Page "Stephen, King of England" Paragraph 5

Stephen was born in Blois in France, either in 1092 or 1096.

His father was Stephen-Henry, Count of Blois and Chartres, an important French nobleman ; Stephen's father played only a brief part in his early life, being an active crusader.

During the First Crusade Stephen-Henry had acquired an unfortunate reputation for cowardice, and he returned to the Levant again in 1101 to rebuild his reputation where he was killed at the battle of Ramlah.

Stephen's mother, Adela of England, was the daughter of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders, famous amongst her contemporaries for her piety, wealth and political talent.

She had a strong matriarchal influence on Stephen during his early years.