The Battle of Lincoln or First Battle of Lincoln occurred on 2 February 1141.
Stephen of England was captured during the battle, imprisoned, and effectively deposed
while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.
Account The forces of King Stephen of England had
been besieging Lincoln Castle but were themselves attacked by a relief force loyal to Empress
Matilda and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, Matilda's half-brother.
The Angevin army consisted of the divisions of Robert's men, those of Ranulf, Earl of
Chester and those disinherited by Stephen, while on the flank was a mass of Welsh troops
led by Madog ap Maredudd, Lord of Powys, and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd.
Cadwaladr was the brother of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd, but Owain did not support any
side in The Anarchy.
Stephen’s force included William of Ypres; Simon of Senlis; Gilbert of Hertford; William
of Aumale, Alan of Richmond and Hugh Bigod but was markedly short of cavalry.
As soon as the battle was joined the majority of the leading magnates, fled the king.
Other important magnates captured with the king were Baldwin fitz Gilbert; Bernard de
Balliol, Roger de Mowbray; Richard de Courcy; William Peverel of Nottingham; Gilbert de
Gant; Ingelram de Say; Ilbert de Lacy and Richard fitz Urse, all men of respected baronial
families; it had only been the Earls who had fled.
Even as the royal troops listened to the exhortations of Stephen's lieutenant, Baldwin fitz Gilbert,
the advancing enemy was heard and soon the disinherited Angevin knights charged the cavalry
of the five earls.
On the left Earl William Aumale of York and William Ypres charged and smashed the poorly
armed, 'but full of spirits', Welsh division but were themselves in turn routed 'in a moment'
by the well-ordered military might of Earl Ranulf who stood out from the mass in 'his
bright armour'.
The earls, outnumbered and outfought, were soon put to flight and many of their men were
killed and captured.
King Stephen and his knights were rapidly surrounded by the Angevin force.
"Then might you have seen a dreadful aspect of battle, on every quarter around the king's
troop fire flashing from the meeting of swords and helmets - a dreadful crash, a terrific
clamour - at which the hills re-echoed, the city walls resounded.
With horses spurred on, they charged the king's troop, slew some, wounded others, and dragging
some away, made them prisoners.
No rest, no breathing time was granted them, except in the quarter where stood that most
valiant king, as the foe dreaded the incomparable force of his blows.
The earl of Chester, on perceiving this, envying the king his glory, rushed upon him with all
the weight of his armed men.
Then was seen the might of the king, equal to a thunderbolt, slaying some with his immense
battle-axe, and striking others down.
Then arose the shouts afresh, all rushing against him and him against all.
At length through the number of the blows, the king's battle-axe was broken asunder.
Instantly, with his right hand, drawing his sword, well worthy of a king, he marvellously
waged the combat, until the sword as well was broken asunder.
On seeing this William Kahamnes [i.e. William de Keynes], a most powerful knight, rushed
upon the king, and seizing him by the helmet, cried with a loud voice, 'Hither, all of you
come hither!
I have taken the king!'"
The rest of his division fought on with no hope of escape until all were killed or had
surrendered.
Baldwin fitz Richard and Richard fitz Urse 'having received many wounds, and, by their
determined resistance, having gained immortal honour' were taken prisoner.
After fierce fighting in the city's streets, Stephen's forces were defeated.
Stephen himself was captured and taken to Bristol, where he was imprisoned.
He was subsequently exchanged for Robert of Gloucester, who was captured in the Rout of
Winchester the following September, that ended Matildas brief ascendancy in the wars with
Stephen.
Incidental Information
This battle is featured in the historical novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett,
and is described almost as it happened, including the capture of King Stephen and his subsequent
exchange.
Similarly, it is recounted in "When Christ and his Saints Slept" by Sharon Penman.
The battle of Lincoln is also an important plot element in Dead Man's Ransom, a novel
in the Brother Cadfael series by Edith Pargeter.
References
See also Battle of Lincoln