Download or read book The Greatest Knight written by Thomas Asbridge and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2014-12-02 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Renowned scholar Thomas Asbridge brings to life medieval England’s most celebrated knight, William Marshal—providing an unprecedented and intimate view of this age and the legendary warrior class that shaped it. Caught on the wrong side of an English civil war and condemned by his father to the gallows at age five, William Marshal defied all odds to become one of England’s most celebrated knights. Thomas Asbridge’s rousing narrative chronicles William’s rise, using his life as a prism to view the origins, experiences, and influence of the knight in British history. In William’s day, the brutish realities of war and politics collided with romanticized myths about an Arthurian “golden age,” giving rise to a new chivalric ideal. Asbridge details the training rituals, weaponry, and battle tactics of knighthood, and explores the codes of chivalry and courtliness that shaped their daily lives. These skills were essential to survive one of the most turbulent periods in English history—an era of striking transformation, as the West emerged from the Dark Ages. A leading retainer of five English kings, Marshal served the great figures of this age, from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to Richard the Lionheart and his infamous brother John, and was involved in some of the most critical phases of medieval history, from the Magna Carta to the survival of the Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty. Asbridge introduces this storied knight to modern readers and places him firmly in the context of the majesty, passion, and bloody intrigue of the Middle Ages. The Greatest Knight features 16 pages of black-and-white and color illustrations.

Download or read book The Scarlet Lion written by Elizabeth Chadwick and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2010-03-01 with total page 578 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Everyone who has raved about Elizabeth Chadwick as an author of historical novels is right."—Devourer of Books on The Greatest Knight In another remarkable work of medieval fiction, Elizabeth Chadwick continues the tale of The Greatest Knight, and shares a story of power, chaos, and the price of loyalty. William Marshal's skill with a sword and loyalty to his word have earned him the favor of kings, the lands of a magnate, and the hand of Isabelle de Clare, one of England's wealthiest heiresses. But he is thrust back into the chaos of court when King Richard dies. The vindictive new king clashes with William, claims the Marshal lands for the Crown—and takes two of William's sons hostage. The price of his loyalty to the Crown suddenly seems too high and the very heart of William and Isabelle's family is at stake. Fiercely intelligent and fearing for the man and marriage that light her life, Isabelle plunges with her husband down a rebellious path that will lead William to more power than he ever expected. Brilliantly researched and deeply compelling, Elizabeth Chadwick delivers another masterpiece of medieval historical fiction, with favor, drama, and damaged loyalty that will keep you rapt until the very end. "Elizabeth Chadwick is a gifted novelist and a dedicated researcher; it doesn't get any better than that."—Sharon Kay Penman, New York Times bestselling author More Novels of Elizabeth Chadwick's William Marshal: The Greatest Knight The Scarlet Lion For the King's Favor Templar Silks To Defy a King

Download or read book Richard Beauchamp written by David Brindley and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2024-08-29 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘An avaricious knight errant with a taste for the spectacular’ or ‘one of the few upright and honest figures in these difficult years’? Contemporary views of the most colourful, wealthy and powerful knight of medieval England varied wildly, and they continue to do so today. Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, was at the centre of power in the first half of the fifteenth century and, as Henry V’s closest friend, accompanied the English warrior king to France to pursue the English claim to the French Crown in the Hundred Years War. Richard Beauchamp had an unrivalled reputation for his skills in the strategy of war and diplomacy, and secured Normandy in 1420. He arranged Henry V’s marriage and, following the king’s death, was appointed as Henry VI’s tutor and guardian. In 1431 he encouraged the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition to try to burn Joan of Arc at the stake for heresy. In Richard Beauchamp, David Brindley pens a fascinating biography of this medieval chivalric hero.

