Editing 1142 (section)

==== England ====
* Autumn &ndash; The 9-year-old [[Henry II of England|Henry of Anjou]], a son of Queen [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]], lands on the south coast of [[Kingdom of England|England]] with his uncle, Earl [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]] and several knights. Henry travels to [[Bristol]], centre of [[Angevin Empire|Angevin]] opposition to King [[Stephen, King of England|Stephen]], where he is educated by Master Matthew. Meanwhile, Robert captures [[Lulworth Castle]], [[Rufus Castle]] ("Bow and Arrow Castle") on the [[Isle of Portland]] and [[Wareham Castle and town defences|Wareham Castle]].
* December &ndash; Stephen lays siege to [[Oxford Castle]], trapping Matilda and her supporters inside the city. Just before [[Christmas]] she manages to escape across the snow and ice of the frozen [[River Thames|Thames River]] – dressed in white (to get past Stephen's pickets), and safely reaches [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]]. The next day Oxford Castle surrenders to Stephen, Matilda rides with an escort to [[Wallingford Castle]], where she seeks refuge.