Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings

Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings

Author: Michele Morrical

Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Published: 2021-10-13

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 152677951X

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This examination of six usurper kings of England, and the people and circumstances surrounding them, is “a masterpiece of academic scholarship” (Midwest Book Review). In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy—and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England’s reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper, or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? This book examines the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances that brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people of medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England, who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; Richard II, whose cruel and vengeful reign caused his own family to overthrow him; Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV, who struggled for power during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII, who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.


Book Synopsis Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings by : Michele Morrical

Download or read book Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings written by Michele Morrical and published by Pen and Sword History. This book was released on 2021-10-13 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This examination of six usurper kings of England, and the people and circumstances surrounding them, is “a masterpiece of academic scholarship” (Midwest Book Review). In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy—and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England’s reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper, or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? This book examines the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances that brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people of medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England, who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; Richard II, whose cruel and vengeful reign caused his own family to overthrow him; Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV, who struggled for power during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII, who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.


The Survival of the Princes in the Tower

The Survival of the Princes in the Tower

Author: Matthew Lewis

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2017-09-11

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 0750985283

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The murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of their ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted. There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects, Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh, as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, survived their uncle's reign and even that of their brother-in-law Henry VII? In this new and updated edition, compelling evidence is presented to suggest the Princes survived, which is considered alongside the possibility of their deaths to provide a rounded and complete assessment of the most fascinating mystery in history.


Book Synopsis The Survival of the Princes in the Tower by : Matthew Lewis

Download or read book The Survival of the Princes in the Tower written by Matthew Lewis and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2017-09-11 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of their ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted. There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects, Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh, as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, survived their uncle's reign and even that of their brother-in-law Henry VII? In this new and updated edition, compelling evidence is presented to suggest the Princes survived, which is considered alongside the possibility of their deaths to provide a rounded and complete assessment of the most fascinating mystery in history.


Women in the Medieval Court

Women in the Medieval Court

Author: Rebecca Holdorph

Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Published: 2022-04-06

Total Pages: 332

ISBN-13: 1526739828

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A surprising look at women who wielded power in medieval Europe, from queens to concubines to abbesses. Medieval society might expect the elite women who decorated its courts to play the role of Queen Guinevere, but many of these women had very different ideas. Great queens, who sometimes ruled in their own right, fought wars and forged empires. Noblewomen acted behind the scenes to change the course of politics. Far from cloistered off from the world, powerful abbesses played the role of kingmaker. And concubines had a role to play as well, both as political actors and as mothers of children who might change a country’s destiny. They experienced tremendous success and dramatic downfalls. This book tells the stories of women from across medieval Europe, from a Danish queen who waged political war to form a Scandinavian empire to a Tuscan countess who joined her troops on the battlefield. Whether they wielded power in battle, from a convent, or from a throne—or even in the bedchamber—these women were far from damsels in distress waiting for their knights in shining armor.


Book Synopsis Women in the Medieval Court by : Rebecca Holdorph

Download or read book Women in the Medieval Court written by Rebecca Holdorph and published by Pen and Sword History. This book was released on 2022-04-06 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A surprising look at women who wielded power in medieval Europe, from queens to concubines to abbesses. Medieval society might expect the elite women who decorated its courts to play the role of Queen Guinevere, but many of these women had very different ideas. Great queens, who sometimes ruled in their own right, fought wars and forged empires. Noblewomen acted behind the scenes to change the course of politics. Far from cloistered off from the world, powerful abbesses played the role of kingmaker. And concubines had a role to play as well, both as political actors and as mothers of children who might change a country’s destiny. They experienced tremendous success and dramatic downfalls. This book tells the stories of women from across medieval Europe, from a Danish queen who waged political war to form a Scandinavian empire to a Tuscan countess who joined her troops on the battlefield. Whether they wielded power in battle, from a convent, or from a throne—or even in the bedchamber—these women were far from damsels in distress waiting for their knights in shining armor.


