Editing Stephen, King of England (section)

=== Relationship with Henry I ===
[[File:Adela syni.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|A 14th-century depiction of Stephen's family tree, with his mother [[Adela of Normandy|Adela]] at the top, and, left to right, [[William, Count of Sully|William]], [[Theobald II, Count of Champagne|Theobald]] and Stephen]]

Stephen's early life was heavily influenced by his relationship with his uncle [[Henry I of England|Henry I]]. Henry seized power in England following the death of his elder brother [[William Rufus]]. In 1106 he invaded and captured the [[Duchy of Normandy]], controlled by his eldest brother, [[Robert Curthose]], defeating Robert's army at the [[battle of Tinchebray]].<ref>Huscroft, p. 69.</ref> Henry then found himself in conflict with [[Louis VI of France]], who took the opportunity to declare Robert's son, [[William Clito]], the [[Duke of Normandy]].<ref name="HuscroftP70">Huscroft, p. 70.</ref> 

Henry responded by forming a network of alliances with the western counties of France against Louis, resulting in a regional conflict that would last throughout Stephen's early life.<ref name=HuscroftP70/> Adela and Theobald allied themselves with Henry, and Stephen's mother decided to place him in Henry's court.<ref name="King2010P13">King (2010), p. 13.</ref> Henry fought his next military campaign in Normandy, from 1111 onwards, where rebels led by [[Robert of Bellême]] were opposing his rule. Stephen was probably with Henry during the military campaign of 1112, when he was knighted by the King. He was present at court during the King's visit to the [[Abbey of Saint-Evroul]] in 1113.<ref>King (2010), p. 11.</ref> Stephen probably first visited England in either 1113 or 1115, almost certainly as part of Henry's court.<ref name=King2010P13/>

Henry became a powerful patron of Stephen, and probably chose to support him because Stephen was part of his extended family and a regional ally, yet not sufficiently wealthy or powerful in his own right to represent a threat to either the King or his son and heir, [[William Adelin]].<ref name="DavisP10">Davis, p. 10.</ref> As a third surviving son, even of an influential regional family, Stephen still needed the support of a powerful patron to progress in life.<ref name=DavisP10/> 

With Henry's support, Stephen rapidly began to accumulate lands and possessions. Following the battle of Tinchebray in 1106, Henry confiscated the [[County of Mortain]] from his cousin [[William, Count of Mortain|William]] and the [[Honour of Eye]] from [[Robert Malet]].<ref name="DavisKingP13">Davis, p. 7; King (2010), p. 13.</ref> In 1113, Stephen was granted both the title and the honour, although without the lands previously held by William in England.<ref name=DavisKingP13/> The gift of the [[Honour of Lancaster]] also followed after it was confiscated by Henry from [[Roger the Poitevin]].<ref name="DavisP8">Davis, pp. 7-8</ref> Stephen was also given lands in [[Alençon]] in southern Normandy by Henry, but the local Normans rebelled, seeking assistance from [[Fulk IV, Count of Anjou]].<ref>King (2010), p. 15.</ref> Stephen and his older brother Theobald were comprehensively beaten in the subsequent campaign, which culminated in the Battle of Alençon, and the territories were not recovered.<ref>Davis, p. 6; King (2010), p. 15.</ref>