The perfect king : the life of Edward III : father of the English nation

King for fifty years (1327—77), Edward III changed the face of England.He ordered his uncle to be beheaded; he usurped his father’s throne; he started a war which lasted for more than a hundred years, and taxed his people more than any other previous king. Yet for centuries, Edward III was celebrated as the most brilliant king England had ever had.In this first full study of the man, Ian Mortimer shows how Edward personally provided the impetus for much of the drama of his reign. Edward overcame the tyranny of his guardians at the age of seventeen and then set about developing a new form of awe-inspiring chivalric kingship. Under him the feudal kingdom of England became a highly organized, sophisticated nation, capable of raising large revenues and, without question, the most important military nation in Europe. Yet under his rule England also experienced its longest period of domestic peace in the Middle Ages, giving rise to a massive increase in the nation’s wealth through the wool trade, with huge consequences for society, art and architecture. It is to Edward that England owes its system of parliamentary representation, local justice system and the English language as “the tongue of the nation.”As the King who re-made England and forged a nation out of war, Edward III emerges as the father of the English nation. "He ordered his uncle to be beheaded; he usurped his father's throne; he taxed his people more than any other previous king, and he started a war which lasted to more than a hundred years. Yet for centuries Edward III (1312-77) was celebrated as the most brilliant of all Englisn monarchs, and thee hundred years after his death it was said that his kingship was perhaps the greatest that the world has ever known." "In this first full study of his character and life, Ian Mortimer shows how Edward personally provided the impetus for much of the drama of his fifty-year reign. Edward overcame the tyranny of his guardians at the age of seventeen and then set about developing a new form of awe-inspiring chivalric kingship. Under him the feudal kingdom of England became a highly organised nation, capable of raising large revenues and deploying a new type of warfare, culminating in the crushing victory over the French at Crecy. Yet under his rule England also experienced its longest period of domestic peace in the middle ages, giving rise to a massive increase of the nation's wealth through the wool trade, with huge consequences for society, art and architecture. It is to Edward that England owes its system of parliamentary representation, its local justice system, its national flag and the recognition of English as the language of the nation." "Nineteenth-century historians saw in Edward the opportunity to decry a warmonger, and painted him as a self-seeking, rapacious, tax-gathering conequeror. Yet as this book shows, beneath the strong warrior king was a compassionate, conscientious and often merciful man - resolute yet devoted to his wife, friends and family. He emerges as a strikingly modern figure, to whom many will be able to relate - the father of both the English people and the English nation."--Jacket In This First Full Study Of His Character And Life, Ian Mortimer Shows How Edward Iii Personally Provided The Impetus For Much Of The Drama Of His Fifty-year Reign. Under Him The Feudal Kingdom Of England Became A Highly Organised, Sophisticated Nation, Without Question The Most Important Military Nation In Europe. Yet Under His Rule England Also Experienced Its Longest Period Of Domestic Peace In The Middle Ages, Giving Rise To A Massive Increase Of The Nation's Wealth Through The Wool Trade, With Huge Consequences For Society, Art And Architecture. It Is To Edward That The British Owe Their System Of Parliamentary Representation, The Local Justice System, The National Flag And The English Language As The 'tongue Of The Nation'. Nineteenth Century Historians Painted Edward As A Self-seeking, Rapacious, Tax-gathering Conqueror. Yet As This Book Shows, Beneath The Strong Warrior King Was A Compassionate, Conscientious And Often Merciful Man Resolute Yet Devoted To His Wife, Friends And Family. He Emerges As A Strikingly Modern Figure, To Whom Many Will Be Able To Relate The Father Of Both The English Nation And The English People. Ian Mortimer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 441-514) And Index. A look at the brutal, brilliant fourteenth-century ruler, by the bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England. Holding power for over fifty years starting in 1327, Edward III was one of England’s most influential kings—and one who shaped the course of English history. Revered as one of the country’s most illustrious leaders for centuries, he was also a usurper and a warmonger who ordered his uncle beheaded. A