The Last White Rose

The Last White Rose

Author: Desmond Seward

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2014-04-15

Total Pages: 503

ISBN-13: 1605985902

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One of the most dramatic periods of British history, the Wars of the Roses didn't end at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite the death of Richard III and Henry VII's victory, it continued underground into the following century with plots, pretenders and subterfuge by the ousted white rose faction. In a brand new interpretation of this turning point in history, well known historian Desmond Seward reviews the story of the Tudors' seizure of the throne and shows that for many years they were far from secure. He challenges the way we look at the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, explaining why there were so many Yorkist pretenders and conspiracies, and why the new dynasty had such difficulty establishing itself. King Richard's nephews, the Earl of Warwick and the little known de la Pole brothers, all had support of enemies overseas, while England was split when the lowly Perkin Warbeck skilfully impersonated one of the princes in the tower in order to claim the right to the throne. Warwick's surviving sister Margaret also became the focus of hopes that the White Rose would be reborn. The book also offers a new perspective on why Henry VIII, constantly threatened by treachery, real or imagined, and desperate to secure his power with a male heir, became a tyrant.


Book Synopsis The Last White Rose by : Desmond Seward

Download or read book The Last White Rose written by Desmond Seward and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2014-04-15 with total page 503 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the most dramatic periods of British history, the Wars of the Roses didn't end at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite the death of Richard III and Henry VII's victory, it continued underground into the following century with plots, pretenders and subterfuge by the ousted white rose faction. In a brand new interpretation of this turning point in history, well known historian Desmond Seward reviews the story of the Tudors' seizure of the throne and shows that for many years they were far from secure. He challenges the way we look at the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, explaining why there were so many Yorkist pretenders and conspiracies, and why the new dynasty had such difficulty establishing itself. King Richard's nephews, the Earl of Warwick and the little known de la Pole brothers, all had support of enemies overseas, while England was split when the lowly Perkin Warbeck skilfully impersonated one of the princes in the tower in order to claim the right to the throne. Warwick's surviving sister Margaret also became the focus of hopes that the White Rose would be reborn. The book also offers a new perspective on why Henry VIII, constantly threatened by treachery, real or imagined, and desperate to secure his power with a male heir, became a tyrant.


A Source Book for Mediæval History

A Source Book for Mediæval History

Author: Oliver J. Thatcher

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2019-11-22

Total Pages: 512

ISBN-13:

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A Source Book for Mediæval History is a scholarly piece by Oliver J. Thatcher. It covers all major historical events and leaders from the Germania of Tacitus in the 1st century to the decrees of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century.


Book Synopsis A Source Book for Mediæval History by : Oliver J. Thatcher

Download or read book A Source Book for Mediæval History written by Oliver J. Thatcher and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2019-11-22 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Source Book for Mediæval History is a scholarly piece by Oliver J. Thatcher. It covers all major historical events and leaders from the Germania of Tacitus in the 1st century to the decrees of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century.


The Usurper King: The Fall of Richard II and the Rise of Henry of Bolingbroke, 1366-99

The Usurper King: The Fall of Richard II and the Rise of Henry of Bolingbroke, 1366-99

Author: Marie Louise Bruce

Publisher: Sapere Books

Published: 2021-06-28

Total Pages: 382

ISBN-13: 9781800550513

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An in-depth study of an astounding moment in English medieval history. Ideal for people who wish to learn more about the tragic demise of Richard II or the life of his usurper, Henry IV. On 1 October 1399, Richard II, was deposed from the English throne. After succeeding to the throne as a ten year old he had faced the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, challenges from his nobles and Parliament and the threat of French invasion, and yet his crown was taken from him by a member of his own family, his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke. What was the relationship between these two Plantagenet princes who were both grandchildren of Edward III? And how was Henry able to usurp the throne of England at a time when so many believed in the divine rights of kings? Marie Louise Bruce's exceptional biography of these two medieval English monarchs utilises a variety of well-researched original sources to provide fascinating insight into their parallel lives, from 1366, as young royal princes, to 1399 when Richard II was deposed and Henry took the crown with the support of an invasion force of no more than three hundred men. The Usurper Kingdom is a remarkable book that sheds light on one of the most colourful, turbulent and least known periods of English history.


