Stephen, King of England Robert of Gloucester rebelled against the King, starting the descent into civil war in 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. He was known for his qualities as a statesman, his military experience, and leadership ability. Robert had tried to convince Theobald to take the throne in 1135; he did not attend Stephen's first court in 1136 and it took several summons to convince him to attend court at Oxford later that year.
I Served the King of England (film) I Served the King of England (film) I Served the King of England () is a 2006 Czech comedy film written and directed by Jiří Menzel, based on the novel "I Served the King of England" by Bohumil Hrabal. It is Menzel's sixth adaptation of the works of Hrabal for film. The film was released in the United Kingdom and in the United States in 2008. Jan Dítě has been released from a Czech prison just before the very end of his 15-year sentence and is settling in a town near the border between Czechoslovakia and Germany. He occupies his