Restoration and Reform, 1153–1165

Recovery from Civil War in England

Graeme J White author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

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Restoration and Reform, 1153–1165 cover

A revisionary examination of the early years of the reign of Henry II, following civil war in England.

This book, covering the close of Stephen's reign (1135–54) and the early phase of Henry II's (1154–89), examines the government of England in the aftermath of civil war. It suggests that the extent of 'anarchy' under Stephen has been exaggerated as 'restoration' gave way to 'reform'.This book examines the processes by which effective royal government was restored in England following the civil war of Stephen's reign. It questions the traditional view that Stephen presided over 'anarchy', arguing instead that the king and his rivals sought to maintain the administrative traditions of Henry I, leaving foundations for a restoration of order once the war was over. The period from 1153 to 1162, spanning the last months of Stephen's reign and the early years of Henry II's, is seen as one primarily of 'restoration' when concerted efforts were made to recover royal lands, rights and revenues lost since 1135. Thereafter 'restoration' gave way to 'reform': although the administrative advances of 1166 have been seen as a watershed in Henry II's reign, the financial and judicial measures of 1163–65 were sufficiently important for this, also, to be regarded as a transitional phase in his government of England.

'This monograph as a firm grasp of the source material and a clearly and compellingly argued thesis.' Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature

ISBN: 9780521554596

Dimensions: 236mm x 159mm x 23mm

Weight: 570g

270 pages