European history: the Normans Books

Book SynopsisA copiously illustrated guide to the monarchs of the British Isles and Ireland from pre-Saxon times to the present, complete with concise genealogical charts and details of key historical events.The book is divided into five sections, together with a Compendium at the end.Part One, presents information about Pre-Saxon rule, including details about ancient British chiefs, Roman rulers and the Roman Conquest. Part Two provides information about Scotland, Ireland and Wales, with sections on Robert I and the Wars of Independence, The Union of the Crowns, the Princes of Wales and the High Kingship of Ireland.Part Three discusses the Saxons, Normans and Plantagenets. Part Four gives details about the Tudors and Stuarts. Part Five presents an in-depth discussion of the houses from Hanover to Windsor.Parts Two to Five provide all the essential information you will need to know about Kings and Queens including details of birth, parents, accession to the throne, coronation, authority, personal sTrade Review‘A must-have resource for writers, teachers, everyone! Everything you need to know about the Kings and Queens of England is right here in this tiny volume. If you can’t keep your Edwards or Henrys straight, you need this pocket book’.Amazon

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Book SynopsisA TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEARA diligent historian and a superb writer'THE TIMESA gripping new history of the making of England as a nation.In December 1642, during the Civil War, Parliamentarian troops stormed Winchester Cathedral and smashed ten beautifully decorated wooden chests to the ground, using the bones inside as missiles to shatter the cathedral's stained glass windows. Afterwards, the clergy scrambled to collect the scattered remains: the bones of ancient kings, bishops and one formidable queen.Bestselling historian Cat Jarman builds on the ground-breaking work of forensic archaeologists to lead us through more than a millennium of history. Alongside the cutting-edge investigation to unlock the bones'' secrets, this is a thrilling and sometimes tragic tale. It tells the story of both the seekers and the sought, of those who protected the bones and those who spurned them.Trade Review A TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘Beguiling . . . I adored [River Kings] so felt like a young boy on Christmas morning when I first opened The Bone Chests . . . Jarman’s investigation has something of a Dan Brown quest to it . . . she’s a diligent historian and a superb writer’ Times, Book of the Week 'This is the best kind of popular history, retelling the story of early medieval England with an equally good grasp of textual sources, archaeology and forensic analysis, and a love of Winchester’ Ronald Hutton ‘Through their story, we can recapture the spirit of the Anglo-Saxon age and, as Jarman writes, learn about the ‘past lives of people who were a little bit like us, who lived, loved, and left an imprint on the generations that came after them’, and who in their vexing anonymity encourage us to find out more’ Literary Review ‘An engaging account of England’s pre-Conquest monarchs, from famous figured such as Alfred the Great to long-forgotten kings Cynegils and Centwine’ i News PRAISE FOR RIVER KINGS: A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER (September 2021) Waterstones Book of the Month (October 2021) ‘A masterly history … River Kings is a mystery and an adventure, the tale of a quest that took Jarman from Repton to Scandinavia, across the Baltic Sea, over to Baghdad and finally to India. I was held captive … In addition to being a wonderful writer, Jarman is a skilled bioarchaeologist … River Kings is like a classical symphony, perfectly composed and exquisitely performed. Tiny trills of detail give way to pounding drums of drama’ Gerard deGroot, Times ‘Cat Jarman will transform the way you think about the Vikings’ Dan Snow

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Book SynopsisPart of the Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackOn Christmas Day 1066, William, duke of Normandy was crowned in Westminster, the first Norman king of England. It was a disaster: soldiers outside, thinking shouts of acclamation were treachery, torched the surrounding buildings. To later chroniclers, it was an omen of the catastrophes to come.During the reign of William the Conqueror, England experienced greater and more seismic change than at any point before or since. Marc Morris''s concise and gripping biography sifts through the sources of the time to give a fresh view of the man who changed England more than any other, as old ruling elites were swept away, enemies at home and abroad (including those in his closest family) were crushed, swathes of the country were devastated and the map of the nation itself was redrawn, giving greater power than ever to the king. When, towards the end of his reign, William undertook a great survey of his new lands, his subjects compared it to the last judgement of God, the Domesday Book. England had been transformed forever.

