Long before eclipses could be explained through astronomy, they were often considered mysterious messages from the heavens. When the Sun suddenly disappeared during the day and the world seemed to be plunged into darkness, many ancient societies believed something major was about to happen. Eclipses were often associated with disasters, wars, and even the fall of rulers.



One of the most famous stories occurred in 12th-century England. On August 1, 1133, much of England witnessed a total solar eclipse, which suddenly darkened the daytime sky. The event left a deep impression on the people of the time, even recorded in various medieval chronicles as a phenomenon that aroused fear and suspicion.

Interestingly, this eclipse did not actually occur at the time of King Henry I's death. However, two years after the event, in 1135, King Henry I died, and England plunged into a period of political crisis and civil war known as The Anarchy. This series of events led many chroniclers of the time to link the 1133 eclipse to the king's death and the ensuing chaos. For medieval society, the eclipse seemed to be a heavenly omen of the great changes that would befall the English kingdom.


Getting to know King Henry I

Henry I (1068/1069–1135) was King of England, reigning from 1100 until his death in 1135. He was the third son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. Henry ascended the throne after his older brother, William II of England, died suddenly while hunting. During his reign, he was known for his efforts to strengthen the stability of the kingdom through various legal and social reforms. One of his most famous policies was the issuance of the Charter of Liberties, a document later considered a precursor to the Magna Carta. He also revived several laws dating from the reign of Edward the Confessor.

In his family life, Henry had two legitimate children by his queen, Matilda and William Adelin. However, he is also known as one of the English kings with the most illegitimate children, with an estimated number of over twenty. Henry died on December 1, 1135, while in Normandy to visit his daughter. After his death, England faced a succession crisis as his daughter, Empress Matilda, and his nephew, Stephen of Blois, both claimed the throne. The dispute escalated into a civil war known as The Anarchy, which ended only when Stephen recognized Matilda's son, Henry II of England, as heir to the throne in 1153.


Eclipse Becomes Part of History

One of the most famous total solar eclipses in history occurred on August 2, 1133, in England. This phenomenon was remarkable because its totality lasted more than four minutes, much longer than the average total solar eclipse, which typically lasts about two to three minutes. However, what makes this eclipse so memorable is not its duration, but the events that followed.

At that time, England was ruled by King Henry I. During the eclipse, the daytime sky suddenly turned dark, causing fear among the people. Historian William of Malmesbury even described the event as "a terrible darkness that shook the hearts of men." Shortly afterward, King Henry I died, and England entered a turbulent period known as The Anarchy, a period of civil war and succession struggles that lasted for years.

This series of events led many at the time to believe that the eclipse was a sign of impending disaster or major changes for the kingdom. However, from a modern astronomical perspective, the connection between the eclipse and the death of King Henry I is simply a historical coincidence. A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon caused by the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, unrelated to political events or the fate of individuals. Interestingly, throughout history, eclipses have not only been associated with negative events, but have also often coincided with important moments that brought positive change to humanity.


Civil War After the King's Death

The death of King Henry I in 1135 triggered one of the greatest succession crises in English history. Before his death, Henry had designated his daughter, Empress Matilda, as heir to the throne after his only legitimate son, William Adelin, died in the sinking of the White Ship in 1120. The nobles had even sworn to support Matilda as the next ruler. However, the situation changed soon after Henry I's death. His nephew, Stephen of Blois, leveraged the support of the nobles and the Church of England to seize the throne. On December 22, 1135, Stephen was crowned King of England. Many nobles preferred Stephen to Matilda because the idea of a woman ruling was still difficult at the time, especially since Matilda was married to Geoffrey of Anjou, considered a traditional rival of Normandy.

The rivalry between Stephen and Matilda later escalated into a civil war known as The Anarchy (1135–1153). This conflict led to the weakening of the central government, the rise of local nobles, and widespread disorder and plundering across England. Anglo-Saxon chronicles depict the period as filled with strife, crime, and popular suffering.

In 1139, Matilda returned to England with the support of her half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, and King David I of Scotland. The war between the two sides was fierce. A key moment occurred at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, when Stephen was captured by Matilda's forces. However, Matilda failed to gain the full support of the Londoners and was never crowned queen. Stephen was soon released after an exchange of prisoners with Robert of Gloucester. The war continued without a decisive victory for either side. One of the most famous events occurred in 1142 when Matilda managed to escape from the siege of Oxford Castle. Dressed in white to blend in with the winter snow, she crossed the frozen River Thames and escaped Stephen's encirclement.

The conflict only began to subside when Matilda's son, Henry Plantagenet, emerged as a successor to his mother's cause. After the death of Stephen's son, Eustace, the two sides finally reached an agreement through the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153. Under the treaty, Stephen remained king until his death, but recognized Henry as the legitimate heir to the throne. When Stephen died in 1154, Henry ascended the throne as Henry II, the first of the Plantagenet dynasty. Thus ended The Anarchy, a long period born of the succession crisis following the death of Henry I and which for nearly two decades destabilized the English kingdom.