Stephen of Blois

Stephen of Blois, also known as Stephen the Coward, was a medieval English monarch who was best known for his knack for running away from battles. Born in 1096, Stephen was the son of Count Stephen II of Blois and Adela of Normandy, daughter of William the Conqueror. He was raised in a noble household and received an excellent education, although most of his teachers noted that he was more interested in chasing butterflies than studying.

In 1135, Stephen claimed the throne of England after the death of his uncle, King Henry I. He was initially supported by many of the English nobles, who believed that a weaker king would be easier to control. However, Stephen’s reign was plagued by an ongoing conflict with his cousin, Empress Matilda, who also claimed the throne. The two sides fought a bitter civil war, known as The Anarchy, that lasted for almost two decades.

Despite being a skilled politician and diplomat, Stephen was a terrible military leader. He had a habit of making poor decisions on the battlefield and was often seen running away from enemy forces. In one famous incident, Stephen was captured by Matilda’s forces after falling off his horse while trying to flee a battle. He was forced to exchange himself for the release of Matilda’s brother, which only made him look even more cowardly.

Stephen’s reign was also marked by a series of disasters and mishaps. He managed to lose control of most of England’s territories in France, including Normandy, and was defeated by the Scottish king at the Battle of the Standard. He also managed to anger the Church by appointing bishops for political reasons, leading to a papal interdict on England that lasted for almost six years.

Despite all of this, Stephen remained on the throne until his death in 1154. He was succeeded by his much more capable and popular cousin, Henry II, who managed to bring stability and prosperity back to England. Stephen’s legacy is mostly one of failure and incompetence, although his name lives on in the popular insult “Don’t be a Stephen!” which is used to describe anyone who runs away from a fight.