This book examines the rituals, ceremonies, gestures and actions of kings in the period 1100-1250. Whereas modern English Kingship is commonly seen as "bureaucratic," kingship during the Twelfth Century was a sacral, ritualistic phenomenon. Although focusing predominantly on English political culture, the author also explores the wider European arena to compare their contemporary political cultures and by doing so offer a new conceptual approach to the study of political society in Norman and Angevin England.

Taking as its starting point two uprisings in England and Germany (Richard Marshal in 1233-4 and Henry (VII) in 1234-5), this book offers a new take on the political culture of high medieval Europe. Themes include: the role of violence; the norms of political behaviour; the public nature of politics; and the social history of political exchange.

Taking as its starting point two uprisings in England and Germany (Richard Marshal in 1233-4 and Henry (VII) in 1234-5), this book offers a new take on the political culture of high medieval Europe. Themes include: the role of violence; the norms of political behaviour; the public nature of politics; and the social history of political exchange.