Book Synopsis The Usurper King: The Fall of Richard II and the Rise of Henry of Bolingbroke, 1366-99 by : Marie Louise Bruce

Download or read book The Usurper King: The Fall of Richard II and the Rise of Henry of Bolingbroke, 1366-99 written by Marie Louise Bruce and published by Sapere Books. This book was released on 2021-06-28 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth study of an astounding moment in English medieval history. Ideal for people who wish to learn more about the tragic demise of Richard II or the life of his usurper, Henry IV. On 1 October 1399, Richard II, was deposed from the English throne. After succeeding to the throne as a ten year old he had faced the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, challenges from his nobles and Parliament and the threat of French invasion, and yet his crown was taken from him by a member of his own family, his cousin, Henry of Bolingbroke. What was the relationship between these two Plantagenet princes who were both grandchildren of Edward III? And how was Henry able to usurp the throne of England at a time when so many believed in the divine rights of kings? Marie Louise Bruce's exceptional biography of these two medieval English monarchs utilises a variety of well-researched original sources to provide fascinating insight into their parallel lives, from 1366, as young royal princes, to 1399 when Richard II was deposed and Henry took the crown with the support of an invasion force of no more than three hundred men. The Usurper Kingdom is a remarkable book that sheds light on one of the most colourful, turbulent and least known periods of English history.


The Killer of the Princes in the Tower

The Killer of the Princes in the Tower

Author: M. J. Trow

Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Published: 2021-06-09

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1526784084

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The disappearance of two boys during the summer of 1483 has never been satisfactorily explained. They were Edward, Prince of Wales, nearly thirteen at the time, and his brother, Richard of York, nearly ten. With their father, Edward IV, dying suddenly at forty, both boys had been catapulted into the spotlight of fifteenth-century politics, which was at once bloody and unpredictable. Thanks to the work of the hack ‘historians’ who wrote for Henry VII, the first Tudor, generations grew up believing that the boys were murdered and that the guilty party was their wicked uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard crowned himself King of England in July 1483, at which time the boys were effectively prisoners in the Tower of London. After that, there was no further sign of them. Over the past 500 years, three men in particular have been accused of the boys’ murders – Richard of Gloucester; Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond; and Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. The evidence against them would not stand up in a court of law today, but the court of history is much less demanding and most fingers remain pointed squarely at Richard of Gloucester. This book takes a different approach, the first to follow this particular line of enquiry. It is written as a police procedural, weighing up the historical evidence without being shackled to a particular ‘camp’. The supposition has always been made that the boys were murdered for political reasons. But what if that is incorrect? What if they died for other reasons entirely? What if their killer had nothing to gain politically from their deaths at all? And, even more fascinatingly, what if the princes in the Tower were not the only victims?


Book Synopsis The Killer of the Princes in the Tower by : M. J. Trow

Download or read book The Killer of the Princes in the Tower written by M. J. Trow and published by Pen and Sword History. This book was released on 2021-06-09 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The disappearance of two boys during the summer of 1483 has never been satisfactorily explained. They were Edward, Prince of Wales, nearly thirteen at the time, and his brother, Richard of York, nearly ten. With their father, Edward IV, dying suddenly at forty, both boys had been catapulted into the spotlight of fifteenth-century politics, which was at once bloody and unpredictable. Thanks to the work of the hack ‘historians’ who wrote for Henry VII, the first Tudor, generations grew up believing that the boys were murdered and that the guilty party was their wicked uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard crowned himself King of England in July 1483, at which time the boys were effectively prisoners in the Tower of London. After that, there was no further sign of them. Over the past 500 years, three men in particular have been accused of the boys’ murders – Richard of Gloucester; Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond; and Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. The evidence against them would not stand up in a court of law today, but the court of history is much less demanding and most fingers remain pointed squarely at Richard of Gloucester. This book takes a different approach, the first to follow this particular line of enquiry. It is written as a police procedural, weighing up the historical evidence without being shackled to a particular ‘camp’. The supposition has always been made that the boys were murdered for political reasons. But what if that is incorrect? What if they died for other reasons entirely? What if their killer had nothing to gain politically from their deaths at all? And, even more fascinatingly, what if the princes in the Tower were not the only victims?


The Tudors

The Tudors

Author: Timothy Venning

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2014-05-30

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 1783462728

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Continuing his exploration of the pathways of British history, Timothy Venning examines the turning points of the Tudor period, though he also strays over into the early Stuart period. As always, he discusses the crucial junctions at which History could easily have taken a different turn and analyses the possible and likely results. While necessarily speculative to a degree, the scenarios are all highly plausible and rooted in a firm understanding of actually events and their context. In so doing, Timothy Venning gives the reader a clearer understanding of the factors at play and why things happened the way they did, as well as a tantalizing view of what might so easily have been different. ??Key scenarios discussed in this volume include: ??´ Did the pretenders Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck ever have a realistic chance of a successful invsasion/coup???´ If Henry Fitzroy, Henry VIII's illegitimate son, had not died young, might he have been a suitable King or at least Regent on the King's death? ??´ What if Edward VI had not died at 15 but reigned into the 1560s and 70s???´ How might the Spanish Armada have succeeded in landing an army in England, and with what likely outcome?


