The Norman Conquest


Book Description

A riveting and authoritative history of the single most important event in English history: The Norman Conquest. An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought. This new history explains why the Norman Conquest was the most significant cultural and military episode in English history. Assessing the original evidence at every turn, Marc Morris goes beyond the familiar outline to explain why England was at once so powerful and yet so vulnerable to William the Conqueror’s attack. Morris writes with passion, verve, and scrupulous concern for historical accuracy. This is the definitive account for our times of an extraordinary story, indeed the pivotal moment in the shaping of the English nation.




The Norman Conquest


Book Description

Exploring the successful Norman invasion of England in 1066, this concise and readable book focuses especially on the often dramatic and enduring changes wrought by William the Conqueror and his followers. From the perspective of a modern social historian, Hugh M. Thomas considers the conquest's wide-ranging impact by taking a fresh look at such traditional themes as the influence of battles and great men on history and assessing how far the shift in ruling dynasty and noble elites affected broader aspects of English history. The author sets the stage by describing English society before the Norman Conquest and recounting the dramatic story of the conquest, including the climactic Battle of Hastings. He then traces the influence of the invasion itself and the Normans' political, military, institutional, and legal transformations. Inevitably following on the heels of institutional reform came economic, social, religious, and cultural changes. The results, Thomas convincingly shows, are both complex and surprising. In some areas where one might expect profound influence, such as government institutions, there was little change. In other respects, such as the indirect transformation of the English language, the conquest had profound and lasting effects. With its combination of exciting narrative and clear analysis, this book will capture students interest in a range of courses on medieval and Western history.




William the Conqueror


Book Description

If you want to discover the captivating life of William the Conqueror, then keep reading... The tale of William the Conqueror is written down by numerous contemporaries with various perspectives. It's a tale that would inspire some while fascinate and even terrify others. It's a tale of a man from a seemingly small land rising to rule one of the most powerful, stable kingdoms in all of Europe at the time, a kingdom that would sow the seeds of an empire that would sprout many centuries later. William's story is a fascinating yarn full of twists and turns, wins and losses, political intrigue, and good, old-fashioned raw bursts of emotion. In some ways, William's life is quite in line with the mores of his time; he would often be no different than any other medieval ruler, be they the Holy Roman emperor, the Angevine count, the Hungarian king, or the prince of Kievan Rus. But once you delve deeper into the events that occurred during the Norman king's life, you'll see just how innovative, atypical, and, for lack of a better term, different William was. From his birth at Falaise to his death at Rouen, he has been through everything that medieval Europe could throw at him, and, as is evident from hundreds of thousands of books on the subject, including this one, he stood the test of time and achieved proverbial immortality. In William the Conqueror: A Captivating Guide to the First Norman King of England Who Defeated the English Army Led by the King of the Anglo-Saxons in the Battle of Hastings, you will discover topics such as William's Early Days: Birth, Childhood, Adolescence, and Early Reign over the Normans The Conquest: Normandy and Britain in the Late 10th Century, the Battle of Hastings, and the Aftermath From Duke to King: Ruling over England and Normandy Final Years and Death William's Character: Personality Traits, Virtues, Flaws, and Motivations And much, much more! So if you want to learn more about William the Conqueror, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!




The Saxon Bride


Book Description

Rowena Godwinson, a Saxon princess, refuses to go willingly into a forced marriage to one of King William's most favored knights but her struggle against enemy occupation fades away in the pleasurable arms of her Norman husband. Will he bring her people to their knees in his attempt to please his liege lord? Or can she win him over to the Saxon's side even while one of her own plots to overthrow the bastard king? John of Normandy is a soldier made for battle, ingrained with chivalry and a deep sense of loyalty to his mentor and king. Serving his liege is reward enough. Neither a title nor a child bride will entice him to become an indolent lord. A chance encounter with an alluring beauty, however, releases all his pent up desires and unspoken needs. His young bride has become a passionate woman, tempting him beyond his endurance. Can he win her over before she learns the truth of her father's death?




