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Warfare under the Anglo-Norman Kings
Stephen Morillo
A study of how warfare was waged in England between
1066 and 1135 by the Anglo-Norman kings. An in depth look at
military organisation of the time, campaigns and their aims and the famila
regis, the kings military household. Analysis of siege warfare
of the period and battle tactics.
Anglo-Norman Warfare
Matthew Strickland
A collection of papers on the organisation and
conduct of war in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
The Anarchy of King Stephen's Reign
Edited by Edmund King
A book containing papers from ten of the leading
scholars on the period give an original and up-to-date analysis of the
major issues of the period: the weakness of government, a disputed succession, loss of control of Normandy and the Welsh Marches, the tyranny
of the lords of castles and the breakdown of the coinage.
A History of Medieval Britain
Angevin England 1154-1258
Richard Mortimer
Just before Christmas 1154 Henry Count of Anjou was
crowned King of England, making good the claim inherited from his mother,
the Empress Matilda. To England he added extensive French possessions:
Normandy and Anjou from his father, and Aquitaine from his bride Eleanor,
the recently divorced wife of the King of France. In England he
inherited a divided nobility and a country that had been wracked for
eighteen years with civil war. Holding more of France than the
French King did only brought him years of war with France, at home in
England he faced revolts and desertion within the nobility.
Frequently in trouble with the Pope and forced in to the signing of the
Magna Carta by his barons the crown still gained strength, the
administration of the country improved along with burgeoning prosperity
the foundations of the common law were begun.
The Medieval Siege
Jim Bradbury
Covering medieval siege weapons and their use, the
conventions and laws of siege warfare from 450 to 1500.
Lordship and Military Obligation in Anglo-Saxon
England
Richard P Abels
Undoubtedly the best book of its kind in print today
and one that finally put to rest many of the Victorian misconceptions that
most UK Anglo-Saxon reenactors clung to until a few years back. In
contrast to the Victorian portrayal of early Anglo-Saxon England as a
society in which all free men were under an ancient obligation to fight
for the king, this book shows the reality that Anglo-Saxon England was a
hierarchical society in which the kings were the lords of warrior bands
and that warfare was the right and duty of the aristocrats and their sworn
men. The gift of land from the king and the return gift of service
lay at the heart of the organisation of Anglo-Saxon England.
Pilgrimage to Rome in the Middle Ages
Debra J Birch
Detailed look at the pilgrimage to Rome, the rights
and obligation of a pilgrim and what Rome would have been like when the
pilgrim finally arrived there.
France in the Middle Ages 987-1460
Georges Duby
Charting the rise of tenth centaury France under the
Capetian kings, its long struggle with Anglo-Norman England.
The Battle of Hastings
Jim Bradbury
An in depth examination of the two sides, the
battle and its aftermath.
The Medieval Warhorse
Ann Hyland
A study of the role of the horse in the medieval
period and how vital it was for battle and long-range campaigns.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Alison Weir
Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine was one of the leading
personalities of the Middle Ages, and one of the most controversial.
Married in turn to Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, and the
mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John. She lived to 82, but
it was only in her old age that she triumphed over the adversities and tragedies
of her earlier years and became the virtual ruler of England.
Capetian France 987-1328
Elizabeth M Hallam
From early success and then tracing the struggle of
the of the French monarchy to maintain power during the eleventh century
as the King struggled to control over-powerful vassals. Detailing
its build-up of authority during the twelfth century , culminating in the
conquest of English Normandy in 1204.
King John
W L Warren
A very revised study of the King and of his
time. Exploring the king's personality, so distorted by the accounts
of such chroniclers as Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris, through his achievements
and failures, but also considering him against his predecessors and the
society that he lived in and of problems independent of his making.
Chivalry
Maurice Keen
Chivalry was a social ideal that had profound
influence on the history of early modern Europe. This book explores
the complex reality of chivalry: its secular foundations, the effects on
the crusades, the literature of knighthood and its ethos on the social and
moral obligations of nobility.
A Political History
The Byzantine Empire 1025-1204
Michael Angold
In 1025 the Byzantine Empire was unchallenged as the
greatest power in the Mediterranean and Near East. From this time
until 1204 it slowly lost power to its new aggressive neighbors, the Turks
and Petcheneks, finally suffering the sacking of its great capital,
Constantinople, by the Fourth Crusade. Although the city was
restored in 1261 the empire was broken and with its disappearance the
center of gravity of Christendom shifted irreversibly westward with the
rise of Islam. The period leading up to 1204 was thus a major watershed
not only for Byzantium itself but also for the whole medieval
world.
Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages
The English Experiance
Michael Prestwich
Medieval warfare was hard, grueling and often
unrewarding. Often pictured in terms of resplendent knights and
colourful standards, the reality more often consisted of men struggling
against cold, hunger, damp and pressing elusive foes who refused to do
battle. The book shows how medieval commanders were capable of far
more sophisticated strategy than is usually assumed: spies were a critical
part of the machinery of war and the burning of crops and laying waste to
villages were more a tactic to force and opponent to negotiate, rather
then an undisciplined army at large.
Early Medieval Spain
Unity in Diversity 400-1000
Roger Collins
The first of a pair of books that detail Spain's
rise to being one of the greatest of the medieval kingdoms. Covering
from the Roman origins and the short lived kingdom of the Sueves and the
early attempts at unification, it then moves on to cover the Arab
conquest. It then details the Umayyad Regime, government of such a
divided society and the conflicts between the three religions. The
final section detail the Christian Realms, their foundation and the
beginning of their rise to power.
Spain in the Middle Ages
From Frontier to Empire 1000-1500
A Mackey
The second book that clearly follows the key themes
of the period for Spain: The frontier from the eleventh to thirteenth
centuries and the preparation for empire during the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. In the frontier portion of the book the way that the
reconquest shaped the growth of the distinctive way of life in the
Christian kingdoms of Spain is explored. The second section
discusses the development of governmental institutions and the economy of Spain
and parts of its empire. A large section is devoted to the
relationships and struggles between the crown and the nobility and of the
rising religious tensions which led to an increasing victimisation of the
Jews and the conversos, the setting up of the Inquisition.
The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England
Davidson
A concise account of the making of swords, the differences
between Eastern and Western sword blades, differences in pommel, grip,
guard and decoration on swords of the period. A rich source of
information on scabbards and sword belts.
Latin Siege Warfare in the Twelfth Century
R Rogers
The siege was an integral part of the medieval experience,
and was critical in many campaigns fought in western Europe and the Mediterranean
region of the time. The book explores the role it played in the
First Crusade and the establishment of the Crusader States, in Italy,
Spain and Portugal, and in the seaborne expeditions of the Italian maritime
states.
Military Obligation in Medieval England
Michael Powicke
A unique work covering From Anglo-Saxon times up
until Edward III on just how armies were levied by the various kings for
their campaigns.
The Art of War in the Middle Ages
Volume One: 378-1278AD
Sir Charles Oman
Last published in 1934, but still a sound resource
covering the transition from Roman to Medieval warfare and how the focus
of power moved from the infantry to the cavalry and then back again.
Includes a detailed assessment and comparison of Simon de Montfort and
Edward I.
Medieval Warfare Source Book
Volume I: Warfare in Western Christendom
David Nicolle
Richly illustrated with details of Campaigns,
battles, strategy and tactics as well as details on pay, clothing, weapons
etc.
Medieval Military Technology
Kelly DeVries
This book covers most aspects of medieval siege
technology and its application of firstly non-gunpowder weapons and later
on cannon etc. The second half of the book is devoted to the
development of fortifications and how they evolved in response to newer siege
weapons and tactics, a race that they could never win, but sometimes
stalemate.
Medieval Wales
David Walker
This book traces the growth of Welsh princely power,
and the invasion and settlement of Welsh territories by Norman adventurers
which resulted in the creation of the marcher lordships. The subsequent
revival of Welsh fortunes under the princes of Gwynedd was checked by
Edward I in 1277 and thereafter the principality was slowly conquered and
controlled by extensive castle building programs.
The Friars
The Impact of the Early Mendicant Movement on Western Society
C H Lawrence
This book is slightly late for the period, in that
is starts almost at the end of the period that Conquest covers. None
the less the Church was central to how medieval life was conducted and its
teachings directed the thoughts and actions of all of Christian Western
Europe. This book covers the orders of begging friars which
developed in the early 1200s. They embodied an almost revolutionary
concept for the time: preachers went out into the world to reclaim it for
god, rather then retiring from the world into enclosed monasteries to do
his work. With their mission to the towns of Europe, their power
grew rapidly and soon eclipsed the old style church, their learning and
schools soon attained new intellectual heights and some had become the new
omnipresent counsellors at the courts of kings.
The Governance of Anglo-Saxon England 500-1087
H R Loyn
A full analysis of Anglo-Saxon government covering
laws, charters, numismatics and archeology. It also covers its initial
transition under the Normans and William I.
