Descended from the Viking raiders who settled in Northern France under the leadership of Rollo in around 911, the Normans were amongst the most feared warriors of their time.Their territorial ambitions culminated in Duke William I's conquest of England in 1066, but although victory at Hastings left the English crown in William's hands, Norman sovereignty remained far from established on the island. In order to consolidate his position, the new king built a series o...

Following the creation of the Duchy of Normandy, the Normans were soon introduced to the castle and they built them in large numbers.In the mid-11th century, other Norman adventurers began carving out dominions for themselves in Southern Italy: some crossed to Sicily in 1061 and by 1091 had conquered the whole island. As in Normandy, they were keen to assimilate new ideas, including architectural styles, resulting in some striking buildings.This title, a co...

A study of the Battle of Bosworth, the climactic battle of the Wars of the Roses, based on a new interpretation of events following the discovery of the true location of the battlefield.The battle of Bosworth was the culmination of the War of the Roses, the dynastic struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster that dominated England in the second half of the 15th century. Edward IV had secured the throne for the house of York, but his early death in 1483, foll...

In 1277 Edward I gathered a huge army and marched into Wales to subdue the rebel Welsh princes.A key part of his strategy was to erect a castle wherever his army rested. This title takes a detailed look at the design, development and principles of defence of these Welsh castles, documenting daily life within their walls and the historical events that took place around them.Focusing on key sites, it highlights the varied castle designs ranging from fortifica...

A detailed study of the English castles of the medieval period.The simple castles raised after the Norman conquest had been developed throughout 11th and 12th centuries, whilst the introduction of Islamic and Byzantine fortification techniques from the late 12th century led to further developments in castle architecture.These fortifications were to be well tested throughout the course of the 13th century as England was riven by conflict, characterized by pr...

A detailed study of the English castles of the medieval period.The simple castles raised after the Norman conquest had been developed throughout 11th and 12th centuries, whilst the introduction of Islamic and Byzantine fortification techniques from the late 12th century led to further developments in castle architecture.These fortifications were to be well tested throughout the course of the 13th century as England was riven by conflict, characterized by pr...

This attractively packaged gift book offers a comprehensive look at the development of the fearsome medieval English knight from the 12th century to the 15th century.The 'knight in shining armour' has become a staple figure in popular culture, and images of bloody battlefields, bustling feasting halls and courtly tournaments have been creatively interpreted many times in film and fiction. But what was the medieval knight truly like?In this fascinating title...