Plantagenet England 1225-1360 (New Oxford History of England)

In this thorough and illuminating work, Michael Prestwich provides a comprehensive study of Plantagenet England, a dramatic and turbulent period which saw many changes. In politics it saw Simon de Montfort's challenge to the crown in Henry II's reign and it witnessed the deposition of Edward I. In contrast, it also saw the highly successful rules of Edward I and his grandson, Edward III. Political institutions were transformed with the development of parliament and war was a dominant theme: Wales was conquered and the Scottish Wars of Independence started in Edward I's reign, and under Edward III there were triumphs at Crï¿1⁄2cy and Poitiers. Outside of politics, English society was developing a structure, from the great magnates at the top to the peasantry at the bottom. Economic changes were also significant, from the expansionary period of the thirteenth century to years of difficulty in the fourteenth century, culminating in the greatest demographic disaster of historical times, the Black Death. In this volume in the New Oxford History of England Michael Prestwich brings this fascinating century to life. England Of The Plantagenet Kings Was A Turbulent Place. In Politics It Saw Simon De Montfort's Challenge To The Crown In Henry Iii's Reign And It Witnessed The Deposition Of Edward Ii. By Contrast, And As Relief, It Also Experienced The Highly Successful Rules Of Edward I And His Grandson, Edward Iii. Political Institutions Were Transformed With The Development Of Parliament, And War, The Stimulus For Some Of That Change, Was Never Far Away. Wales Was Conquered And The Scottish Wars Of Independence Started In Edward I's Reign, While Crecy And Poitiers Were English Triumphs Under Edward Iii. Beyond Politics, The Structure Of English Society Was Developing, From The Great Magnates At The Top To The Peasantry At The Bottom. Economic Changes Were Also Significant, From The Expansionary Period Of The Thirteenth Century To Years Of Difficulty In The Fourteenth, Culminating In The Greatest Demographic Disaster Of Historical Times, The Black Death. Embracing Politics And Government, Kingship, The Structure Of Society, France, Scotland, And Wales, As Well As Areas Such As The Environment, The Management Of The Land, Crime And Punishment, Michael Prestwich's Survey Casts The Plantagenet Past In A New And Revealing Light.--jacket. The Environment -- The Climate -- The People And Their Health -- The Landscape -- Animals -- Buildings -- Technology And Transport -- The Crown And Kingship -- The Coronation And Sacred Kingship -- Secular Kingship And The Crown -- Symbols And Ceremonies -- Buildings -- Court And Household -- Government -- The Structure Of Government -- Careers In Royal Administration -- Government In The Localities -- The Church -- Corruption -- Politics And Wars -- Politics Under Henry Iii -- Henry Iii -- The Early Years -- Foreigners -- Parliament -- The Church -- Politics In Crisis, 1258-1264 -- The Civil War And Montfort's Rule -- Armies Of The Civil War -- Reconstruction And Reform, 1266-1294 -- The Settlement Of England -- The New King -- Financial Reorganization -- Church And State -- Parliament And Legislation -- Politics And Patronage, 1289-1294 -- Wales -- Wales And The Marches -- Henry Iii And Wales -- Llywelyn Ap Gruffudd -- The Edwardian Conquest -- The Organization Of War -- Settlement And Rebellion -- English Armies -- The Aftermath -- Political Crises, 1294-1311 -- The Demands Of War -- The Crisis Of 1297 -- The Aftermath Of Crisis -- Edward Ii And The Ordinances -- Parliament -- Times Of Trouble, 1311-1330 -- The Death Of Gaveston -- Lancaster And The Lincoln Parliament -- New Favourites -- The Civil War Of 1321-1322 -- The Rule Of The Despensers -- Deposition -- Isabella And Mortimer -- The Modus Tenendi Parliamentum -- Scotland -- England And Scotland In The Thirteenth Century. Michael Prestwich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [587]-608) And Index. General Editor’s Preface......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Contents......Page 12 Abbreviations and Conventions......Page 20 Note on Money......Page 24 PART I Introductory......Page 26 chapter 1 The Environment......Page 28 chapter 2 The Crown and Kingship......Page 52 chapter 3 Government......Page 80 PART II Politics and Wars......Page 104 chapter 4 Politics Under Henry III......Page 106 chapter 5 Reconstruction and Reform, 1266–1294......Page 146 chapter 6 Wales......Page 166 chapter 7 Political Crises, 1294–1311......Page 190 chapter 8 Times of Trouble, 1311–1330......Page 213 chapter 9 Scotland......Page 252 chapter 10 England under Edward III......Page 291 chapter 11 England and France......Page 317 chapter 12 The Armies of Edward III’s French War......Page 353 PART III Society and People......Page 376 chapter 13 The Great Lords......Page 378 chapter 14 The Knights and the Gentry......Page 414 chapter 15 Landownership and the Law......Page 439 chapter 16 The Management of Land......Page 452 chapter 17 The Peasantry......Page 469 chapter 18 The Towns......Page 493 chapter 19 Trade and Merchants......Page 516 chapter 20 Crime and Punishment......Page 532 chapter 21 Population and the Black Death......Page 554 chapter 22 Conclusion......Page 579 Chronology......Page 602 GENEALOGICAL TABLES......Page 607 Bibliography......Page 612 Index......Page 634 England of the Plantagenet kings was a turbulent place. In politics it saw Simon de Montfort's challenge to the crown in Henry III's reign and it witnessed the deposition of Edward II. By contrast, and as relief, it also experienced the highly successful rules of Edward I and his grandson, Edward III. Political institutions were transformed with the development of parliament, and war, the stimulus for some of that change, was never far away. Wales was conquered and the Scottish Wars of Independence started in Edward I's reign, while Crecy and Poitiers were English triumphs under Edward III.Beyond politics, the structure of English society was developing, from the great magnates at the top to the peasantry at the bottom. Economic changes were also significant, from the expansionary period of the thirteenth century to years of difficulty in the fourteenth, culminating in the greatest demographic disaster of historical times, the Black Death.Embracing politics and government, kingship, the structure of society, France, Scotland, and Wales, as well as areas such as the environment, the management of the land, crime and punishment, Michael Prestwich's magnificent survey casts the Plantagenet past in a new and revealing light. In this thorough and illuminating work, Michael Prestwich provides a comprehensive study of Plantagenet England, a dramatic and turbulent period which saw many changes. In politics it saw Simon de Montfort's challenge to the crown in Henry II's reign and it witnessed the deposition of Edward I. In contrast, it also saw the highly successful rules of Edward I and his grandson, Edward III. Political institutions were transformed with the development of parliament and war was a dominant theme: Wales was conquered and the Scottish Wars of Independence started in Edward I's reign, and under Edward III there were triumphs at Crécy and Poitiers. Outside of politics, English society was developing a structure, from the great magnates at the top to the peasantry at the bottom. Economic changes were also significant, from the expansionary period of the thirteenth century to years of difficulty in the fourteenth century, culminating in the greatest demographic disaster of historical times, the Black Death. In this volume in the New Oxford History of England Michael Prestwich brings this fascinating century to life. The dramatic period 1225-1360 in Britain witnessed Simon de Montfort's challenge to the crown, Edward II's deposition and death, great English victories in France, and the disaster of the Black Death. It also saw the development of the state, with the emergence of parliament a key element. Michael Prestwich provides a comprehensive study of this period, illuminating themes of politics, economics, war, and society