Coronation of King Stephen of England 1135

Stephen of Blois was in Boulogne when he heard that Henry I had died. He left France to return to his estates in England and began to seize power. His main problem was that he had pledged to Henry I that he would support the succession of Henry's daughter the Empress Matilda. However, his brother was the Bishop of Winchester, who managed to persuade the barons that Henry I had been wrong to insist that his court swear an oath of allegience, and that Henry had changed his mind and nominated Stephen on his deathbed. The support of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Papal Legate was obtained in exchanged for freedoms and liberties for the church.

On the 26th of December 1135 Stephen was crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey.