Blood Cries Afar : The Forgotten Invasion of England 1216

The first book on the important but overlooked French invasion of England in 1216, which was almost a second Norman Conquest History came within a hair's breadth of repeating itself, 150 years after the Norman Conquest. In 1216, taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by King John's inept rule and the war over Magna Carta, Prince Louis of France and his army of mercenaries and French soldiers invaded England and allied with English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This is the first book to cover the bloody events of the invasion, one of the most dramatic but most overlooked episodes of British history. The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles, and atrocities of the invasion and its colorful leaders—Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Béauté and Eustace the Monk—to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England. Exactly 150 years after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, history came extremely close to repeating itself when another army set sail from the Continent with the intention of imposing foreign rule on England. This time the invasion force was under the command of Louis the Lion, son and heir of the powerful French king Philip Augustus. Taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by the civil war over Magna Carta and by King John's disastrous rule, Prince Louis and his army of French soldiers and mercenaries allied with the barons of the English rebel forces. The prize was England itself. Within months Louis was in control of nearly half of the country, ruling his subjugated territory from London for over a year. Recognising this new political reality, the majority of English barons deserted John for their new French lord, while the king of Scotland, in an early manifestation of the auld alliance, travelled south with his army to pay homage to Louis. England's future hung in the balance. King John's death altered the scene dramatically. His nine-year-old son, Henry III, was crowned king by the royalist resistance and, under the regency of the famous knight William Marshal, a sustained counter-attack was launched until the war reached its bloody conclusion eighteen months after the invasion had begun. The invasion was one of the most dramatic episodes of British history, and was the climax to decades of Anglo-French warfare, marking a key stage in the development of both countries: France emerged as the leading power in western Europe while England enshrined Magna Carta and, the author argues, experienced a pivotal moment in the emergence of its national identity. The text vividly describes and analyses the sieges, battles, campaigns and atrocities of the invasion, including the siege of Chateau Gaillard and the epic encounter at Rochester (depicted in the film Ironclad). - Publisher. Exactly 150 years after the Normal Conquest of England in 1066, history came extremely close to repeating itself when another army set sail from the Continent with the intention of imposing foreign rule on England. This time the invasion force was under the command of Louis the Lion, son and heir of the powerful French king Philip Augustus. Taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by the civil war over Magna Carta and by King John's disastrous rule, Prince Louis and his army of French soldiers and mercenaries allied with the barons of the English rebel forces. The prize was England itself. The invasion was one of the most dramatic episodes of British history. This is the first ever book on the subject. Blood Cries Afar tells a dramatic and violent but overlooked story, with a broad appeal to those interested in the history of England and France, the Middle Ages and war in an age of kings, knights, castles, battles and brutality. - Publisher Exactly 150 Years After The Norman Conquest Of England In 1066, History Came Extremely Close To Repeating Itself When Another Army Set Sail From The Continent With The Intention Of Imposing Foreign Rule On England. This Time The Invasion Force Was Under The Command Of Louis The Lion, Son And Heir Of The Powerful French King Philip Augustus. Taking Advantage Of The Turmoil Created In England By The Civil War Over Magna Carta And By King John’s Disastrous Rule, Prince Louis And His Army Of French Soldiers And Mercenaries Allied With The Barons Of The English Rebel Forces. The Prize Was England Itself.the Invasion Was One Of The Most Dramatic Episodes Of British History. This Is The First Ever Book On The Subject. Blood Cries Afar Tells A Dramatic And Violent But Overlooked Story, With A Broad Appeal To Those Interested In The History Of England And France, The Middle Ages And War In An Age Of Kings, Knights, Castles, Battles And Brutality. Details an invasion that could have changed Britain as we know it, prompted by events at Runnymede where the barons brought an errant king to heel and in doing so provided an opportunity for conquestTaking advantage of the turmoil created in England by King John's inept rule and the barons' demands, Prince Louis of France invaded England and allied with the English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This is the only book to cover the bloody events of the invasion, one of the most dramatic but most overlooked episodes of British history. The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles, and atrocities of the invasion and its colorful leaders—Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Béauté and Eustace the Monk—to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England. 150 years after the Norman Conquest, history came within a hair's breadth of repeating itself. In 1216, taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by King John's inept rule, Prince Louis of France invaded England and allied with English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This is the first book to cover the bloody events of the invasion, one of the most dramatic but most overlooked episodes of British history. The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles and atrocities of teh invasion and its colourful leaders - Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Beaute and Eustace the Monk - to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England. 150 years after the Norman Conquest, history came within a hair's breadth of repeating itself. In 1216, taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by King John's inept rule, Prince Louis of France invaded England and allied with English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This is the first book to cover the bloody events of the invasion, one of the most dramatic but most overlooked episodes of British history. The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles and atrocities of the invasion and its colourful leaders – Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Béauté and Eustace the Monk – to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England. 150 years after the Norman Conquest, history came within a hairs breadth of repeating itself. In 1216, taking advantage of the turmoil created in England by King Johns inept rule, Prince Louis of France invaded England and allied with English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This is the first book to cover the bloody events of the invasion, one of the most dramatic but most overlooked episodes of English history. The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles and atrocities of the invasion and its colourful leaders Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Baut and Eustace the Monk to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England. Introduction : Warfare and medieval history Enemies : the Angevin-Capetian struggle The conquest of Normandy, 1200-1204 War, politics and the first invasion attempt, 1205-1213 The Battle of Bouvines, 1214 Magna Carta, civil war and the countdown to invasion, 1215 The invasion of England, 1216 The battle for England, 1216-1217 The last campaign, 1217 In 1216, Prince Louis of France and his army invaded England and allied with English rebels. The prize was the crown of England. Within months Louis had seized control of one-third of the country, including London. This book covers the events of the invasion, one of the most overlooked episodes in British history The text vividly describes the campaigns, sieges, battles and atrocities of the invasion and its colourful leaders - Louis the Lion, King John, William Marshal, and the mercenaries Fawkes de Beaute and Eustace the Monk - to offer the first detailed military analysis of this epic struggle for England.