Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

This biography of William Marshall, the First Earl of Pembroke, was very interesting. William Marshall is a person from history that kept occuring in the reigns of the Plantagenats. I was always curious why more wasn't written of him and finaly I've discovered several books that give insight into his life. This book is written without the flowery speech that many narratives of his life are, but the critcisms are understandable behavior for that period of history. It's just amazing that he was able to survive with his reputation intact over so many years when there was so much treachery around him.

This is a book that would be a benefit to anyone with an interest not only in William Marshal, but medieval people and the society in which they lived.
William Marshal was one of very few men that not only lived up to the hype written about him, but he exceeded it. He truly was a great knight, a great man of honor in all that he did.

My brother is a veteran (medic) and once in a long while he remarks on the brothers in a unit he served with in Vietnam in awe, "There were some real fighting SOBs in our unit." Marshal was the master of arms, the greatest of all western knights. Please read this cracker jack book and consider Marshal's lessons on leadership: competence, loyalty, largess, shrewdness in avoiding the axe, empathy, commitment, iron will, courage, and the ability to do the right thing when at the crossroads.
An example for the later occured when tweleve year old Henry III came to pay his last respects to The Marshal on his death bed. William lectured the King on refraining from "acting" as former kings acted towards others. IOW, Marshal meant, "Don't be a sociopath like your late father King John." I find it odd that no thinks that starving oppenents to death and walling a mother and her child up alive in a castle wall is not sociopathic. Murdering nobles made the southern barons rebel against John, not just having to pay exorbinant amounts to have seizen of their inheritence. After John died of fever, imagine Marshal as regent of England and protector of the young King Henry rallying most of the rebel barons through his strength of character and leading the English army to victory at Lincoln against the remaining rebels and a French army under the banner of the French king's son invited to take the crown of England. Oh, by the way, The Marshall was 70 at that time. William took the Templar oath on his death bed and is buried in London Temple Church along with his son and two of the De Clares.
Did Henry III take The Marshal's teaching to heart? Hell no. In the years following William's death, Henry was swayed by his "foreign" advisors (French) who pursued a policy of eliminating (the effectiveness of and/or the lives), when possible, The Marshal's descendants in both the male or female lines (De Clares and Marshall intermarried). Can't kill everybody.
This book ought to be required reading for all U.S. ROTC and military academies cadets on the subject of leadership and ethics. Many of our best character leaders, meaning our brave generals who have spoken up agianst the bungling incompetence of Rumsfeld and Cheney are reminders of the true values of chivalry that is the essence of William the Marshal.
When I watch Lord of the Rings (the charges into the breach and the rallying speeches) and King Arthur, I think to myself, "That's how it was, except our 24th great grandfather really did slam in to the enemy while his household knights roared, 'God save The Marshal!'" Yes, he really was a fighting SOB. Freedom, truth, and doing the right thing are worth fighting for. The Marshal's values, along with many men and women who held similar values are part of our American and military cultures. William did not go around waterboarding prisoners, but interesting enough the sociopathic Angevins and Normans did. Hell, even the Puritans stopped the practice of dunking as punishment. To think Rumsfeld and Cheney think it is necessary in order to save American cultural values is a lie, a very ancient lie that is making King John smirk in hell and The Marshal whorl in his grave (except it is probably too tight in there for him spin in his cript)at the London Temple Church.

this book was very good easy to read and inciteful used it for a paper in college adn got good info. out of it

This book was nothing more than a unspired college textbook version of events. I found this to be an extremely boring and tiresome book that I fully regret purchasing.