Both sides in the civil war have…
July 1143 CE
Both sides in the civil war have become cautious of risking open battle by 1142, and the conflict had become a war of sieges as each side attempted to capture strongholds held by the other.
With Matilda's strongholds mainly confined to south west England, most of the sieges take place around this area.
Stephen embarks in 1143 on a new campaign to strengthen his position in the west country.
He marches on Wareham, the port used by Matilda's party to maintain communications with Normandy.
Wareham is too strongly defended for the king to capture, so he turns towards Salisbury instead.
On his way there, he occupies Wilton Abbey while waiting for reinforcements from Winchester.
While King Stephen is stationed at Wilton, mustering his forces for an attack on Salisbury, Earl Robert on July 1, 1143, mounts a surprise attack at sunset.
Stephen attempts to break out from the siege, but his army is forced back and dispersed by a cavalry charge from Earl Robert's army.
In the darkness, Stephen escapes from the burning abbey while his steward William Martel fight a rearguard action to delay the pursuers.
After the battle, Earl Robert's forces loot and burn houses in Wilton.
King Stephen surrenders Sherborne Castle to Earl Robert as ransom for the captured William Martel.
Sherborne had been an important strategic outpost for the king in the west country.
As a result of its surrender, Earl Robert's power extends from the Bristol Channel to the south coast of Dorset.
The civil war settles into a stalemate, with Stephen unable to extend his power into the west country, while Matilda is unable to extend hers beyond this region.