Europe's Long Twelfth Century


Book Description

Between 1095 and 1229, Western Europe confronted a series of alternative cultural possibilities that would fundamentally transform its social structures, its intellectual life, and its very identity. It was a period of difficult decisions and anxiety rather than a triumphant 'renaissance'. In this fresh reassessment of the twelfth century, John D. Cotts: - Shows how new social, economic and religious options challenged Europeans to re-imagine their place in the world - Provides an overview of political life and detailed examples of the original thought and religious enthusiasm of the time - Presents the Crusades as the century's defining movement. Ideal for students and scholars alike, this is an essential overview of a pivotal era in medieval history that arguably paved the way for a united Europe.




The Bayeux Tapestry


Book Description

The story of the Bayeux Tapestry, an embroidered strip of linen telling the story of the events starting in 1064 that led up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066




The Battle of Hastings


Book Description

A rousing historical narrative of the best-known and arguably most significant battle in English history. The effects of the Battle of Hastings were deeply felt at the time, causing a lasting shift in British cultural identity and national pride. Jim Bradbury explores the full military background of the battle and investigates both what actually happened on that fateful day in 1066 and the role that the battle plays in the British national myth. The Battle of Hastings starts by looking at the Normans—who they were, where they came from—and the career of William the Conqueror before 1066. Next, the narrative turns to the Saxons in England, and to Harold Godwineson, successor to Edward the Confessor, and his attempts to create unity in the divided kingdom. This provides the background to an examination of the military development of the two sides up to 1066, detailing differences in tactics, arms, and armor. The core of the book is a move-by-move reconstruction of the battle itself, including the advance planning, the site, the composition of the two armies, and the use of archers, feigned retreats, and the death of Harold Godwineson. In looking at the consequences of the battle, Jim Bradbury deals with the conquest of England and the ongoing resistance to the Normans. The effects of the conquest are also seen in the creation of castles and developments in feudalism, and in links with Normandy that revealed themselves particularly in church appointments. This is the first time a military historian has attempted to make accessible to the general reader all that is known about the Battle of Hastings and to present as detailed a reconstruction as is possible. Furthermore, the author places the battle in the military context of eleventh-century Europe, painting a vivid picture of the combatants themselves—soldiery, cavalry, and their horses—as they struggled for victory. This is a book that any reader interested in England’s history will find indispensable.




The Conqueror


Book Description

The true story of the bastard son who made himself a king and the woman who melted his heart. The stirring history of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, who invaded England and became the King. His victory, concluded at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, is known as the Norman Conquest. Known for her exhaustive research and ability to bring past eras to life, bestselling author Georgette Heyer tells the story of William the Conqueror, who became King of England in 1066, and his queen Matilda, the high–born noblewoman who at first scornfully spurned him. William was an illegitimate child of a nobleman, who won his dukedom through force of will, and went on to bring European feudalism to England, along with a program of building and fortification that included the building of the Tower of London. The historical novel includes Heyer's brilliant period language and her perfect grasp of the details of the day – clothing, armor, weapons, and food – making for a fascinating and blood–stirring read. Bonus reading group guide available inside. "From the moment when the infant grasped his father's sword with a strength unusual in one so young, William showed himself a leader among men. The Conqueror grew out of an incredible amount of historical research into the way of life, the way of speech, the way of thought, and feeling, and praying in the Eleventh Century. Without sacrificing the flow of her plot, Miss Heyer conveys an understanding of this period, more authentic as well as more colorful than many historical tomes. It is obvious in reading this novel that Georgette Heyer is indeed a mistress of her craft." — Best Sellers "Perfect craftsmanship." — The New York Times Book Review "Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to." — Katie Fforde "My favourite historical novelist." — Margaret Drabble




Harold II


Book Description

Harold Godwinson was king of England for less than a year and failed to defend England from William the Conqueror's invading Norman army in 1066, an army that wreaked havoc across the country and changed the political history of England forever. Indeed, 1066 was so critical a turning point that it marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon epoch. Harold II: The Doomed Saxon King is the first full-scale biography of England's "lost king," an astute political operator who as Earl of Wessex won the affection of the English people, and the death-bed nomination from Edward the Confessor to succeed him. The Battle of Hasting was a close-run battle that could have gone either way—England would be a very different place today had the fatal arrow missed Harold's eye.




William the Conqueror


Book Description