Book Synopsis The Tudors by : Timothy Venning

Download or read book The Tudors written by Timothy Venning and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-05-30 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Continuing his exploration of the pathways of British history, Timothy Venning examines the turning points of the Tudor period, though he also strays over into the early Stuart period. As always, he discusses the crucial junctions at which History could easily have taken a different turn and analyses the possible and likely results. While necessarily speculative to a degree, the scenarios are all highly plausible and rooted in a firm understanding of actually events and their context. In so doing, Timothy Venning gives the reader a clearer understanding of the factors at play and why things happened the way they did, as well as a tantalizing view of what might so easily have been different. ??Key scenarios discussed in this volume include: ??´ Did the pretenders Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck ever have a realistic chance of a successful invsasion/coup???´ If Henry Fitzroy, Henry VIII's illegitimate son, had not died young, might he have been a suitable King or at least Regent on the King's death? ??´ What if Edward VI had not died at 15 but reigned into the 1560s and 70s???´ How might the Spanish Armada have succeeded in landing an army in England, and with what likely outcome?


Seven Medieval Kings

Seven Medieval Kings

Author: Joseph Henry Dahmus

Publisher:

Published: 1967

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13:

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A survey of the Middle Ages through the lives of its monarchs.


Book Synopsis Seven Medieval Kings by : Joseph Henry Dahmus

Download or read book Seven Medieval Kings written by Joseph Henry Dahmus and published by . This book was released on 1967 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A survey of the Middle Ages through the lives of its monarchs.


The Man in the Iron Mask

The Man in the Iron Mask

Author: Wilkinson Josephine

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2021-07-06

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1643137433

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A vivid, dramatic, and eye-opening historical narrative, The Man in the Iron Mask reveals the story behind the most enduring mystery of Louis XIV’s reign. The Man in the Iron Mask has all the hallmarks of a thrilling adventure story: a glamorous and all-powerful king, ambitious ministers, a cruel and despotic jailor, dark and sinister dungeons— and a secret prisoner. It is easy for forget that this story, made famous by Alexandre Dumas, is that of a real person, Eustache Danger, who spent more than thirty years in the prison system of Louis XIV’s France—never to be freed. This narrative brings to life the true story of this mysterious man and follows his journey through four prisons and across decades of time. It introduces the reader to those with whom he shared his imprisonment, those who had charge of him, and those who decided his tragic fate. The Man in the Iron Mask reveals one of the most enduring mysteries of Louis XIV’s reign; but it is, above all, a human story. Using contemporary documents, this book shows what life was really like for state prisoners in seventeenth-century France—and offers tantalising insight into why this mysterious man was arrested and why, several years later, his story would become one of France’s most intriguing legends that still sparks debate and controversy today.


Book Synopsis The Man in the Iron Mask by : Wilkinson Josephine

Download or read book The Man in the Iron Mask written by Wilkinson Josephine and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-07-06 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A vivid, dramatic, and eye-opening historical narrative, The Man in the Iron Mask reveals the story behind the most enduring mystery of Louis XIV’s reign. The Man in the Iron Mask has all the hallmarks of a thrilling adventure story: a glamorous and all-powerful king, ambitious ministers, a cruel and despotic jailor, dark and sinister dungeons— and a secret prisoner. It is easy for forget that this story, made famous by Alexandre Dumas, is that of a real person, Eustache Danger, who spent more than thirty years in the prison system of Louis XIV’s France—never to be freed. This narrative brings to life the true story of this mysterious man and follows his journey through four prisons and across decades of time. It introduces the reader to those with whom he shared his imprisonment, those who had charge of him, and those who decided his tragic fate. The Man in the Iron Mask reveals one of the most enduring mysteries of Louis XIV’s reign; but it is, above all, a human story. Using contemporary documents, this book shows what life was really like for state prisoners in seventeenth-century France—and offers tantalising insight into why this mysterious man was arrested and why, several years later, his story would become one of France’s most intriguing legends that still sparks debate and controversy today.