henry, Bishop of Winchester, who had earlier defected to Empress Matilda's Angevin faction, changed sides again to support Stephen's queen. With a small force Henry laid siege to the royal castle at Winchester situated at the southwest corner of the city walls. Empress Matilda sortied from Oxford in late July with a substantial army commanded by Robert of Gloucester.
episcopal castle at the southeast corner of the city walls. While putting Wolvesey under siege, Empress Matilda set up her headquarters in the royal castle, and Earl Robert established his command post at St Swithun's cathedral
. On August 2, the bishop's men set fire to the city, destroying a large part of it.
Queen Matilda quickly assembled an army of relief that included mercenaries hired by Bishop Henry, a levy of the queen's feudal tenants from Boulogne
, the nearly 1,000-strong London mililtia, William of Ypres' Flemish mercenary cavalry and other supporters of Stephen. The queen's army set up camp on the east side of Winchester and proceeded to blockade Empress Matilda's forces in the city. While the queen's army was well-provisioned, the Angevin forces soon began to suffer from lack of food. To weaken the blockade Earl Robert attempted to fortify Wherwell Abbey
, six miles to the north of the city, but William of Ypres defeated the Angevins with heavy losses.
This convinced Earl Robert that he must quit Winchester so he planned an orderly withdrawal. Earl Reginald of Cornwall and Brian fitz Count led an advance guard and protected Empress Matilda. The main body and the baggage followed, Earl Robert commanding the rearguard. The Angevins exited from the west side of Winchester on the Salisbury
road. Ahead of them, about eight miles to the northwest, the road crossed the River Test
at Stockbridge
.
As soon as the Angevin host left the city the queen's army attacked. They pressed past Earl Robert's rearguard to attack the main body. The advance guard avoided the trap and delivered Empress Matilda safely to Gloucester
, but the queen's army destroyed the Angevin main body as an effective fighting force: only remnants managed to escape. Earl Robert held the rear but when his soldiers reached the Test they could go no further. Surrounded by William of Ypres' mercenaries and facing a bridge clogged with fugitives, Earl Robert surrendered with his men.
crowned king, but Stephen's stormy reign lasted until his death in 1154.
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...
, led by his queen Matilda of Boulogne
Matilda of Boulogne
Matilda I was suo jure Countess of Boulogne. She was also queen consort of England as the wife of King Stephen.-Biography:...
and William of Ypres
William of Ypres
William of Ypres , styled count of Flanders, was King Stephen of England's chief lieutenant during the English civil wars of 1139–54...
, defeated the army of 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...
's Angevin
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
faction, commanded by Earl Robert 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"...
. This was a major event during the civil war 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...
as the captured Robert of Gloucester was subsequently exchanged for Stephen, who was returned to the throne of England, replacing the Empress Matilda.
Background
During The AnarchyThe 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...
King Stephen, a nephew of Henry I of England
Henry 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...
, contended with Henry's daughter Matilda (also called Maud) for the throne Stephen had usurped. At the Battle of Lincoln
Battle of Lincoln (1141)
The Battle of Lincoln or First Battle of Lincoln occurred on 2 February 1141. In it Stephen of England was captured, imprisoned and effectively deposed while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.-Account:...
on February 2, 1141, rebel barons Robert of Gloucester and Ranulf of Chester
Ranulf of Chester
Ranulf of Chester can refer to :*Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester *Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester *Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester...
defeated and captured Stephen. Empress Matilda went on to seize London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
but its residents forced her out of the city on June 24. The forces of Stephen's queen, also named Matilda (Matilda of Boulogne
Matilda of Boulogne
Matilda I was suo jure Countess of Boulogne. She was also queen consort of England as the wife of King Stephen.-Biography:...
), soon occupied London.
Stephen's brother, Henry, Bishop of Winchester, who had earlier defected to Empress Matilda's Angevin faction, changed sides again to support Stephen's queen. With a small force Henry laid siege to the royal castle at Winchester situated at the southwest corner of the city walls. Empress Matilda sortied from Oxford in late July with a substantial army commanded by Robert of Gloucester.
Siege and Counter-siege
On July 31 the Angevin army swooped on Winchester. Bishop Henry fled while his men installed themselves in WolveseyWolvesey Castle
Wolvesey Castle is a ruined castle in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was erected by the Bishop of Winchester Henry of Blois between 1130 and 1140....
episcopal castle at the southeast corner of the city walls. While putting Wolvesey under siege, Empress Matilda set up her headquarters in the royal castle, and Earl Robert established his command post at St Swithun's cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. On August 2, the bishop's men set fire to the city, destroying a large part of it.
Queen Matilda quickly assembled an army of relief that included mercenaries hired by Bishop Henry, a levy of the queen's feudal tenants from Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, the nearly 1,000-strong London mililtia, William of Ypres' Flemish mercenary cavalry and other supporters of Stephen. The queen's army set up camp on the east side of Winchester and proceeded to blockade Empress Matilda's forces in the city. While the queen's army was well-provisioned, the Angevin forces soon began to suffer from lack of food. To weaken the blockade Earl Robert attempted to fortify Wherwell Abbey
Wherwell Abbey
Wherwell Abbey was an abbey of Benedictine nuns in Wherwell, Hampshire, England.-Foundation:The nunnery was founded about 986 by Ælfthryth, the widow of King Edgar. She retired there to live out her life and was buried there.-10th to 16th centuries:...
, six miles to the north of the city, but William of Ypres defeated the Angevins with heavy losses.
This convinced Earl Robert that he must quit Winchester so he planned an orderly withdrawal. Earl Reginald of Cornwall and Brian fitz Count led an advance guard and protected Empress Matilda. The main body and the baggage followed, Earl Robert commanding the rearguard. The Angevins exited from the west side of Winchester on the 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...
road. Ahead of them, about eight miles to the northwest, the road crossed the River Test
River Test
The River Test is a river in Hampshire, England. The river has a total length of 40 miles and it flows through downland from its source near Ashe, 10 km to the west of Basingstoke , to the sea at the head of Southampton Water...
at Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Hampshire
Stockbridge is a small town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of and a population of little under 600 people according to the 2001 census in Hampshire, England. It lies on the River Test, in the Test Valley district and renowned for trout fishing. The A30 road goes through...
.
As soon as the Angevin host left the city the queen's army attacked. They pressed past Earl Robert's rearguard to attack the main body. The advance guard avoided the trap and delivered Empress Matilda safely to Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, but the queen's army destroyed the Angevin main body as an effective fighting force: only remnants managed to escape. Earl Robert held the rear but when his soldiers reached the Test they could go no further. Surrounded by William of Ypres' mercenaries and facing a bridge clogged with fugitives, Earl Robert surrendered with his men.
Result
The Rout of Winchester was a major setback for Empress Matilda. She exchanged Robert of Gloucester for King Stephen and the latter reassumed the throne. Ultimately, Empress Matilda saw her son Henry II of EnglandHenry 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...
crowned king, but Stephen's stormy reign lasted until his death in 1154.