Editing The Anarchy (section)

===Early fighting (1138–1139)===
Fighting broke out on several fronts during 1138. Firstly, [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]] rebelled against the king, starting the descent into civil war in England.<ref name=CarpenterP169/> An illegitimate son of Henry I and the half-brother of the Empress Matilda, Robert was one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman barons, controlling estates in Normandy as well as the [[Earldom of Gloucester]].<ref name=BarlowP169>Barlow, p.169.</ref> In 1138, Robert renounced his fealty to Stephen and declared his support for Matilda, triggering a major regional rebellion in [[Kent]] and across the south-west of England, although Robert himself remained in Normandy.<ref>Stringer, p.18.</ref> Matilda had not been particularly active in asserting her claims to the throne since 1135 and in many ways it was Robert that took the initiative in declaring war in 1138.<ref>Chibnall, pp.70–71; Bradbury, p.25.</ref> In France, Geoffrey took advantage of the situation by re-invading Normandy. David of Scotland also invaded the north of England once again, announcing that he was supporting the claim of his niece the Empress Matilda to the throne, pushing south into [[Yorkshire]].<ref name="CarpenterP166"/>{{#tag:ref|[[David I of Scotland|David I]] was related to the [[Empress Matilda]] and to [[Matilda of Boulogne]] through his mother, Queen [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Margaret]].|group="nb"}}

Stephen rapidly responded to the revolts and invasions, focusing primarily on England rather than Normandy. His wife Matilda was sent to Kent with ships and resources from Boulogne, with the task of retaking the key port of [[Dover]], under Robert's control.<ref name=BarlowP169/> A small number of Stephen's household knights were sent north to help the fight against the Scots, where David's forces were defeated later that year at the [[Battle of the Standard]] in August by the forces of [[Thurstan]], the [[Archbishop of York]].<ref name=CarpenterP166>Carpenter, p.166.</ref> Despite this victory, David still occupied most of the north of England.<ref name=CarpenterP166/> Stephen himself went west in an attempt to regain control of [[Gloucestershire]], first striking north into the [[Welsh Marches]], taking [[Hereford]] and [[Shrewsbury]], then heading south to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].<ref name=BarlowP169/> [[Bristol]] proved too strong for him, and Stephen contented himself with raiding and pillaging the surrounding area.<ref name=BarlowP169/> The rebels appear to have expected Robert to intervene with support, but he remained in Normandy throughout the year, trying to persuade the Empress Matilda to invade England herself.<ref>Bradbury, p.67.</ref> Dover finally surrendered to the queen's forces later in the year.<ref name=Crouch2002P256>Crouch (2002), p.256.</ref>

Stephen's military campaign in England had progressed well, and historian David Crouch describes it as "a military achievement of the first rank".<ref name=Crouch2002P256/> The king took the opportunity of his military advantage to forge a peace agreement with Scotland.<ref name=Crouch2002P256/> Stephen's wife Matilda was sent to negotiate another agreement between Stephen and David, called the [[Treaty of Durham (1139)|treaty of Durham]]; Northumbria and Cumbria would effectively be granted to David and his son [[Henry, Earl of Northumbria|Henry]], in exchange for their fealty and future peace along the border.<ref name=CarpenterP166/> The powerful [[Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester|Ranulf, Earl of Chester]], considered himself to hold the traditional rights to Carlisle and Cumberland and was extremely displeased to see them being given to the Scots, a problem which would have long lasting implications in the war.<ref name=DavisP50/>