The First Kingdom: Britain in the age of Arthur

by Max Adams

Overview

The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'.

'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times

'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times

'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England

Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?

The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788543484
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/01/2022
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North and In the Land of Giants. He has lived and worked in the North-East of England since 1993.
Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North and In the Land of Giants. He has lived and worked in the North-East of England since 1993.

Table of Contents

List of maps and figures xi

Author's note and acknowledgements xix

Part I The End of History

1 Late Romans 3

2 The ruin 35

3 Signs of life 69

4 Of grub huts, urns and isotopes 99

5 Of famine, sword and fire 135

Chronography I: 350-500 161

Part II After History

6 Private enterprise 171

7 Belongings 205

8 Territories 237

9 Horizons 265

Chronography II: 500-635 297

Part III The First Kingdom

10 Duces bellorum; milites Christi 309

11 Dynasts 339

12 Overlords 369

13 God-given kings 397

Appendix: Tribal Hidage 427

Notes 437

Bibliography 455

Image credits 475

Index 477

Editorial Reviews

Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well” —Tom Holland, Sunday Times

“An engagingly written exploration of these 'fragments', synthesising archaeological and historical research from the last four decades, and applying a critical eye to traditional narratives passed down by medieval chroniclers and later accounts” —Current World Archaeology

“A remarkable tapestry in which are woven the diverse threads of archaeology, topography, folklore, linguistics, and culture to create a panorama of Early Medieval Britain and its place in the context of European history” —Seán Beattie, Donegal Annual

“'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times.” —Gerard de Groot, The Times

“A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence” —This England

“He writes with empathy and sensitivity in this distinctive and valuable book” —Sunday Times

From the Publisher