Locality and Polity: A Study of Warwickshire Landed Society, 1401–1499 (CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL LIFE AND THOUGHT FOURTH SERIES)

This is a comprehensive study of minor landowners - the gentry - in one county in fifteenth-century England. In common with other local studies of the later Middle Ages, it builds upon the seminal work of K. B. McFarlane, looking at the political and social world in the localities from which the nobles drew their power. The book aims to present a rounded picture of the experiences of the gentry, relating their private and their public lives, and their permanent concerns to the changing needs of local and national politics. Its approach is thus both thematic, exploring the main elements, often private in nature, which moulded their public actions, such as marriage, estate management and senses of family, and chronological, presenting a detailed narrative of politics and account of political structures and relationships. The book is intended as a contribution to the history of England as a whole in the fifteenth century and to the study of the long-term development of the English landed classes and the English constitution. This Is A Comprehensive Study Of Minor Landowners--the Gentry--in One County In Fifteenth-century England. In Common With Other Recent Local Studies Of The Later Middle Ages, It Builds Upon The Seminal Work Of K.b. Mcfarlane, Looking At The Political And Social World In The Localities From Which The Nobles Drew Their Power.--book Jacket. The Book Aims To Present A Fully-rounded Picture Of The Experiences Of The Gentry, Relating Their Private To Their Public Lives, Their Permanent Concerns To The Changing Needs Of Local And National Politics. Its Approach Is Thus Both Thematic, Exploring The Main Elements, Often Private In Nature, Which Moulded Their Public Actions, Such As Marriage, Estate Management And Sense Of Family, And Chronological, Presenting A Detailed Narrative Of Politics And An Account Of Political Structures And Relationships.--book Jacket. The Work Takes A Conscious Stand For A Return To A More 'constitutional' Form Of Political History Than The Orthodoxy Of The Moment For The Period, Which Takes Patronage And Personalities To Be The Prime Movers In Politics. This Is Evident In Its Concern With Issues Of Stability And Disorder (much Influenced By Recent Work On Law And Society) And With The Structure Of The Polity, With The Inter-relationship Of Local And National Politics, And With The Ideas Of The Political Classes. The Book Is Intended As A Contribution To The History Of England As A Whole In The Fifteenth Century And To The Study Of The Long-term Development Of The English Landed Classes And The English Constitution.--book Jacket. Includes A Directory Of Warwickshire Gentry. Christine Carpenter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 710-757) And Index.

This is a comprehensive study of minor landowners—the gentry—in one county of fifteenth-century England. It looks at all aspects of their lives, including marriage, the family, how they ran their estates and how they made friends and enemies, in an often very turbulent century that saw the reigns of the three Lancastrian kings (Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI), the Yorkist Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III, the first Tudor, Henry VII, and the Wars of the Roses.