Stephen is captured, and his government falls.

Matilda is proclaimed queen but is soon at odds with her subjects and is expelled from London.

The period of insurrection and civil war that follows continues until 1148, when Matilda returns to France.

Stephen effectively reigns unopposed until his death in 1154, although his hold on the throne is still uneasy.

As soon as he regains power, he begins the process of demolishing the adulterine castles, which are hated by the peasants due to their being employed as forced labor to build and maintain them.

Stephen keeps a few castles standing however, which puts him at odds with his heir.

During the confused and contested reign of Stephen, there is a major swing in the balance of power towards the feudal barons, as civil war and lawlessness break out.

In trying to appease Scottish and Welsh raiders, he hands over large tracts of land.