Early in the reign of Stephen, Hugh Bigod seized Norwich Castle by a ruse, claiming on oath that Henry I had changed his succession plans on his deathbed. Stephen besieged and recovered the castle. Norwich became a contested point during the Anarchy, with the Bigod family repeatedly rebelling and the castle changing hands. The castle\'s massive stone keep, built by Henry I, made it one of the most formidable defensive structures in East Anglia, and control of it was central to controlling Norfolk throughout the medieval period.
Stephen: royal army with siege equipment. Hugh Bigod: castle garrison and Norfolk supporters
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