Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe
A brilliant global history of the Normans, who—beyond the conquest of England—spread their empire to eventually dominate Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

14th October 1066.

As Harold II, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, lay dying in Sussex, the Duke of Normandy was celebrating an unlikely victory. William "The Bastard" had emerged from interloper to successor of the Norman throne. He had survived the carnage of the Battle of Hastings and, two months later on Christmas day, he would be crowned king of England. No longer would Anglo-Saxons or Vikings rule England; this was now the age of the Normans.

A momentous event in European history, the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons had the most dramatic effect of any defeat in the high Middle Ages. In a few short months, the leader of northern France became the dominant ruler of Britain. Over the coming decades, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom would be rebuilt around a new landowning class. During the next century, as the Norman kings laid the foundations of modern Britain, their power would spread irresistibly across Europe. From Scandinavia down to Sicily, Malta, and Seville, the Normans built magnificent castles and churches. They cerated a new Europe in the image of their own nobility, recording their power with unprecedented vision, including the Domesday Book.

Empire of the Normans tells the extraordinary story of how the descendants of Viking marauders in northern France came to dominate European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern politics. It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce pirates, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. Across the generations, the Normans made their influence felt across Western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa and even to the Holy Land, with a combination of military might, political savvy, deeply held religious beliefs, and a profound sense of their own destiny.
1141042414
Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe
A brilliant global history of the Normans, who—beyond the conquest of England—spread their empire to eventually dominate Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

14th October 1066.

As Harold II, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, lay dying in Sussex, the Duke of Normandy was celebrating an unlikely victory. William "The Bastard" had emerged from interloper to successor of the Norman throne. He had survived the carnage of the Battle of Hastings and, two months later on Christmas day, he would be crowned king of England. No longer would Anglo-Saxons or Vikings rule England; this was now the age of the Normans.

A momentous event in European history, the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons had the most dramatic effect of any defeat in the high Middle Ages. In a few short months, the leader of northern France became the dominant ruler of Britain. Over the coming decades, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom would be rebuilt around a new landowning class. During the next century, as the Norman kings laid the foundations of modern Britain, their power would spread irresistibly across Europe. From Scandinavia down to Sicily, Malta, and Seville, the Normans built magnificent castles and churches. They cerated a new Europe in the image of their own nobility, recording their power with unprecedented vision, including the Domesday Book.

Empire of the Normans tells the extraordinary story of how the descendants of Viking marauders in northern France came to dominate European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern politics. It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce pirates, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. Across the generations, the Normans made their influence felt across Western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa and even to the Holy Land, with a combination of military might, political savvy, deeply held religious beliefs, and a profound sense of their own destiny.
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Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe

Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe

by Levi Roach
Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe

Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe

by Levi Roach

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Overview

A brilliant global history of the Normans, who—beyond the conquest of England—spread their empire to eventually dominate Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

14th October 1066.

As Harold II, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, lay dying in Sussex, the Duke of Normandy was celebrating an unlikely victory. William "The Bastard" had emerged from interloper to successor of the Norman throne. He had survived the carnage of the Battle of Hastings and, two months later on Christmas day, he would be crowned king of England. No longer would Anglo-Saxons or Vikings rule England; this was now the age of the Normans.

A momentous event in European history, the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons had the most dramatic effect of any defeat in the high Middle Ages. In a few short months, the leader of northern France became the dominant ruler of Britain. Over the coming decades, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom would be rebuilt around a new landowning class. During the next century, as the Norman kings laid the foundations of modern Britain, their power would spread irresistibly across Europe. From Scandinavia down to Sicily, Malta, and Seville, the Normans built magnificent castles and churches. They cerated a new Europe in the image of their own nobility, recording their power with unprecedented vision, including the Domesday Book.

Empire of the Normans tells the extraordinary story of how the descendants of Viking marauders in northern France came to dominate European, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern politics. It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce pirates, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. Across the generations, the Normans made their influence felt across Western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa and even to the Holy Land, with a combination of military might, political savvy, deeply held religious beliefs, and a profound sense of their own destiny.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781639361885
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Publication date: 08/02/2022
Sold by: SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format: eBook
Pages: 456
Sales rank: 951,855
File size: 17 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Levi Roach studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. A former fellow at St John's College, Cambridge, he is now a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter. His first book Æthelred the Unready (Yale University Press) was awarded the Longman-History Today prize. He lives in Exeter, England.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Maps xii

1 Beginnings: Strange Men from a Strange Land, Normandy, c.911-42 1

2 Consolidating a Colony: Rollo's Heirs, Normandy, 942-1026 12

3 Queen Emma, Jewel of the Normans: England, 1002-42 19

4 Edward the Confessor: A King Across the Sea, England, 1041-66 29

5 William I: A Conquering King, Normandy and England, 1035-66 42

6 Court Propaganda: The Case for Conquest, 1066-84 58

7 The Bayeux Tapestry: Embroidered History, 1066-97 65

8 The Fate of the English: Conquest to Colonisation, 1066-84 74

9 Church and State in Conquered England: Romancing the Stone, 1066-87 84

10 Settling the South: Ironarm in Italy, c.1030-45 94

11 Robert Guiscard: A Cunning Count, c.1040-85 101

12 Under a Byzantine Banner: Into Asia Minor, 1038-77 115

13 Bohemond and the Balkans: 'A Marvel to Behold', 1081-5 125

14 The First Crusade: Eastern Promises, 1096-1108 133

15 A Bridge Too Far? North Africa, 1142-59 147

16 Northern Wales: A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing, 1068-98 155

17 Southern Wales: Making a Mark, 1068-98 164

18 Iberia: 'The Race of the Normans Declines No Labour', 1147-8 170

19 Scotland: Honoured Guests, 1072-1153 179

20 The Power Behind the Throne: Scotland Under Ada de Warenne, 1153-78 188

21 Strongbow in Leinster: Stealing a March, 1167-71 197

22 Hugh de Lacy: Lord of Meath, 1171-7 206

23 The End of Empire? John and Normandy, 1204 216

24 'Wonder of the World': Emperor Frederick II, 1198-1250 224

Afterlives of the Normans: A Europe Transformed 233

Acknowledgements 237

Picture Credits 239

Notes 241

Index 285

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