|
Showing 1 - 6 of
6 matches in All Departments
In 1051, a monk of Canterbury Cathedral made a bizarre observation
in what would eventually form part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In
his chronicling of the year's events, he described the
establishment of a new fortification in Herefordshire by French
members of the king's party. More sophisticated than the typical
Saxon burh, the word provided was alien to his vocabulary. In
Latin, its builders had christened it: castellum. Little did anyone
at the time know, this unique building would mark a drastic change
in the direction of England's history. For almost a thousand years,
the castles of England have stood proudly over her landscape. While
many bear the scars of centuries of warfare, others continue to
enjoy a far more comfortable existence. They are the sites of
bloody sieges. The windswept ruin. The royal palace. The home of
knights and nobility. The local museum. The posh hotel. Though we
all recognise a castle when we see one, no two are ever exactly
alike. By digging deep into the history of England's mighty
castles, the purpose of this book is to throw light on those who
lived there. For as long as there have been castles in England,
there have been mysteries within their walls: murders that were
never solved, treasures that remain unfound, prisoners left to rot
in the ghastliest pits or executions worthy of lasting infamy. From
unfortunate victims to long lost legends, infamous owners to ladies
in grey, Castles of England offers a fresh investigation into many
of those tales that will forever be the cause of intrigue for
visitors. To understand who they were is to understand the story of
the castle in England. To understand the castle in England is to
understand England.
In 1277, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Gwynedd, met with Edward I
of England in Aberconwy to finalise a treaty that would change the
fate of both nations. His hand forced by Edward's invasion earlier
that year, Llywelyn's acceptance of the terms confirmed not only
short-term peace but also that the rule of Wales would pass to
Edward on his death. To augment his rising dominance, the English
king embarked on a building project that saw the rise of some of
the most recognisable fortresses in Europe. Quite literally, an
Iron Ring' of castles. Even before the construction of Edward's
infamous Iron Ring', castles were by no means rare in Wales. Both
before and simultaneous to William the Conqueror's establishment of
timber and stone fortresses in the south and borderlands, a process
continued by many of his descendants, native structures also
existed. Though often more palatial than protective, such
constructions proved decisive to the ongoing wars and were often
chosen as sites for future castles. Just as had been the case in
England, the story of the castle crosses many centuries. Many began
as Roman forts, whereas others date from more modern times. While
many are now romantic ruins, others remain cherished family homes,
if not hotels or museums. By adopting an identical approach to that
seen in _Castles of England_, the purpose of this book is to throw
light on the stories behind them. For as long as there have been
castles in Wales, there have been mysteries within their walls.
Murders that remain unsolved, treasures unfound, prisoners left to
rot in the darkest pits and valiant warriors whose heroic deeds
have become a cherished part of the Welsh identity. From
blood-soaked heroes to long-lost legends, despotic pirates to
wailing hags, _Castles of Wales_ offers a fresh investigation into
many of its fascinating fortresses. No country has more castles per
square mile than Wales. Even today, there are more than 200 to be
enjoyed. Inspired by such a rich tapestry of tales, this book
provides an essential introduction to the nation many regard as The
Land of Castles'.
In 1204, the great Angevin Empire created by the joining of the
dynasties of Henry II of England and his queen, Eleanor of
Aquitaine, was fragmenting. At its height, the family landholdings
had been among the largest the world had ever seen. From the border
of England and Scotland in the north to south of the Pyrenees, it
seemed there was nowhere in Europe destined to escape Plantagenet
control. Yet within five years of his accession, King John's grip
on the family holdings was loosening. Betrayal against his father
and brother, the murder of his nephew, and breaking promises made
to his supporters were just some of the accusations levelled
against him. When Philip II conquered Normandy, the chroniclers
believed that an ancient prophecy was fulfilled: that in this year
the sword would be separated from the sceptre. For the first time
since 1066, England's rule over the ancestral land was over. For
John, troubles on the continent were just the beginning of a series
of challenges that would ultimately define his reign. Difficult
relations with the papacy and clergy, coupled with rising dissent
among his barons ensured conflict would not be limited to the
continent. When John died in 1216, more than half of the country
was in the hands of the dauphin of France. Never had the future of
the Plantagenet dynasty looked more uncertain. As the following
pages will show, throughout the first eighteen years of the reign
of Henry III, the future direction of England as a political state,
the identity of the ruling family and the fate of Henry II's lost
empire were still matters that could have gone either way. For the
advisors of the young king, led by the influential regent, William
Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, the effects of John's reign would be
long and severe. Successful implementation of the failed Magna
Carta may have ensured his son's short-term survival, yet living up
to such promises created arguably a more significant challenge.
This is the story of how the varying actions of two very different
kings both threatened and created the English way of life, and
ultimately put England on the path to its Lost Civil War.
New poetry by John Paul Davis.
Famed as the ultimate penalty for traitors, heretics and royalty
alike, being sent to the Tower is known to have been experienced by
no less than 8,000 unfortunate souls. Many of those who were
imprisoned in the Tower never returned to civilisation and those
who did, often did so without their head! It is hardly surprising
that the Tower has earned itself a reputation among the most
infamous buildings on the planet. There have, of course, been other
towers. Practically every castle ever built has consisted of at
least one; indeed, even by the late 14th century, the Tower proudly
boasted no less than 21. Yet even as early as the 1100s, the effect
that the first Tower had on the psyche of the local population was
considerable. The sight of the dark four-pointed citadel - at the
time the largest building in London - as it appeared against the
backdrop of the expanding city gave rise to many legends, ranging
from the exact circumstances of its creation to what went on within
its strong walls. In ten centuries what once consisted of a
solitary keep has developed into a complex castle around which the
history of England has continuously evolved. So revered has it
become that legend has it that should the Tower fall, so would the
kingdom. Beginning with the early tales surrounding its creation,
this book investigates the private life of an English icon.
Concentrating on the Tower's developing role throughout the
centuries, not in terms of its physical expansion into a site of
unique architectural majesty or many purposes but through the eyes
of those who experienced its darker side, it pieces together the,
often seldom-told, human story and how the fates of many of those
who stayed within its walls contributed to its lasting effect on
England's - and later the UK's - destiny. From ruthless traitors to
unjustly killed Jesuits, vanished treasures to disappeared princes
and jaded wives to star-crossed lovers, this book provides a raw
and at times unsettling insight into its unsolved mysteries and the
lot of its unfortunate victims, thus explaining how this once
typical castle came to be the place we will always remember as THE
TOWER.
|
You may like...
The King
Jermaine Williams
Hardcover
R586
R505
Discovery Miles 5 050
Obu's Drum
Emma Dredge
Hardcover
R571
R473
Discovery Miles 4 730
|