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Book SynopsisKing Harold Godwineson is one of history''s shadowy figures, known mainly for his defeat and death at the Battle of Hastings. His true status and achievements have been overshadowed by the events of October 1066 and by the bias imposed by the Norman victory. In truth, he deserves to be recalled as one of the greatest rulers. Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King sets out to correct this distorted image by presenting Harold''s life in its proper context, offering the first full-length critical study of his career in the years leading up to 1066. Ian Walker''s carefully researched critique allows the reader to realistically assess the lives of both Harold and his rival William, significantly enhancing our knowledge of both.

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Book SynopsisThe lives of the kings, queens, princes and princesses of Wales

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Book SynopsisThis volume on Norman Italy (southern Italy and Sicily, c. 1000–1200) honours and reflects the pioneering scholarship of Graham A. Loud. An international group of scholars reassesses and recasts the paradigm by which Norman Italy has been conventionally understood, addressing varied subjects across four key themes: historiographies, identities and communities, religion and Church, and conquest. The chapters revise and refine our understanding of Norman Italy in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, demonstrating that it was not just a parochial Norman or Mediterranean entity but also an integral player in the medieval mainstream.Trade Review'This collection of essays is an excellent tribute to the work of Graham Loud in that it builds the knowledge of medieval southern Italy through precise histories that utilize close readings of charters and chronicles.' Rethinking Norman Italy: Studies in Honour of Graham A. Loud, Drell, Joanna H., and Paul Oldfield -- .Table of Contents1 Introduction: rethinking Norman Italy – Joanna H. DrellPart I: Historiographies2 Norman Italy and Sicily through the eyes of British historians, 1912–76 – David Abulafia3 The Norman Empire between the eleventh and twelfth centuries with special reference to the Normans in southern Italy – Luigi Russo4 Historiography in the making: a name-list of Sicilian Muslims from the Rollus Rubeus cartulary of Cefalù cathedral – Alex Metcalfe5 A fiscal provision of Count Roger of Ariano: traces of redactional variants in the Chronicon of Falco of Benevento – Edoardo D’AngeloPart II: Identities and communities6 Crucible of faith: fitna in the Travels of Ibn Jubayr – Joshua C. Birk7 Bellum civile: urban strife and conflict management in early twelfth-century Benevento – Markus Krumm8 Norman rulers and Greek-speaking subjects: the Vitae of Italo-Greek saints (twelfth and thirteenth centuries) and the negotiation of local identities – Eleni Tounta9 Griffones and the city of Messina: urban encounters with crusading – Paul OldfieldPart III: Religion and the Church10 The foundation of St Euphemia in Calabria: a ‘Norman’ church in southern Italy? – Benjamin Pohl11 King Roger II's legislation on the celebration of marriage – Elisabeth van Houts12 The battle against simony in Norman Italy: perceptions, interpretations, measures and consequences – Lioba Geis13 Some reflections on the women’s monasteries of southern Italy in the eighth to twelfth centuries – Jean-Marie MartinPart IV: Conquering Norman Italy and beyond14 The Norman siege of Bari, 1068–71 – Charles D. Stanton15 The past, present and future of Norman rule in Apulia: Roger II’s silver ducalis – Sarah Davis-Secord16 From Alexandria to Tinnis: the kingdom of Sicily, Egypt and the Holy Land, 1154–87 – Alan V. MurrayIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume on Norman Italy (southern Italy and Sicily, c. 1000–1200) honours and reflects the pioneering scholarship of Graham A. Loud. An international group of scholars reassesses and recasts the paradigm by which Norman Italy has been conventionally understood, addressing varied subjects across four key themes: historiographies, identities and communities, religion and Church, and conquest. The chapters revise and refine our understanding of Norman Italy in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, demonstrating that it was not just a parochial Norman or Mediterranean entity but also an integral player in the medieval mainstream.Trade Review'This collection of essays is an excellent tribute to the work of Graham Loud in that it builds the knowledge of medieval southern Italy through precise histories that utilize close readings of charters and chronicles.' Rethinking Norman Italy: Studies in Honour of Graham A. Loud, Drell, Joanna H., and Paul Oldfield'The collection provides an important focus for the recognition of Loud’s considerable contribution to this field of study [...] while at the same time offering ample inspiration for the pursuit of future questions.'Al-Masaq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean -- .Table of Contents1 Introduction: rethinking Norman Italy – Joanna H. DrellPart I: Historiographies2 Norman Italy and Sicily through the eyes of British historians, 1912–76 – David Abulafia3 The Norman Empire between the eleventh and twelfth centuries with special reference to the Normans in southern Italy – Luigi Russo4 Historiography in the making: a name-list of Sicilian Muslims from the Rollus Rubeus cartulary of Cefalù cathedral – Alex Metcalfe5 A fiscal provision of Count Roger of Ariano: traces of redactional variants in the Chronicon of Falco of Benevento – Edoardo D’AngeloPart II: Identities and communities6 Crucible of faith: fitna in the Travels of Ibn Jubayr – Joshua C. Birk7 Bellum civile: urban strife and conflict management in early twelfth-century Benevento – Markus Krumm8 Norman rulers and Greek-speaking subjects: the Vitae of Italo-Greek saints (twelfth and thirteenth centuries) and the negotiation of local identities – Eleni Tounta9 Griffones and the city of Messina: urban encounters with crusading – Paul OldfieldPart III: Religion and the Church10 The foundation of St Euphemia in Calabria: a ‘Norman’ church in southern Italy? – Benjamin Pohl11 King Roger II's legislation on the celebration of marriage – Elisabeth van Houts12 The battle against simony in Norman Italy: perceptions, interpretations, measures and consequences – Lioba Geis13 Some reflections on the women’s monasteries of southern Italy in the eighth to twelfth centuries – Jean-Marie MartinPart IV: Conquering Norman Italy and beyond14 The Norman siege of Bari, 1068–71 – Charles D. Stanton15 The past, present and future of Norman rule in Apulia: Roger II’s silver ducalis – Sarah Davis-Secord16 From Alexandria to Tinnis: the kingdom of Sicily, Egypt and the Holy Land, 1154–87 – Alan V. MurrayIndex

