Empress Matilda and Geoffrey's son, Henry, resume the invasion; he is already Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy and Duke of Aquitaine when he lands in England.

When Stephen's son and heir apparent Eustace dies in 1153, the king reaches an accommodation with Henry of Anjou (who becomes Henry II) to succeed Stephen and in which peace between them is guaranteed.

England is part of a greater union, retrospectively named the Angevin Empire.

Henry destroys the remaining adulterine castles (fortifications built in England without royal approval) and expands his power through various means and to different levels into Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Flanders, Nantes, Brittany, Quercy, Toulouse, Bourges and Auvergne.