BattlefieldsStephen vs Church — Arrest of Bishops of Lincoln and Salisbury 1139
Medieval

Stephen vs Church — Arrest of Bishops of Lincoln and Salisbury 1139

1139
Lincolnshire, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Lincolnshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Church
Forces
unarmed episcopal retinues
VS
Victor
Stephen
Forces
Stephen with royal household troops seizing bishops at Oxford council
Outcome
Bishops arrested and castles extorted; church permanently alienated; Matilda gained political advantage
The Battle

History & Significance

King Stephen arrested Roger of Salisbury and his nephews Alexander of Lincoln and Roger le Poer at Oxford, accusing them of building castles as if in preparation for an enemy. He extorted their castles through threats against their persons. The outrage alienated churchmen and gave Empress Matilda a powerful propaganda argument. It also deprived Stephen of his most able administrators, fatally weakening royal government.

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