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Blood Royal: Dynastic Politics in Medieval Europe (James Lydon Lectures in Medieval History and Culture)
£13.20£16.10 (-18%)
Throughout medieval Europe, for hundreds of years, monarchy was the way that politics worked in most countries. This meant power was in the hands of a family – a dynasty; that politics was family politics; and political life was shaped by the births, marriages and deaths of the ruling family. How did the dynastic system cope with female rule, or pretenders to the throne? How did dynasties use names, the numbering of rulers and the visual display of heraldry to express their identity? And why did some royal families survive and thrive, while others did not? Drawing on a rich and memorable body of sources, this engaging and original history of dynastic power in Latin Christendom and Byzantium explores the role played by family dynamics and family consciousness in the politics of the royal and imperial dynasties of Europe. From royal marriages and the birth of sons, to female sovereigns, mistresses and wicked uncles, Robert Bartlett makes enthralling sense of the complex web of internal rivalries and loyalties of the ruling dynasties and casts fresh light on an essential feature of the medieval world.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (15 July 2021) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 774 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1108796168 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1108796163 |
| Dimensions | 15.24 x 4.45 x 22.23 cm |
by Sharon Connolly
Excellent! Highly Informative and a thoroughly enjoyable read
by Maitland
Can not believe the information contained in this book. It’s my humble belief that each chapter, In and if itself, by the way the author’s research clearly shows, could be a book equal in length to this one.
by Daniel Granville
beautiful new copy of the text. This is a very well researched and informative history; taking the long view, and observing the sociological practices of dynastic biopolitics, it is accessible to casual readers of history, and illuminating for those working or studying in the academy. I recommend this work.
by Samuel Rowley
Like all of Bartlett’s books, a very good read on a less covered topic
by Grumpy Historian
Just a word for readers: this is not a general history. As the title suggests it is very specifically focused on politics and dynasties. Those looking for a general history of the period would be better off reading Dan Jones “Powers and Thrones”.
Blood Royal is an incredible tour de Force through the complicated, murky and merciless world of Medieval Dynastic politics. It covers everything from the rules of sucession and the roles of women, as well as women who broke the mold and ruled for themselves, or played a role in shaping dynasties.
Also explored are role of the church, the place of illegitimate children, usurpers and pretenders, the merits and weaknesses of different political systems and traditions.
There is no judgement, just a guide to the various families, tribes, and dynasties who became rulers of Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire, from Hungary to England and Scotland. The brutal and ruthless nature of dynastic politics inevitably emerges, with quotes about how it was unwise to leave sons alive when you killed a father, or mentions of the Byzantines favourite method of getting rid of inconvenient royals: blinding.
Professor Bartlett has covered the subject in the erudite, authoritative yet approachable style that those of us who grew up watching the documentaries he hosted know and love.
Grateful thanks to Cambridge University Press for approving my request for this title. I was not required to write a review, but I may well be investing in the paperback edition of this title to add to my shelves.
by Amazon Customer
Prompt shipment and book in excellent condition. This hen is really speedy!