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Book Synopsis'Powerful' The Economist'Fascinating, panoramic . . . Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy' Helen Castor, bestselling author of She Wolves'Narrated with pace, clarity, authority and style, Roach's book is a bracing tour of the world that the Normans made their own' Thomas Williams, bestselling author of Viking Britain'A fresh retelling . . . written with enthusiasm and brio' Marc Morris, bestselling author of The Anglo-SaxonsHow did descendants of Viking marauders come to dominate Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East?It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce freebooters, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. The Normans made their influence felt across all of western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa, and Lisbon to the Holy Land. In Empires of the Normans we discover how they combined military might and political savvy with deeply held religious beliefs and a profound sense of their own destiny. For a century and a half, they remade Europe in their own image, and yet their heritage was quickly forgotten - until now.Trade ReviewFrom Viking raiders to rulers of the Mediterranean, the Normans dominated and dazzled medieval Europe. In this fascinating, panoramic account, Levi Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy to the telling of their extraordinary story -- Helen Castor, bestselling author of 'She Wolves'Narrated with pace, clarity, authority and style, Roach's book is a bracing tour of the world that the Normans made their own -- Thomas Williams, bestselling author of 'Viking Britain'A fresh retelling of the story of the Normans, across all their theatres of operation - academically up-to-the-minute, sound in its judgements, and written with enthusiasm and brio -- Marc Morris, bestselling author of 'The Anglo Saxons'How the Normans shaped the Europe we live in today is a huge and gripping subject, brilliantly illuminated here in all its continent-wide human drama by a masterful historian and story-teller -- Peter StanfordInformed by the latest research, Roach reveals the history of the Norman conquests - from England to the Holy Land - in a pacy and character-driven account of a people who defined an era -- Sophie AmblerBy telling the story from their perspective and following them wherever they went . . . Mr Roach gives a powerful account of how prowess in combat, shrewd alliance-building, low cunning and sheer chutzpah let them punch above their numerical weight -- The EconomistRoach's writing is clear, concise and open to any reader willing to learn more . . . After drinking from Roach's refreshing Norman cider cup . . . they will learn much and travel far -- Literary Review

