Kings of England :
Henry I 1100-35
Stephen 1135-54
Background information :
The end of the reign of the heirless Henry I brought a war of succession between Stephen, Henry's nephew and Matilda, Henry's daughter. Stephen seized the Throne on the grounds that it could not pass to a woman, but support for Matilda was widespread and a civil war followed between Royalists and Angevins (so-called after Matilda married Geoffrey of Anjou). With the death in 1137 of Pain fitz John Monoculus, who was killed chasing Welsh raiders, the original Marcher families were restored to their former estates, presumably in return for their support and allegiance to Stephen, particularly Hugh Mortimer who was a staunch Royalist.

Around 1138 Philip Braose died and his estates passed to William (II), his son. In 1139 the Welsh king Madog ap Idnerth, who had defeated a large Royalist / Marcher army at Cardigan in 1136 and held Maelienydd and Elfael as well as other territory further W, died. His kingdom was split up under the law of Gravelkind, between three of his sons. Maelienydd was now ruled by Cadwallon, Elfael by Einion Clud, and Gwerthrynion (further W towards Builth) by Rhys. These Welsh kings, by their emnity towards the encroaching Marcher Lords, found themselves allied to the Angevin cause during the so-called 'Anarchy' of Stephens reign and this brought them into the politics of the English civil war.