Standard, Battle of the, occurred during the period known as the Anarchy, which followed the death of King Henry I of England. Henry’s successor, his nephew Stephen, had to maintain his throne against the claims of Matilda, Henry’s daughter. In 1138, Matilda’s uncle, David I of Scotland, invaded England with a badly equipped force. He was defeated near Northallerton by an English army led by several barons and Thurston, archbishop of York. The archbishop had with him the standards (flags) of several Yorkshire saints, which is how the battle got its name.
See also Kings and queens of the United Kingdom (The Normans).
