Chivalry, Kingship and Crusade: The English Experience in the Fourteenth Century (Warfare in History) (Volume 38)

A fresh perspective on the Crusade shows its ideal and practice flourishing in the fourteenth century. The central theme of this book is the largely untold story of English knighthood's ongoing obsession with the crusade fight during the age of Chaucer, "high chivalry" and the famous battles of the Hundred Years War. After combat in France and Scotland, fighting crusades was the main and a widespread experience of English chivalry in the fourteenth century, drawing in noblemen of the highest rank, as well as knights chasing renown and the jobbing esquire. The author exposes a thick seam of military engagement along the perimeters of Christendom; details of participants and campaigns are chronicled - in many cases for the first time - and associated matters of tactics, diplomacy, organisation, and recruitment are minutely analysed, adding substantially to the historiography of the later crusades. The book's second theme traces the surprisingly strong grip the crusade-idea possessed at the height of politics,as an animating force of English kingship. Disputing the common assumption that crusade plans were increasingly ill-treated by the monarchs - adopted as diplomatic double-speak or as a means of raiding church coffers - the authorargues that courtiers and knights moved in a rich environment of crusade speculation and ambition, and exercised a strong influence on the culture of the time. Timothy Guard gained his DPhil at Hertford College, University of Oxford. The Central Theme Of This Book Is The Largely Untold Story Of English Knighthood's Ongoing Obsession With The Crusade Fight During The Age Of Chaucer, High Chivalry And The Famous Battles Of The Hundred Years War. After Combat In France And Scotland, Fighting Crusades Was The Main Experience Of English Chivalry In The Fourteenth Century, Drawing In Noblemen Of The Highest Rank, As Well As Knights Chasing Renown And The Jobbing Esquire. The Author Exposes A Thick Seam Of Military Engagement Along The Perimeters Of Christendom; Details Of Participants And Campaigns Are Chronicled - In Many Cases For The First Time - And Associated Matters Of Tactics, Diplomacy, Organisation, And Recruitment Are Minutely Analysed, Adding Substantially To The Historiography Of The Later Crusades. The Book's Second Theme Traces The Surprisingly Strong Grip The Crusade-idea Possessed At The Height Of Politics, As An Animating Force Of English Kingship. Disputing The Common Assumption That Crusade Plans Were Increasingly Ill-treated By The Monarchs - Adopted As Diplomatic Double-speak Or As A Means Of Raiding Church Coffers - The Author Argues That Courtiers And Knights Moved In A Rich Environment Of Crusade Speculation And Ambition, And Exercised A Strong Influence On The Culture Of The Time--back Cover. Introduction -- Questions And Perspectives -- Eastern Mediterranean And The Holy Land -- Spain And North Africa -- The Baltic -- Constantinople And Eastern Europe -- Military Service, Careerism And The Crusade -- 'all Are Truly Blessed Who Are Martyred In Battle': Crusading And Salvation -- Chivalry, Literature And Political Culture -- The Chivalric Nation And Images Of The Crusader King -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Register Of English Crusaders C. 1307-1399. Timothy Guard. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 240-261) And Index. The central theme of this book is the largely untold story of English knighthood's ongoing obsession with the crusade fight during the age of Chaucer, "high chivalry" and the famous battles of the Hundred Years War. After combat in France and Scotland, fighting crusades was the main and a widespread experience of English chivalry in the fourteenth century, drawing in noblemen of the highest rank, as well as knights chasing renown and the jobbing esquire. The author exposes a thick seam of military engagement along the perimeters of Christendom; details of participants and campaigns are chronicled - in many cases for the first time - and associated matters of tactics, diplomacy, organisation, and recruitment are minutely analysed, adding substantially to the historiography of the later crusades. The book's second theme traces the surprisingly strong grip the crusade-idea possessed at the height of politics, as an animating force of English kingship. Disputing the common assumption that crusade plans were increasingly ill-treated by the monarchs - adopted as diplomatic double-speak or as a means of raiding church coffers - the author argues that courtiers and knights moved in a rich environment of crusade speculation and ambition, and exercised a strong influence on the culture of the time. Timothy Guard gained his DPhil at Hertford College, University of Oxford "The central theme of this book is the largely untold story of English knighthood's ongoing obsession with the crusade fight during the age of Chaucer, "high chivalry" and the famous battles of the Hundred Years War. After combat in France and Scotland, fighting crusades was the main and a widespread experience of English chivalry in the fourteenth century, drawing in noblemen of the highest rank, as well as knights chasing renown and the jobbing esquire. The author exposes a thick seam of military engagement along the perimeters of Christendom; details of participants and campaigns are chronicled - in many cases for the first time - and associated matters of tactics, diplomacy, organisation, and recruitment are minutely analysed, adding substantially to the historiography of the later crusades. The book's second theme traces the surprisingly strong grip the crusade-idea possessed at the height of politics, as an animating force of English kingship. Disputing the common assumption that crusade plans were increasingly ill-treated by the monarchs - adopted as diplomatic double-speak or as a means of raiding church coffers - the author argues that courtiers and knights moved in a rich environment of crusade speculation and ambition, and exercised a strong influence on the culture of the time."--Publisher's website Frontcover 1 Contents 6 List of Maps 7 Acknowledgements 8 List of Abbreviations 9 Introduction 16 Part I 22 1 Questions and Perspectives 24 2 Eastern Mediterranean and the Holy Land 36 3 Spain and North Africa 66 4 The Baltic 87 5 Constantinople and Eastern Europe 113 Part II 132 6 Military Service, Careerism and Crusade 138 7 ‘All are truly blessed who are martyred in battle’: Crusading and Salvation 159 8 Chivalry, Literature and Political Culture 174 9 The Chivalric Nation and Images of the Crusader King 197 Conclusion 223 Appendix: Register of English Crusaders c.1307–1399 232 Select Bibliography 256 Index 278 Backcover 298