The Rout of Winchester

On September 14, 1141, the forces of the Empress Maude were forced to flee Winchester. They’d besieged the city in late July and took the town, but the castle held out under the men of the Bishop of Winchester, Stephen’s unscrupulous brother, and on August 2nd,they set fire to their own city, for the bishop could play realpolitik with the best of them. Then Stephen’s queen, Matilda, and his mercenary captain, William de Ypres, arrived to lay siege to the Angevins, trapping them within the city. When food ran out, they decided to attempt to break through the queen’s lines. Brian Fitz Count managed to get Maude to safety by making a dangerous dash for freedom. Her brother Robert, the Earl of Gloucester, stayed behind to give her time to get away and he was captured. This was a devastating defeat for Maude, for she was forced to trade Stephen for Robert, her brother being irreplaceable. And so the war would drag on for another seven years, causing great suffering to the unhappy English people. Here are a few passages from When Christ and His Saints Slept.
* * *
The battle had swept past them, over the crest of Winchester Hill. They spurred their horses over the crest of Winchester Hill, glancing back to make sure Luke was following, and came upon the last bitter moments of the ill-fated seven week siege of Winchester. It ended there at Le Strete, when Robert’s struggling rear guard collided with a contingent of Flemings coming down the Wherwell Road, ended in one final flurry of doomed resistance, dying, and defeat. P. 320
* * *
Maude swallowed with a visible effort. “You are saying, then, that either Robert was captured or he was slain.”
Neither man spoke, but she had her answer in their silence, and she shut her eyes, squeezing back her tears. She would be able to weep soon, hidden by the darkness, riding through the night toward Devizes, but not now, not yet. She would leave Ludgershall dry-eyed and unbowed. She would not shame Robert with her tears. P. 323
* * *
Matilda was staring at him in shock. “Robert,” she breathed, so softly that only Cecily heard, and her eyes widened.
“My lady, is this man the Earl of Gloucester?”
“This man,” Matilda said unsteadily, “is Stephen’s salvation.” Her voice was muffled, midway between laughter and tears. Reaching for the Fleming’s hand, she held fast. “How good God is, blessed be His Name. And bless you, too, Willem, for you’ve given me back my husband!” p. 325