The son of King John, Henry III came to the throne - and a kingdom at war with itself - aged nine, and ruled for 56 years until his death in 1272: yet still he is the forgotten king. Matthew Lewis examines Henry's long, complicated and neglected reign, looking in particular at the legacy of Magna Carta; the political landscape of the Angevin Empire and England; and the role of the dominant figures among the barons - Sir William Marshal and Simon de Montfort.

Although published in the 800th anniversary year of Magna Carta, this is not a sweeping survey of its influence on British history, but a focused account of the years 1215 to 1225. Telling the story of the Charter and reflecting on its usefulness today, Starkey follows its evolution from revolutionary document in 1215, through the radical revision of 1216 to the 'constitution-in-the-making' of 1225. An appendix contains the three Charter texts in tabular form.

The members of Clan Maic-bethad or Clan MacBeth, later 'Beaton', practised medicine in the classical Gaelic tradition in various parts of Scotland from the early 14th to the early 18th century. Using many medieval Gaelic manuscripts associated with the Beatons, this study reconstructs the history of the kindred and their medicine, from their origins in Ireland to their heyday in 17th-century Scotland, when patrons included the kings of Scotland, and the clan's demise after 1700.

The history of Wales is rich with saints from the early days of Christianity. Focusing on the evocative sites associated with them, this book peels away layers of myth to recreate their lives by examining archaeological evidence, inscriptions and early texts. Illustrated with the author's own photographs throughout - including 16 pages of colour plates - and detailed maps, it is a scholarly but engaging guide to the world these men and women inhabited.

The year of Scotland's referendum, 2014 was also the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, when 'a very different sort of campaign on the issue of Scotland's independence came to its climax'. Alistair Moffat follows in detail the events of those two days in June 1314, and captures all the fear, heroism, confusion and desperation of medieval warfare as he describes the tactics and manoeuvres that led to a stunning victory for the heavily outnumbered Scots.

Agincourt is one of the most celebrated battles in English history, a victory that made Henry V a national hero and still resonates six centuries later. This title peels away the layers of myth to tell the human story through the eyes of key participants, from the king himself to a Somerset squire and an archer from Dorset. Drawing on historic accounts, it assesses the casualties and discusses the massacre of French prisoners that shocked contemporaries.

Accused by her in-laws of murdering her husband, Joanna, Queen of Naples, stood trial in Avignon in 1348. She was 22 years old, yet spoke (in Latin) in her own defence. In this compelling account of how, despite her youth and sex, Joanna triumphed over her enemies, raised an army and took back her realm, Nancy Goldstone paints a richly detailed portrait of a medieval queen notorious throughout history for a crime she did not commit.

Originating in a conference organized under the auspices of the AHRB Research Centre for North-East England History, these 14 essays all deal in some way with issues surrounding the quest for regional identity. The emphasis of the volume is on the county palatine of Durham in the later medieval period, and specific essay topics include St Cuthbert in the border region, local law courts in Durham, and the city's monastic community. No jacket.

William Marshal (1147-1219) was the Lancelot of his era - a landless younger son who rose through the ranks to serve as right-hand man to five English monarchs, including Richard the Lionheart and his brother John. Drawing on contemporary evidence, including the sole surviving copy of a 13th-century biography, this compelling title resurrects this courageous warrior, tournament champion, wily politician and, ultimately, regent of the realm, against a rich tapestry of chivalry, grandeur and barbarity.

Dan Jones looks beyond the story of dynastic rivalry promoted by Tudor historians to the complex civil conflict that followed a disastrous collapse of royal authority during the reign of Henry IV, became a crisis of legitimacy when Richard, Duke of York decided to claim the crown, and ended with the elimination of the Plantagenets. Finally, Jones examines the early history of the Tudor family and presents them 'not according to their own myth, but as the fifteenth century really found them'.

From the origins of knighthood in feudal Europe, this detailed, lavishly illustrated study traces the rise and fall of knights and their contribution to the key conflicts of the medieval era.

Examining late medieval and early modern English identity from the vantage point of an explicitly regional literature, this study of pageants, poems and prose works created in Cheshire between 1195 and 1656 challenges the dominant view of the Renaissance as a break with England's medieval past. In discussing texts such as Lucian's De laude Cestrie, the Chester Whitsun plays and the Stanley family romances, Barrett demonstrates both regional continuity and the 'complex intertwining of regional and national identities'.

These 12 essays approach the early Christian book from the perspectives of religion, art history, history, Near Eastern studies and classics, and focus on the practices of writing, reading and book production, 100-600 CE.

Timothy S Miller describes the Byzantine Empire's sophisticated child-welfare systems and describes the evolution and management of its orphanages, guardianship laws, foster parents and group homes.

Ten essays examine the cultural context of the late Gothic St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle - a centre of religious, intellectual and artistic excellence in 15th century England. No jacket.

At the accession of Henry II in 1154, the Plantagenets ruled over a realm that stretched from the Scottish borders to the Pyrenees. When Richard III died in 1485, only Calais was left on the European mainland, but the Plantagenets had consolidated and secured royal control within Britain. In this lucid account of their 300 year reign, Wilson chronicles the turbulent and often blood-soaked world of kings such as Richard the Lionheart, King John and Henry V, the hero of Agincourt.

