The forces of King Stephen of England…

The forces of King Stephen of England have been besieging Lincoln Castle but are themselves attacked by a relief force loyal to Empress Matilda and commanded by Robert, first Earl of Gloucester, Matilda's half-brother.

The Angevin army consists of the divisions of Robert's men, those of Ranulf, Earl of Chester and those disinherited by Stephen, while on the flank is a mass of Welsh troops led by Madog ap Maredudd, Lord of Powys, and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd.

Cadwaladr is the brother of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd, but Owain does not support any side in The Anarchy.

Stephen’s force include William of Ypres; Simon of Senlis; Gilbert of Hertford; William of Aumale, Alan of Richmond and Hugh Bigod but is markedly short of cavalry.

As soon as the battle is joined, the majority of the leading magnates flee.

Even as the royal troops listen to the exhortations of Stephen's lieutenant, Baldwin fitz Gilbert, the advancing enemy is heard and soon the disinherited Angevin knights charge the cavalry of the five earls.

On the left Earl William Aumale of York and William Ypres charge and smash the poorly armed Welsh division but are themselves in turn routed by the well-ordered military might of Earl Ranulf.

The earls, outnumbered and outfought, are soon put to flight and many of their men are killed and captured.

King Stephen and his knights are rapidly surrounded by the Angevin force.

The rest of his division fights on with no hope of escape until all are killed or had surrendered.

Baldwin fitz Richard and Richard fitz Urse are taken prisoner.

Stephen's forces are defeated after fierce fighting in the city's streets.

Stephen himself is captured and taken to Bristol, where he was imprisoned.

Other important magnates captured with the king are Baldwin fitz Gilbert; Bernard de Balliol, Roger de Mowbray; Richard de Courcy; William Peverel of Nottingham; Gilbert de Gant; Ingelram de Say; Ilbert de Lacy and Richard fitz Urse, all men of respected baronial families; it had only been the Earls who had fled.