William Marshal: Court, Career, and Chivalry in the Angevin Empire, 1147-1219 (Medieval World) [Paperback]

David Crouch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0582037867 | ISBN-13: 978-0582037861 | Publication Date: April 1995

William Marshall rose from a minor baronial family to become one of the most powerful men in England, as Regent in the minority of Henry III. This study is more than an account of Marshall's meteoric rise to power however - for what makes him unique in medieval historiography is that he is the only man of his class for whom a contemporary biography has come down to us. David Crouch's study reveals the values, expectations andlifestyle of an aristocratic society in the middle ages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A refreshingly readable book' J R Maddicott, The Times Literary Supplement

From the Back Cover

'a tour de force.....The world of the Angevin court is splendidly recreated, and Dr Crouch succeeds admirably in explaining the reality of the chivalric ethos. For him, the celebrations after a battle had more in common with the atmosphere in the bar of a rugby club than with that of the enclosures at Henley or the ski-slopes of Klosters - Dr. Crouch is adept at finding striking modern parallels'.

History Today

'a refreshingly readable book, it makes a contribution to medieval studies quite out of proportion to its size'

TLS

' Crouch resurrects a lost world in fluent, economic and readable prose, often enlivened by colloquialisms and contemporary parallels'

Southern History

'Written in a racy, accessible, idiosyncratic style, which might have appealed to the Marshal himself, it should be read by everyone interested in medieval people, politics and society'

Archives

 

William Marshal is the one medieval knight who had a contemporary biography written about him. He was THE knight of all knights as far as we are concerned today. He is the only medieval man whose authentic experience of aristocratic military life is preserved for us.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 233 pages
• Publisher: Longman Publishing Group (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582037867
• ISBN-13: 978-0582037861
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Reexamination of a Medieval Icon, September 6, 2000

By 

Elyon (Mesilla, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: William Marshal: Court, Career, and Chivalry in the Angevin Empire, 1147-1219 (Medieval World) (Paperback)

David Crouch's biography of William Marshal, an icon in his own time, a courtier and knight who served five kings--Henry II, Henry the Young King, Richard the Lionheart, John, and Henry III--as well as a queen, Eleanor of Aquitane, coming to represent the ideal of the corteis (courtly) to his peers and the embodiment of chevalerie for those who have since studied the period, does much to ground the legend and question earlier interpretations that often accepted the contemporary accounts of Marshal's life at face value. Earlier biographers, such as Painter and the French doyen of medieval history, Georges Duby, based much of their understanding of Marshal's life upon the posthumous "Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal," a still extant epic poem commissioned by Marshal's sons and followers to celebrate his life and many accomplishments. Surprisingly, previous writers have chosen to base their biographies, especially Duby, almost entirely upon what is obviously, regardless of any factual accounting, a suspect source, in doing so ignoring other contemporary documents that go a long way to tempering the portrait of Marshal, not only in the "Historie" but in the subsequent biographies from which they were based.

Instead of the chivalric hero of battlefield and tournament cast in the mold of Chretien de Troyes, or the often fortunate simpleton of Duby that rose to the heights of medieval society through the sheer prowess of his arms, in Crouch we find a poor, relatively minor-born knight who through valor and shrewd financial self-interest uses both the battle and tournament field to promote his own fortunes, aided at times by pure good luck, which he is quick to turn to his own advantage. Upon entry to the courts of the powerful we discover a man who was deft in manipulating the intrigues of his betters for his own benefit, quick to ally himself with those who could help him, adept at playing one party off against another, and, when his politics stumbled, able to ultimately survive and reverse his misfortunes where other men fell. Charismatic, he both received and demanded loyalty from the mesnie and supporters that surrounded him. Generous to his followers, he could be equally stern and unforgiving to those that opposed him, in many ways reflecting the values of the aristocratic society of which he was a part. At the end, he survived both rebellions and the displeasure of the kings whom he served, becoming one of England's most powerful magnates and regent for Henry III, in effect ruling England in the boy king's stead.

The author uses his biography to examine the role of the mesnie in 12th century medieval society, as well as the function of the tournament, both as a social phenomenon and an avenue for advancement, both financial and social. He investigates the evolving notion of chivalry, both as an ideal and its actual practice. And he makes a cursory foray into the influence of religion, especially as it pertained to the noble's household, with its dependence upon an administration of clerical clerks. As much an insight into medieval military and noble society as a biography, the author has leavened his account with some wonderful anecdotes, such as Richard I's remonstrance with Marshal against killing him in battle, and Henry II's pique with his son over the latter's crossbowmen firing at him during a period of The Young King's insurrection. The various interactions and shifting allegiances between King Henry II and his often recalcitrant sons is illuminating in itself. Though Marshal was often out of the king's favor, Henry II nonetheless twice requested that Marshal serve his son, even though the son was at war with his father, and Marshal's military skills and allegiance would be turned against him! Quite a different mindset than what we're accustomed to today.

At present, this must be considered the definitive biography of a medieval icon who not only influenced his own times, but the imaginations of subsequent generations. I suspect that many who read this account will be left wishing for more. Both the Painter and Duby biographies have their value, though the former has long been out of print and will require some effort to find. Read their accounts, then use this book to place their flaws in perspective. Also, Crouch indicates that the original "Historie" will soon be available in translation.

An exceptional book, and very highly recommended. My only complaint is that the price asked by the publisher is preposterous.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars William Marshall: A Study of Knighthood, March 20, 2009

By 

Stuart McCunn (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: William Marshal: Knighthood, War and Chivalry, 1147-1219 (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

William Marshall is a look at medieval knighthood and the man who his contemporaries considered the shining example of it. It works as both a biography of the man and an analysis of the nature of chivalry in the 12th and 13th Centuries. It takes a much more reasoned approach than that of George Duby's work William Marshall: The Flower of Chivalry. In this book William's character comes across clearly, as both a successful knight and a skilled courtier. Chivalry isn't quite how it's thought of today and this book shows how the knight was expected to function then. So for an excellent look at England (and Normandy) in the 12th and 13th Centuries check out this (all too brief ) book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars William the Marshall, January 9, 2007

By 

Elizabeth Boldy "Beth Dovey" (Brisbane, Australlia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: William Marshal: Knighthood, War and Chivalry, 1147-1219 (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic book about one of the Mediaeval period's most powerful and brilliant men. Coming from humble beginnings, William Marshall eventually served four Kings and became the regent of England and guardian of the boy King Henry III son of King John. It is taken from the actual biography commissioned in his honour by his sons, and is the only surviving account of the life of a knight of the 13th century. Eventually made the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshall gives an insight into the life and thought of a mediaeval knight, his ideas of honour, duty and allegiences. A very readable book and highly to be recommended to anyone interested in this period of England's history.