brutal man, to be sure, but a brilliant one. Noted historian Ian Mortimer offers the first comprehensive look at the life of Edward III. The Perfect King was often the instigator of his own drama, but he also overthrew tyrannous guardians as a teenager and ushered in a period of chivalric ideals. Mortimer traces how Edward’s reforms made feudal England a thriving, sophisticated country and one of Europe’s major military powers. Ideal for anyone fascinated by medieval history, this lively book provides new insight into Edward III’s lasting influence on the justice system, artistic traditions, language, and architecture of the country. “The most remarkable medieval historian of our time.” —The Times (London) From the bestselling author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England , comes the story of King Edward III, who - like Elizabeth and Victoria after him - embodied the values of his age, forged a nation out of war and re-made England. He ordered his uncle to be beheaded; he usurped his father's throne; he started a war which lasted for more than a hundred years, and taxed his people more than any other previous king. Nineteenth century historians saw in Edward the opportunity to decry a warmonger, and painted him as a self-seeking, rapacious, tax-gathering conqueror. Yet, in this first full study of the King's character and life, Dr Ian Mortimer unveils that behind the strong warrior king was a compassionate, conscientious and often merciful man - resolute yet devoted to his wife, friends and family, and the father of both the English nation and the English people. 'A fascinating portrait. At times, the reader seems almost able to reach across time and touch this man' - The Economist Childhood -- A treasonable youth -- The devil for wrath -- Absolute royalty -- Warrior of God -- The vow of the heron -- Sluys and tournai -- Chivalry and shame -- The advent of the golden age -- Edward the conqueror -- An unassailable enemy -- At the court of the Sun King -- Lawmaker -- The pride of England -- Outliving victory -- A tattered coat upon a stick -- Edward the gracious -- Philippa of Hainault's date of birth -- The fake death of Edward II -- A note on the later life of Edward II -- Royal charter witnesses in Regnal Years 4 -5 -- The intended destination of the 1346 invasion -- The date of the foundation of the order of the garter -- Edward III's physicians and surgeons -- The descendants of Edward III -- The English Royal Family before 1330 -- The English Royal Family after 1330 -- The French Royal Family.;Studying his character and life, Ian Mortimer shows how King Edward III personally provided the impetus for much of the drama of his 50-year reign. Holding power for over fifty years starting in 1327, Edward III was one of England's most influential kings-and one who shaped the course of English history. Revered as one of the country's most illustrious leaders for centuries, he was also a usurper and a warmonger who ordered his uncle beheaded. A brutal man, to be sure, but also a brilliant one. Noted historian Ian Mortimer offers us the first comprehensive look at the life of Edward III. The Perfect King was often the instigator of his own drama, but also overthrew tyrannous guardians as a teenager and ushered in a period of chivalric ideals. Mortimer traces how Edward's reforms made feudal England a thriving, sophisticated country and one of Europe's major military powers. Ideal for anyone fascinated by medieval history, this book provides new insight into Edward III's lasting influence on the justice system, artistic traditions, language, and architecture of the country Few leaders have been the targets of so many assassinations attempts; German historians have identified 42 plots on Hitler's life. Twenty of the would-be assassins are chronicled here. They range from simple craftsmen to high-ranking soldiers, from the apolitical to the ideologically obsessed, and from enemy agents to his closest associates. Moorhouse writes that, for the most part, they are unknown. One was Maurice Bavaud, who never got close enough to Hitler to shoot him. Bavaud was guillotined in 1941. Georg Elser began to plot Hitler's murder in 1938. In 1939, Elser triggered a bomb that killed eight people and injured 62 others, but Hitler had already left the building. Moorehouse describes the would-be killers' plans, motives, and--inevitably--their failures. The book also tells the story of Hitler's survival. Moorehouse's documentation and analysis of this comprehensive history will keep readers interested to the end Yet for centuries Edward III was celebrated as the most brilliant king England had ever had, and three hundred years after his death it was said that his kingship was perhaps the greatest that the world had ever known. This title shows how Edward personally provided the impetus for much of the drama of his fifty-year reign.