For a medieval English king, delegation was a necessary evil; and
nowhere more necessary – nor more potentially disastrous – than
on the Anglo-Welsh borders. The Marcher lords first empowered by
William I were relied upon by subsequent Norman and Plantagenet
kings to protect the dangerous frontiers of the realm. In Wales, as
in Ireland, the smaller size and military weakness of divided
neighbouring states encouraged conquest, with the seized lands
enhancing the power of the aggressive English lords. They were
granted ever greater authority by the monarch, to the point where
they believed they ruled like kings. They intermarried, schemed for
extra lands and snatched power in a complex and often violent
political process. Owing to their resources and unparalleled
military effectiveness, they soon came to overawe kings and
dominate national events. The strength of the Marcher lords would
come to the fore at numerous times in the nation’s history in the
shape of notorious figures such as Simon de Montfort and Roger
Mortimer. The civil war of King Stephen’s reign, the baronial
resistance to King John, the overthrow of Edward II and Richard II;
all of these crises turned upon the involvement of the lords of the
Marches. Timothy Venning explores their mentality and reveals the
dramatic careers both of those who prospered from their loyalty to
the king and those whose power was gained by treachery – from the
Norman Conquest to the beginnings of the Tudor dynasty.
General
Imprint: |
Amberley Publishing
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
November 2023 |
Authors: |
Timothy Venning
|
Dimensions: |
198 x 129mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
320 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-398-11949-9 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-398-11949-0 |
Barcode: |
9781398119499 |
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