The Anarchy England. 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. 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. Matilda had not been particularly active in asserting her claims to throne since 1135 and in many ways it was Robert that took the initiative in declaring war in 1138. In France, Geoffrey
Simon I, Count of Saarbrücken Simon I, Count of Saarbrücken Simon I of Saarbrücken (died after 1183) was a German nobleman. He was the second ruling Count of Saarbrücken , in office 1135 - 1183. Simon was a son of Frederick, Count of Saarbrücken (d. 1135) and his wife Gisela of Lorraine (b.c. 1100), daughter of Theodoric II, Duke of Lorraine. He succeeded his father as Count of Saarbrücken in 1135. His younger brother Adalbert II became Archbishop of Mainz in 1138. After his death, the county was divided. His eldest son, Simon II inherited a smaller County of Saarbrücken; his younger son Henry I