To undertstand the idea of kingship and lordship in the Middle Ages it is important to realise that at this time there was little or no idea of nationalism.

1. KINGSHIP: A FAMILY BUSINESS

2. WILLIAM
CONTROLLED: NORMANDY (GIVEN BY HIS FATHER), ENGLAND (WON IN
A WAR) BOTH WERE PERSONAL POSSESSIONS.
DIED: IN 1087. HE LEFT NORMANDY TO HIS SON ROBERT. AND
ENGLAND TO HIS SECOND SON : WILLIAM ii

3. HENRY : RODE TO WINCHESTER; TO TOOK CHARGE OF THE KING’S
TRESUARE. AND TO WESTMINISTER: WAS CROWNED KING 3 DAYS
LATER.

4. THE NORMAN NOBLES IN ENGLAND HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HENRY
AND ROBERT. MOST OF THEM CHOOSE HENRY BECAUSE HE WAS IN
LONDON.
HENRY ; 1106 INVADED NORMANDY AND CAPTURED ROBERT.
HE WANTED TO PASS ON BOTH NORMANDY AND ENGLAD TO HIS
SUCCESSOR.
FINALLY HE ACCEPTED THAT HIS DAUGHTER MATILDA, WOULD FOLLOW
HIM.

5. HENRY HAD MARRIED MATILDA TO ANOTHER GREAT NOBLE IN FRANCE, GEOFFREY PLANTAGENET. HE WAS
HEIR TO ANJOU.
NOBLES HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MATILDA AND STEPHEN OF BLOIS. THEY CHOOSE STEPHEN OF BLOIS.
4 YEARS LATER MATILDA INVADED ENGLAND. HER FIGHT WITH STEPHEN LED TO A TERRIBLE CIVIL WAR.
1153: MATILDA AND STEPHEN AGREED, THAT STEPHEN COULD KEEP THE THRONE BUT ONLY IF MATILDA’S
SON , HENRY, COULD SUCCEED HIM.
1154: STEPHEN DIED.
FAMILY POSSESSIONS OF ENGLAND AND THE LANDS IN FRANCE WERE IUNITED UNDER A KING ACCEPTED BY
EVERYONE.