The Struggle for Mastery: Britain, 1066-1284The years from 1066-the Norman conquest of England-to 1284-the English conquest of Wales--were momentous ones in the history of Britain. In this comprehensive synthesis canvassing the peoples, economies, religion, languages, and political leadership of medieval Britain, David Carpenter weaves together the histories of England, Scotland, and Wales. Arguing that English domination of the kingdom was by no means a foregone conclusion, Carpenter analyzes the multiple struggles for mastery of Great Britain. He explains why English monarchs focused on continental landholdings more than the island of Great Britain and narrates the loss of Normandy, Anjou, and Acquitaine. He recounts how the Welsh kings strove to recover areas lost to the Normans and to assert dominion over one another, and how the kings of Scotland expanded their realm to create a united Scotland. Based on readings of primary and secondary sources, Carpenter sheds light on major highlights of the period including the Battle of Hastings, the murder of Becket, and the signing of the Magna Carta, as well as intermarriage, the feudal system, and the characters of key figures. This new interpretation is a definitive introduction to the period for general readers. The Struggle for Matery was a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2005. |
Contents
The Peoples of Britain | 9 |
The Economies of Britain | 26 |
The Norman Conquest of England 106687 | 61 |
Wales Scotland and the Normans 105894 | 106 |
Britain and the AngloNorman Realm 10871135 | 125 |
Britain Remodelled King Stephen 113554 King David 112453 and the Welsh Rulers | 163 |
King Henry II Britain and Ireland 115489 | 191 |
Richard the Lionheart 118999 and William the Lion | 245 |
Britain During the Personal Rule of King Henry III 123458 | 338 |
The Tribulations of Henry III the Triumphs of Alexander III and Llywelyn Prince of Wales 125572 | 369 |
Structures of Society | 392 |
Church Religion Literacy and Learning | 431 |
King Edward I The Parliamentary State | 466 |
Wales and Scotland Conquest and Coexistence | 495 |
Genealogical Tables | 531 |
Bibliography | 541 |
Other editions - View all
The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066-1284 David Carpenter No preview available - 2005 |
The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066-1284 David Carpenter No preview available - 2004 |
The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain 1066-1284 David Carpenter No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
abbey Alexander Angevin Anglo-Norman Anglo-Saxon archbishop army barons Becket bishop Britain brother Burgh Cantrefs castle Ceredigion certainly Charter chronicler church Conquest coronation court crown crusade Dafydd daughter David death Deheubarth Domesday Domesday Book earl earldom ecclesiastical Edward Eleanor England English exchequer eyre feudal fitz Galloway Geoffrey Gerald of Wales Gilbert Gruffudd ap Gruffudd ap Cynan Gruffudd ap Gwenwynwyn Gwynedd heir held Henry II Henry II's Henry's homage honour Hubert Hugh important inheritance Ireland Jews John John's justice justiciar king king's kingdom knights land later Llywelyn Llywelyn ap Gruffudd lords lordship Magna Carta magnates Malcolm manors marcher marriage married Matilda Medieval Montfort Norman Normandy Owain Oxford peasants pipe roll political pope Powys queen realm reform reign revenues Rhys Richard Robert royal rule Scotland Scots Scottish sheriffdoms sheriffs shires Stephen tenants thirteenth century twelfth century Welsh law Welsh rulers William William of Newburgh Winchester writs
Popular passages
Page 582 - Vol. II.— Berengaria of Navarre, Isabella of Angouleme, Eleanor of Provence, Eleanor of Castile, Marguerite of France, Isabella of France, Philippa of Hainault, and Anne of Bohemia.