Examines the reigns of Henry II, Richard I, and King John, and discusses the Magna Carta, the Crusades, and life in twelfth-century England.

History of the House of Plantagenet of England.

Examines the reigns of Henry II, Richard I, and King John, and discusses the Magna Carta, the Crusades, and life in twelfth-century England

The Plantagenet Chronicles tells the fascinating story of a forgotten dynasty. Ascending the throne just after the decline of the Normans in 1154 and retaining their grip on power until the rise of the Tudors in 1485, the Plantagenets oversaw a remarkable array of political, social and economic changes: parliament, trial by jury, civil rights, the English language and even the emergence of a distinct British national identity all came about under the reign. The Plantagenet dynasty emerged from the union of Queen Matilda of England and her second husband Geoffrey of Anjou. The name derived from Geoffrey's nickname, which came from the sprig of broom (planta genet) which he wore in his hat. Many of its key figures rank amongst the most evocative names in British history: the crusaidng Richard the Lionheart, his treacherous brother John, the hapless Richard II, the heroic warrior king Henry V, and ending in the defeat of the much maligned Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. The Plantagenet Chronicles is a compelling, year-by-year account of a tumultous and critical period in the development of the English nation. Each year is covered by a concise, informative and accessible narrative, amplified by extensive quotation from contemporary sources and accompanied by stunning images of the period--including illuminations, portraits, maps, royal seals, tapestries and other artefacts. --