Henry 's attempts to install Change_of_leadership his daughter , the Empress Matilda , as his successor were unsuccessful and on Henry 's death in 1135 , his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the throne with the help of Stephen 's brother , Henry of Blois , the Bishop of Winchester .

Following a major rebellion in the south-west of England , Matilda invaded Attack in 1139 with the help of her half-brother Robert of Gloucester .

However , on the verge of being crowned queen , Empress Matilda was forced Request to retreat Escaping from London by hostile crowds ; shortly afterwards , Robert of Gloucester was captured Conquering at the rout of Winchester and the two sides agreed Agree_or_refuse_to_act to swap Exchange their respective captives .

Stephen then almost seized Matilda in 1142 during the Siege of Oxford , but the Empress escaped Escaping from Oxford Castle across the frozen River Thames to safety .

Empress Matilda 's husband , Geoffrey V of Anjou , conquered Conquering Normandy , but in England neither side could achieve Achieve victory .

In 1152 Stephen and Matilda of Boulogne , queen consort and Stephen 's wife , unsuccessfully attempted to have their eldest son , Eustace , recognised Know by the Catholic Church as the next king of England .

The attack Attack was led by Hugh of Pisa , with military aid Assistance from Rome and the Genoese navy ; the nobleman Pantaleone from Amalfi was also involved Participation , and the whole endeavour had the backing of Matilda of Tuscany .