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Books > Humanities > History > British & Irish history
The House of Plantagenet. (a branch of the Angevins), was a royal
house founded by Geoffrey V of Anjou, father of Henry II of
England. Plantagenet kings first ruled the Kingdom of England in
the 12th century. Their paternal ancestors originated in the French
province of Gatinais and gained the County of Anjou through
marriage during the 11th century. The dynasty accumulated several
other holdings, building the Angevin Empire which at its peak
stretched from the Pyrenees to Ireland and the border with
Scotland. The eventful political climate of the day saw the Hundred
Years' War, where the Plantagenets battled with the House of Valois
for control of the Kingdom of France, as both claimed House of
Capet seniority. A distinctive English culture and art emerged
during the Plantagenet era, encouraged by some of the monarchs who
were patrons of the "father of English poetry", Geoffrey Chaucer.
The Gothic architecture style was popular during the time, with
buildings such as Westminster Abbey and York Minster remodelled in
that style. There were also lasting developments in the social
sector, such as King John of England's sealing of the Magna Carta.
This was influential in the development of common law and
constitutional law. Political institutions such as the Parliament
of England and the Model Parliament originate from the Plantagenet
period, as do educational institutions including the universities
of Cambridge and Oxford. Some of the Plantagenet kings were
renowned as warriors: Henry V of England left his mark with a
famous victory against larger numbers at the Battle of Agincourt,
while Richard the Lionheart had earlier distinguished himself in
the Third Crusade; he was later romanticized as an iconic figure in
English folklore. This book is laid out in chronological order with
colour coding for easy reference.
Titanic is a fascinating exploration of the most famous maritime
disaster of all time. It delves into the astonishing facts
surrounding the tragedy of 1912 and is essential for anyone wishing
to separate myth from reality. With a range of trivia including
facts about the construction of the vessel deemed to be
'unsinkable', the information is presented in an interesting and
engaging way to embrace a wide variety of readers. This title is
brimming with facts about the Titanic and its passengers, the
history of the Titanic, strange stories of premonitions of the
disaster, conspiracy theories, the various films, the sinking of
the Titanic, the discovery of the wreck and salvage operations, are
all explored. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide
variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The
amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting,
surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of
topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in
equal measure.
A local history book for residents and ex-residents this book is
the story of life in Swanscombe from Saxon times to the present day
and the people who lived there, in old and new photographs.
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