The acclaimed biography of the eldest son of William the Conqueror, whose failure to secure the kingdom of England has overshadowed his role in capturing Jerusalem during the First Crusade. This detailed biography offers a reappraisal of the career of Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son and duke of Normandy from 1087 to 1106, locating the duke's career in the social, cultural and political context ofthe period. Robert's relationship with members of his family shaped the political landscape of England and Normandy for much of the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries: indeed, even after his incarceration, from 1106 to 1134, his son William Clito (d. 1128) continued the fight against Robert's brother, Henry I. Twice driven into exile, Robert defeated his father in battle and eventually succeeded to the duchy of Normandy, although the throne of England was seized by William Rufus and then Henry I. For twenty years Robert successfully defended Normandy, developing policies to counter the vastly superior English resources at the disposal of his brothers. Robert's leading role in the success of the First Crusade [1095-99] also made him one of the most famous warriors of his age. He returned to Western Europe in 1100, a chivalric hero with a reputation that stretched from Scotland to Palestine. This bookreturns Robert Curthose to centre stage in the bloody drama of this period, a drama so often dominated by accounts from a royal and English perspective. Dr William M. Aird is Lecturer in History, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh.

"The career of Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son and duke of Normandy from 1087 to 1106, has long merited detailed reappraisal. Robert's relationship with members of his family shaped the political landscape of England and Normandy for much of the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, and this new biography firmly locates the duke's career in the social, cultural and political context of the times." "William Aird's biography offers a fresh assessment of the dynamics of Norman political culture and presents a critique of medieval rulership. For much of his life, Robert's presence influenced the actions of the kings of England and even after his incarceration by Henry I (from 1106 until his death in 1134) his son William Clito (d. 1128) continued the fight. Robert Curthose is returned to centre stage in the bloody drama of the period, a drama which has been so long dominated by accounts from a royal and English perspective."--BOOK JACKET.

A study of the women, on all sides, who had major parts to play in the momentous year of 1066.

Don't miss this unique retelling of the Robin Hood legend England, 1154-1194 A kingdom under assault. A conspiracy born of anarchy. A hero standing against tyranny. Falsely convicted of a shocking crime, Robin Fitzooth, the Earl of Huntingdon, finds refuge in Sherwood Forest and becomes Robin Hood. Leading a band of men against the injustices of a malevolent sheriff and his henchmen, Robin begins to unravel a web of treachery threatening the English royal family. As shadowy forces gather to destroy the future of a nation, Robin faces deceit, betrayal, and the ravages of war as he defends his king, his country, his people, and the woman he loves from a conspiracy so diabolical, so unexpected, that the course of history hangs in the balance. From the mists of an ancient woodland, to lavish royal courts teeming with intrigue, to the exotic shores of the Holy Land - Robin Hood leads the fight in a battle between good and evil, justice and tyranny, the future and the past. Part one of an exciting three-part retelling of the Robin Hood legend Although the books in the trilogy are not stand-alone, they do not end in cliffhangers.

First published as part of the best-selling The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain, John Gillingham and Ralph A. Griffiths' Very Short Introduction to Medieval Britain covers the establishment of the Anglo-Norman monarchy in the early Middle Ages, through to England's failure to dominate the British Isles and France in the later Middle Ages. Out of the turbulence came stronger senses of identity in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Yet this was an age, too, of growing definition of Englishness and of a distinctive English cultural tradition. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This new edition offers an account of the murder of the Charles the Good in 1127 and its profound effects on medieval Flemish society and the balance of power in Europe. Galbert of Bruges presents a vivid portrait of the political and social unrest that engulfed Flemish society in the aftermath of Charles the Good's death. Historians have long recognized The Murder of Charles the Good as a remarkable point of entry for understanding the most important political, legal, and social issues that confronted medieval Europe.