Stephen, King of England brought up by his mother, Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. Placed into the court of his uncle, Henry I of England, Stephen rose in prominence and was granted extensive lands. He married Matilda of Boulogne, inheriting additional estates in Kent and Boulogne that made the couple one of the wealthiest in England. Stephen narrowly escaped drowning with Henry I's son, William Adelin, in the sinking of the "White Ship" in 1120; William's death left the succession of the English throne open to challenge. When Henry I died in 1135, Stephen quickly crossed the English Channel and with the help
Henry I, Count of Guelders Henry I, Count of Guelders Henry I, Count of Guelders (1117–1182) was Count of Guelders from 1131 until 1182. He was a son of Gerard II of Guelders and Ermgard of Zutphen. In 1138 Hendrik inherited the County of Zutphen from his mother. Hendrik was under tremendous pressure from the Bishopric of Utrecht and the County of Holland, and was forced by Holland to negotiate a treaty with the city of Utrecht; this led to a problematic relation with the Bishop of Utrecht. In 1135 Hendrik married Agnes of Arnstein, daughter of count Louis III of Arnstein. Their daughter Adelaide