Download or read book A Knight s Own Book of Chivalry written by Geoffroi de Charny and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. This book was released on 2013-03-01 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the great influence of a valiant lord: "The companions, who see that good warriors are honored by the great lords for their prowess, become more determined to attain this level of prowess." On the lady who sees her knight honored: "All of this makes the noble lady rejoice greatly within herself at the fact that she has set her mind and heart on loving and helping to make such a good knight or good man-at-arms." On the worthiest amusements: "The best pastime of all is to be often in good company, far from unworthy men and from unworthy activities from which no good can come." Enter the real world of knights and their code of ethics and behavior. Read how an aspiring knight of the fourteenth century would conduct himself and learn what he would have needed to know when traveling, fighting, appearing in court, and engaging fellow knights. Composed at the height of the Hundred Years War by Geoffroi de Charny, one of the most respected knights of his age, A Knight's Own Book of Chivalry was designed as a guide for members of the Company of the Star, an order created by Jean II of France in 1352 to rival the English Order of the Garter. This is the most authentic and complete manual on the day-to-day life of the knight that has survived the centuries, and this edition contains a specially commissioned introduction from historian Richard W. Kaeuper that gives the history of both the book and its author, who, among his other achievements, was the original owner of the Shroud of Turin.

Download or read book The History of William Marshal written by Nigel Bryant and published by Boydell Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The career of William Marshal (1146/7-12), who rose from being the penniless, landless younger son of a middle-ranking nobleman to be regent of England in the minority of Henry III, is one of the most extraordinary stories of theMiddle Ages. His biography was completed shortly after his death by a household minstrel and we are fortunate that it survives to give a unique portrait of a twelfth-century knight's life in the early days of tournaments and chivalry as well as his career in warfare and politics.

Download or read book Rules for a Knight written by Ethan Hawke and published by Knopf. This book was released on 2015-11-10 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An unforgettable fable about a father's journey and a timeless guide to life's many questions—from Ethan Hawke, four-time Academy Award nominee, twice for writing and twice for acting. A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children in an attempt to leave a record of all he knows. In a series of ruminations on solitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, courage, grace, pride, and patience, he draws on the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy, and on the great spiritual and political writings of our time. His intent: to give his children a compass for a journey they will have to make alone, a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.

Download or read book The Ill Made Knight written by Christian Cameron and published by Orion. This book was released on 2013-08-01 with total page 616 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Brilliantly evoked' SUNDAY TIMES Discover the first medieval adventure in the action-packed Chivalry series! Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden. September, 1356. Poitiers. The greatest knights of the age were ready to give battle. On the English side, Edward, the Black Prince, who'd earned his spurs at Crecy. On the French side, the King and his son, the Dauphin. With 12,000 knights. And then there is William Gold. A cook's boy - the lowest of the low - who had once been branded as a thief. William dreams of being a knight, but in this savage new world of intrigue, betrayal and greed, first he must learn to survive. As rapacious English mercenaries plunder a country already ravaged by plague, and the peasantry take violent revenge against the French knights who have failed to protect them, is chivalry any more than a boyish fantasy? 'A sword-slash above the rest' IRISH EXAMINER 'One of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANE

Download or read book Life as a Knight written by Rachael Hanel and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2010 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "3 story paths, 47 choices, 21 endings"--Cover.

Download or read book The Making of a Knight written by Patrick O'Brien and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. This book was released on 1998-07-01 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seven-year-old James wants to be a brave and noble knight like his father. He dreams of the day that he too will wear the golden spurs that symbolize knighthood. But before his dreams are realized, James must work for seven years as a page and for seven more as a squire, learning to ride, hunt, and fight.

Download or read book Knight written by Christopher Gravett and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2008-03-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The traditional "knight in shining armor" has become a staple figure in popular culture and the images of bloody battlefields, bustling feasting halls and courtly tournaments have been creatively interpreted many times in film and fiction. But what was the knight truly like? The world of the English Medieval Knight was complex, and ever-changing. From the household of King John to the defenders of Elizabeth I, there was great change in the social standing of knights, their equipment and appearance, and their involvement in politics and warfare. An expert on Medieval military history Christopher Gravett describes how the knight evolved over four centuries of English and European history, the wars they fought, their lives in peacetime and on campaign, the weapons they fought with, the armor and clothing they wore and the fascinating code and mythology of chivalry. The text is richly illustrated with images ranging from manuscript illustrations to modern artwork reconstructions, and many photographs of historic artifacts and sites.