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Book Synopsis'In this fascinating, panoramic account, Levi Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy to the telling of their extraordinary story' Helen Castor, bestselling author of She Wolves'A fresh retelling of the story of the Normans . . . written with enthusiasm and brio' Marc Morris, bestselling author of The Anglo-SaxonsHow did descendants of Viking marauders come to dominate Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East? It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce freebooters, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. The Normans made their influence felt across all of western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa, and Lisbon to the Holy Land. In Empires of the Normans we discover how they combined military might and political savvy with deeply held religious beliefs and a profound sense of their own destiny. For a century and a half, they remade Europe in their own image, and yet their heritage was quickly forgotten - until now.Trade ReviewFrom Viking raiders to rulers of the Mediterranean, the Normans dominated and dazzled medieval Europe. In this fascinating, panoramic account, Levi Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy to the telling of their extraordinary story -- Helen Castor, bestselling author of 'She Wolves'Narrated with pace, clarity, authority and style, Roach's book is a bracing tour of the world that the Normans made their own -- Thomas Williams, bestselling author of 'Viking Britain'A fresh retelling of the story of the Normans, across all their theatres of operation - academically up-to-the-minute, sound in its judgements, and written with enthusiasm and brio -- Marc Morris, bestselling author of 'The Anglo Saxons'How the Normans shaped the Europe we live in today is a huge and gripping subject, brilliantly illuminated here in all its continent-wide human drama by a masterful historian and story-teller -- Peter StanfordInformed by the latest research, Roach reveals the history of the Norman conquests - from England to the Holy Land - in a pacy and character-driven account of a people who defined an era -- Sophie AmblerBy telling the story from their perspective and following them wherever they went . . . Mr Roach gives a powerful account of how prowess in combat, shrewd alliance-building, low cunning and sheer chutzpah let them punch above their numerical weight -- The EconomistRoach's writing is clear, concise and open to any reader willing to learn more . . . After drinking from Roach's refreshing Norman cider cup . . . they will learn much and travel far -- Literary Review

