The Anarchy: King Stephen besieges the last opposition stronghold, at Wallingford.
The Anarchy: Roger de Berkeley is dispossessed of Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire for withholding his allegiance from the Plantagenets and the Lordship of Berkeley is granted to Robert Fitzharding, founder of the Berkeley family which will still hold the castle in the 21st century.
1153
January - The Anarchy: Henry, Count of Anjou, arrives in England in a campaign against King Stephen in favour of his mother Empress Mathilda.
17 August - The Anarchy: Following the death of Eustace IV of Boulogne, the Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop of Canterbury, mediates between Stephen and Henry.
Summer - Henry II launches a campaign for overlordship of Wales.
July - Owain Gwynedd submits to Henry and pays homage.
Henry II grants special trading privileges to the Hansa merchants of Cologne.
1158
Summer - Henry II leaves for Normandy; he does not return to England until 1163.
August - Henry agrees a treaty with Louis VII of France; Henry's son Henry the Young King to marry Louis' daughter Marguerite, in return for control of parts of Vexin.