Download or read book The Knight Who Saved England written by Richard Brooks and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-04-20 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The life and times of the greatest knight of the high middle ages, who saved England from the French. In 1217 England was facing her darkest hour, with foreign troops pillaging the country and defeat close at hand. But, at the battle of Lincoln, the seventy-year-old William Marshal led his men to a victory that would secure the future of his nation. Earl of Pembroke, right-hand man to three kings and regent for a fourth, Marshal was one of the most celebrated men in Europe, yet is virtually unknown today, his impact and influence largely forgotten In this vivid account, Richard Brooks blends colourful contemporary source material with new insights to uncover the tale of this unheralded icon. He traces the rise of Marshal from penniless younger son to renowned knight, national hero and defender of the Magna Carta. What emerges is a fascinating story of a man negotiating the brutal realities of medieval warfare and the conflicting demands of chivalric ideals, and who against the odds defeated the joint French and rebel forces in arguably the most important battle in medieval English history – overshadowing even Agincourt.

Download or read book William Marshal written by Robin Griffith-Jones and published by Pitkin. This book was released on 2019-05-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William Marshal, born about 1147, was the son of a minor lord who held the hereditary title of ‘Marshal’, or head of the king’s security. He became a knight loyal to five kings, the most powerful man in the kingdom, the hero of Magna Carta and a saviour of England. At his funeral in the Temple Church, London, on 20 May 1219, he was described by the Archbishop of Canterbury as ‘the greatest knight in the world’. William’s son commissioned a biography of his father, The History of William Marshal, which brings William vividly to life and is the fullest and most dramatic such biography to reach us from the Middle Ages. The Rotunda of the Temple Church still contains eight 13th-century effigies of knights in armour. Three of the Marshals – William and two of his sons – are known to have been buried in the Church. By the late 16th century, antiquarians were trying to identify William’s effigy among them; and since 1843 one effigy in particular has been universally accepted to be William’s. This has recently been disputed by a set of drawings, dating to c. 1610, discovered in Washington, DC. These drawings show all the medieval effigies in the Temple Church – and a further, long-lost gravestone which matches the earliest descriptions of William’s tomb. This raises a fascinating question: has the real monument to William been lost? This book will uncover the details of this latest discovery and commemorate the greatest knight that ever lived.

Download or read book Best Knight Ever written by Cassandra Gannon and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-05 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if a warrior falls in love with his fiercest enemy?For years, Trystan and Galahad fought on opposite sides of the brutal Looking Glass Campaigns. Trystan is a gryphon, part of a winged race who battled Camelot's invasion of his homeland. Galahad was a knight of Camelot, who helped his king wage a relentless war, before he saw the dishonor in it and gave up combat forever. The two men have every reason to hate each other.Now, the Looking Glass Campaigns are finally over. Suddenly, these former opponents on the battlefield need to become allies as they search for a "treasure beyond counting." Traveling through a fairytale world of scheming enemies, magical temples, and the occasional leprechaun, Trystan and Galahad will have to follow an ancient map towards the lost city of Atlantis. Galahad's reputation for perfection irritates the hell out of Trystan. Trystan's propensity to kill everybody upsets Galahad. But the attraction between them is undeniable and growing stronger all the time.As danger mounts and romance swirls, can these two powerful warriors settle the past and find their happily ever after?