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Book SynopsisStudy of the Norman World's borders, frontiers, and boundaries in Europe, shedding fresh light on their nature and extent. The Normans exerted great influence across Christendom and beyond in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Figures like William the Conqueror and Robert Guiscard subdued vast territories, their feats recorded for posterity by chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Geoffrey Malaterra. Through travel and conquest, the Normans encountered, created, and conceptualised many borders, with the areas of Europe that they ruled and most affected often being grouped together as the "Norman World". This volume examines the nature, forms, and function of borders in and around this "Norman World", looking at Normandy, the British-Irish Isles, and Southern Italy. Three sections frame the collection. The first concerns physical features, from broad frontier expanses, to rivers and walls that were both literally and metaphorically lines of division. The second shows how borders were established, contested, and negotiated between the papacy and lay rulers and senior churchmen. Finally, the third highlights the utility of conceptual frontiers for both medieval authors and modern historians. Among the subjects covered are Archbishop Anselm's travels across Christendom; the portrayal of borders in the writings of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Gerald of Wales; and the limits of Norman seigneurial and papal power at the edges of Europe. Overall, the essays demonstrate the role that the manipulation of borders played in the creation of the "Norman World", and address what these borders did and whom they benefited.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Writing the Borders of the Norman World Dan Armstrong and Áron Kecskés PART I: Borders In and Around the Norman World 1. Ireland and the Anglo-Normans within the Irish Sea World: Rebels, Mercenaries, Allies 1066-1169 Caitlin Ellis 2. The Northern Limits of Norman Power: Border Policies in Northumbria, c. 1050-1100 Chelsea Shields-Más and Charles C. Rozier 3. Controlling an Unstable Boundary: The Normans and their Continental Border Areas, 911-1135 Astrid Lemoine-Descourtieux 4. Boundary-making in the Beneventano in the early Twelfth Century Áron Kecskés PART II: Ecclesiastical Borders 5. Alexander II and the Normans: Borders as Instruments of Dialogue and Compromise Maria Vezzoni 6. Gregory VII, Lanfranc, and Ireland: Papal Relations at the Periphery Dan Armstrong 7. "... a mari Barensi usque ad mare Bononiense": Crossing Borders. The Travels of Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury, libertas ecclesiae, and the Uses of Clerical Mobility in an Age of Reform William M. Aird 8. Temporal and Spiritual Power in Norman Sicily: An Unreal Border? Ignazio Alessi 9. The Crossing of Borders: The Legations of John of Crema, 1124-1125 Callum A. Jamieson PART III: Conceptual Boundaries 10. The Very Idea of a Border in Britain Emily A. Winkler and Nia Wyn Jones 11. Norman Borders in the Work of William of Jumièges and Orderic Vitalis, c. 1057-1141 Mark Hagger 12. Is there a 'Norman' Historiography of the Conquest of Southern Italy? Marie-Agnès Lucas-Avenel 13. The Lion, the Camel, and the Cassa of Terracina: Transfer and Exchange on the Borders of Norman Italy John Aspinwall Afterword: Borders, Landscapes, and Seascapes Leonie V. Hicks Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDurham Cathedral was completed nearly 900 years ago, after 40 years of construction. Inevitably it has suffered from the effects of time: physical erosion, from the weather and increasing pollution on stone that was never of the best quality, and cultural erosion, the impact of secular and religious changes – not least the depredations of clerics, improvers, and administrators. Nevertheless, it remains: the stones speak and provide the story of themselves. Building Durham Cathedral explores this magnificent structure by questioning its architectural plans and stonework. As there have been minimal additions we catch sight of it as the Norman builders intended. Remarkably, a few early documents and the stonework itself allow us to glimpse its beginnings and some of the personalities involved. Questions remain, but there may even be a clue to the identity of its original master mason.Trade Review“Explores this magnificent structure by examining its architectural plans and stonework, revealing surprising insights into one of Britain’s best-loved cathedrals." * Methodist Recorder *

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Book SynopsisThe Norman invasion of Britain, as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, is well known, but the later invasion of Ireland is much less well documented. Yet much of what we see today in Irish heritage has Norman roots. Ireland and Britain have many similarities, although relations between them have too often descended into bitterness and violence. This book goes back to the starting point of this, more than eight hundred years ago. Beginning with Irish history before the Norman invasion, the book describes how Ireland was conquered and settled by the French-speaking Normans from north-west France, whose language and culture had already come to dominate most of Britain. It looks at the creation and government of a large region called the Liberty of Leinster between 1167 and 1247, a turning point in Irish history, identifying the Frankish institutions imposed upon Ireland by its Anglo-Norman conquerors. The Normans were not always belligerent conquerors, but they were innovators and reformers, who incorporated the sensible traditions and practices of their subjugated lands into their new government. In little over one hundred years the Normans had a transforming effect on British and Irish societies and, while different in many ways, both countries benefited from their legacy.

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