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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Stephen
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(c.1097–1154) King of England from 1135, grandson of *William the Conqueror (his mother, Adela, was William's daughter). He was brought up in the household of his uncle, *Henry I, and was one of those who took an oath of loyalty to *Matilda as Henry's heir. But after Henry's death the barons, reluctant to be ruled by a queen, secured the throne for Stephen. His reign was a time of anarchy, fuelled by Matilda's efforts to claim her rights. A compromise was eventually reached by which Stephen retained the throne until his death in return for ackowledging her son, *Henry II, as his heir.
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