Download or read book The Knight in History written by Frances Gies and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2010-08-03 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A magisterial history of the origins, reality, and legend of the knight “A carefully researched, concise, readable, and entertaining account of an institution that remains a part of the Western imagination.” —Los Angeles Times Born out of the chaos of the early Middle Ages, the armored and highly mobile knight revolutionized warfare and quickly became a mythic figure in history. From the Knights Templars and English knighthood to the crusades and chivalry, The Knight in History, by acclaimed medievalist Frances Gies, bestselling coauthor of Life in a Medieval Castle, paints a remarkable true picture of knighthood—exploring the knight’s earliest appearance as an agent of lawless violence, his reemergence as a dynamic social entity, his eventual disappearance from the European stage, and his transformation into Western culture’s most iconic hero.

Download or read book The Greatest Knight written by Elizabeth Chadwick and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2009-09-01 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "The best writer of medieval fiction currently around."—Historical Novels Review Royal protector. Loyal servant. Forgotten hero. 12th century, England: A penniless young knight with few prospects, William Marshal is plucked from obscurity when he saves the life of Henry II's formidable queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In gratitude, she appoints him tutor to the heir to the throne, the volatile and fickle Prince Henry. But being a royal favorite brings its share of danger and jealousy as well as fame and reward. A writer of uncommon historical integrity and accuracy, Elizabeth Chadwick resurrects the true story of one of England's greatest forgotten heroes in a captivating blend of fact and fiction. The Greatest Knight restores William Marshal to his rightful place at the pinnacle of the British Middle Ages, reflecting through him the triumphs, scandals, and power struggles that haven't changed in eight hundred years. Fans of Phillipa Gregory, Susanna Kearsley, or Diana Gabaldon are sure to recognize The Greatest Knight as exceptional historical fiction, bringing medieval Britain to brilliant life. More Novels of Elizabeth Chadwick's William Marshal: The Greatest Knight The Scarlet Lion For the King's Favor Templar Silks To Defy a King

Download or read book M written by Henry Hemming and published by Preface Publishing. This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maxwell Knight is seen today as one of MI5's greatest spymasters, a man who did more than any other to break up British fascism during WWII. Drawing on declassified documents, private archives and interviews with retired MI5 officers and their families, M reveals not just the shadowy world of espionage but a brilliant, enigmatic man at its centre.

Download or read book Book 2 written by Thomas Asbridge and published by . This book was released on 2015-09-10 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William Marshal was the true Lancelot of his era - a peerless warrior and paragon of chivalry -yet over the centuries, the spectacular story of his achievements passed from memory. Then, in 1861, a young French scholar stumbled upon the sole surviving copy of an unknown text, later dubbed the History of William Marshal. This richly detailed work helped to resurrect Marshal's reputation, putting flesh onto the bones of this otherwise obscure figure, but even today he remains largely forgotten. As a five-year-old boy, William was sentenced to execution and led to the gallows, yet this landless younger son survived his brush with death, and went on to train as a medieval knight. Rising through the ranks to serve at the right hand of five English monarchs, he became a celebrated tournament champion, baron, politician and, ultimately, regent of the realm. He befriended the great figures of his day, from Richard the Lionheart to the infamous King John, and helped to negotiate the terms of Magna Carta - the first 'bill of rights'. Yet at the age of seventy he was forced to fight in the frontline of one final battle, striving to save the kingdom from French invasion in 1217. In The Greatest Knight, renowned historian Thomas Asbridge draws upon an array of contemporary evidence, including the thirteenth-century biography, to present a compelling account of William Marshal's life and times, from rural England to the battlefields of France, the desert castles of the Holy Land and the verdant shores of Ireland. Charting the unparalleled rise to prominence of a man bound to a code of honour, yet driven by unquenchable ambition, this knight's tale lays bare the brutish realities of medieval warfare and the machinations of royal court, and draws us into the heart of a formative period of our history, when the West emerged from the Dark Ages and stood on the brink of modernity. It is the story of one remarkable man, the birth of the knightly class to which he belonged, and the forging of the English nation.