Monastic and Religious Orders in Britain
1000-1300
Janet Burton
This book explores the devolvement of monasticism in
Britain from the last few years of Anglo-Saxon England up until the close
of the Anglo-Norman period of history. This is one of the few books
to cover not only England, but also Scotland and Wales and it also
explores the interdependence of religious communities and the wider
secular world.
A History of the Crusades
Vol I The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jeusalem
Runciman
The first of three books covering the crusades and
it details all aspects of the First Crusade. Using sources drawn
from the Old French and German, Greek, Arabic Syriac and Hebrew this book
really has never been bettered.
Western Society and the Church in the the Middle
Ages
R W Southern
A general history of the church from 700 to 1500AD.
The Age of Conquest
Wales 1063 - 1415AD
R R Davies
Covering the two great period of the Conquest of
Wales and its final colonisation by the Anglo-Norman kings.
England and its Rulers 1066-1272
M T Clanchy
From William I to Henry III a detailed history of
England's kings.
Medieval England
Rural Society and Economic Change 1086-1348
Edward Miller & John Hatcher
The period between the Norman Conquest and the Black
Death was characterised by expansion and development in many areas.
The growth of the tows, the increase in population and expansion in
economic activity are the main themes covered in this book.
The Medieval Archer
Jim Bradbury
A history of the archer in the middle ages, from the
Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses.
Knives and Scabbards
Medieval Finds From Excavations in London
HMSO Books
Detailed drawings and pictures of the medieval
knives and scabbards found in excavations in London that can be dated
between 1200 and 1500.
The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England
Davidson
Covering sword making, its use, the fittings,
scabbard, mounts etc and all the other relevant items of information that
you would ever want to know about swords from the
period.
Dungeon, Fire and Sword
The Knights Templar and the Crusades
John J Robinson
With any mention of the crusades people instantly
think of the Knights Templar, but their role in
western Christendom was far greater than that of just a society of warrior
monks. After two hundred years of amassing great wealth, waging
non-stop war against the Muslims, running the most advanced banking system
in Europe their reward was to be arrested by Pope and king, tortured unto
death by the Inquisition, decreed out of existence and have all their
wealth striped from them by the French crown and the Pope. No
history of the middle ages is complete without looking at the crusades and
their aftermath and this is one of the best books that I have read on the
subject.
The Medieval World
Europe 1100-1350
Friedrich Heer
One of the best primer books for the whole of the
period, it covers a great deal of subjects, but does not sacrifice the
detail of what it does cover.
A Social and Economic History of England
Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest
H R Loyn
An account of the social and economic development in
Anglo-Saxon from the sixth centaury to the aftermath of the Norman
Conquest.
William Marshal
Court, Career and Chivalry in the Angevin Empire 1147-1219
David Crouch
One of the finest generals of the period and a
detailed, very readable account of life in the Angevin court.
King Stephen
Third Edition
R H C Davies
The reign of Stephen (1135-1154) is dramatic in
itself, a huge power play of shifting political alliances, battles, sieges,
treachery and reversal of fortunes. This book covers all of that
troubled period and still is the first book that I would advise anyone
interested in Conquest's principal period to read.
Empress Matilda
Uncrowned Queen of England
Nesta Pain
Born in 1102, the daughter of Henry I, the Empress
Matilda was not only the mother of arguably England's greatest King, Henry
II, but also the rightful Queen of England. Cheated of this right by
her cousin Stephen she spent many years in a titanic struggle with him for
control of the crown and country, but in the end she failed, as the
nobility forced her to step aside for Stephen. Her loss was not
total though as the final part of the agreement was that when Stephen who
had no heir's died that her son would be king. For his early years
Henry had his ever attendant mother to teach him the ways of Kingship and
teach him well she did.
Life in Norman England
O G Tomkeieff
Covering how the new king and aristocracy came to
terms with their new subjects, village/town life, the role of the church,
the development of medicine and law and eventually the beginnings of the
common law.
The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042-1216
Frank Barlow
From Edward the Confessor to the Magna Carta, a concise
history of England, the Normans and Angevin Empire.
The History of the Albigensian Crusade
Peter of les Vax-de-Cernay
Tr. W.A. Sibly and M.D. Sibly
A translation of the Historia Albigensis, one
of the most important sources for the history of the Cathar heresy and the
Albigensian crusade. This often covered up dark part of European
history where Christian massacred Christian in the name Christ whilst
overseen by the church of Rome
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