The V&A's collection of medieval and Renaissance stained and painted glass is the largest and most comprehensive in the world. This selection of the Museum's panels spans the period 1140 to 1540 and shows the technical and artistic advances between the Romanesque and Renaissance eras, while also illuminating the beliefs and images, sacred and secular, of the medieval world. The collection is represented here by 110 plates, including full page details of important pieces, with following commentaries.

Paul Oldfield's pioneering study of urban society in 12th century mainland Norman Italy examines the self-governing role of urban communities and explores their social ordering, identities and communal activities.

Jocelin, a royal administrator and the bishop of Wells from 1206 to 1242, played a major role in the growth of Somerset's towns, fairs and markets as well as the completion of Wells Cathedral and its Bishop's Palace. This volume comprises ten essays on Jocelin's life, career and reforms, his building projects and the findings of recent architectural, archaeological and botanical investigations into the curious physical nature of the palace site.

What was the social, economic, legal and religious background to Magna Carta? How was King John perceived by those who knew him, and what was England like during his reign? The studies in this collection analyse such issues as the legacy of earlier Angevin rulers, the burgeoning economy of the early 13th century and Magna Carta's effects on widows and property. The volume ends with the first critical edition of an open letter of 1210 from the king himself.

In his significant political treatise On Christian Rulers, Sedulius Scottus (fl. c.850) attempted to clarify the proper relation between spiritual and secular power. Dyson has produced this new critical edition of the Latin text, with facing translation; he also provides an introduction covering what we know of Sedulius' life, the background to this work and its place in the development of political theory in the Christian West.

This volume presents the six Old English versions of the Sunday Letter text, with facing translations, commentary and glossary, and discussion of the development of Sunday observance.

With the proliferation of formalized cities, the medieval period became the 'golden age' of siege warfare, an age of trebuchets and mangonels, boiling oil and Greek fire. In this accessible study of medieval siegecraft, Hindley traces the development of strongpoints, castles and fortified towns, examines the problems of logistics and food supplies for both the besieged and besiegers and shows how some of the most famous sieges changed the course of history in Europe and the Holy Land.

This text by a 15th century mariner describes his experiences in the Venetian merchant and military fleets, and includes writings on commercial mathematics, shipbuilding, navigation, calendrical systems and astrology. Presented in photographic facsimile. Felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.

In 1381, England erupted in a violent popular uprising as unexpected as it was unprecedented. Juliet Barker's narrative history depicts a volatile society on the brink of profound change. Treating contemporary chronicles with scepticism, she draws on court proceedings and letters to give voice to the ordinary people from many walks of life who took part in the so-called Peasants' Revolt, illuminating their motives and demands, examining the ambiguous role of Richard II, and charting its long-term effects.

Offering fresh perspectives on later medieval Europe, this study surveys the processes of expansion, consolidation and cultural exchange across the continent, the British Isles, Russia and Scandinavia.

In his study of Countess Matilda of Canossa, Hay explains how this powerful medieval leader rose to the defence of the reforming papacy, defeated the Holy Roman Emperor and turned the tide in the first great war between church and state.

Discussing topics including Richard II's views on kingship and the Yorkshire risings of 1405, Walker's essays examine the operation of later medieval political society, political language and the mechanisms of power.

This volume from the Manchester Medieval Sources series makes available in translation a number of key texts for the study of Roger II (1095-1154) and the unification of Sicily and southern Italy. No jacket.

In the Latin West the 11th century was a time of rapid social change, political expansion and violent conflict between secular and religious powers over the control of sacred space, epitomized by the so-called Investiture Conflict. By analysing the consecrations of churches and attempts to direct the large crowds which such occasions attracted, Hamilton identifies the significance of religious rites as metaphor for reform, and highlights the complex relationship between the political, social and religious in Italian cities.

Part of the Manchester Medieval Sources series, this volume presents the Lives of seven 13th century saints from cities including Cremona, Florence, Siena and Lucca, introduced, translated and annotated by Diana Webb. No jacket.

In nine essays, this volume explores how medieval people responded to images, stories, beliefs and practices - from the heretical to the marvellous and exotic - that were at odds with the normative worldview.

Although centred on medieval Christendom in Europe, the Encyclopedia includes articles on other continents and peoples of other faiths in so far as they were relevant to the Christians of the Middle Ages. Altogether there are over 3,000 articles, written by some 600 scholars sharing their expertise on subjects ranging from abbeys to the zodiac. This English version, translated by Adrian Walford, contains additional entries on English areas of interest and bibliographies for each article. Indexed. Off-mint.

From the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 to Bosworth in 1485, Loyn tells the story of peoples' struggle to claim an effective role in government. With drawings by Alan and Richard Sorrell. First published in 1977. Age 10+

Buried in 899 CE as the king of the English at his capital city of Winchester, Alfred the Great's bones were thought to have been moved sometime later to an unmarked grave. They remained completely lost for centuries, but recent discoveries have reawakened interest in this heroic figure. Including chapters by Dr Katie Tucker describing her amazing discovery of Alfred's remains, this book tells the story of the only English monarch ever to have earned the epithet 'the Great'.

Martyn Whittock uses a variety of first-hand accounts and anecdotes to show how England was transformed between the age of the Saxon kings in the 10th century and the 15th century Wars of the Roses. Revealing the diversity of medieval society, he explains the effects of the changing feudal system and the emergence of towns and the urban elite.

With topics such as King Edgar's legendary title to archipelagic dominion and the 'spiritual islescape' of the Anglo-Saxons, this volume of essays traces the many literary origins of English insular identity.

Inquests in the 1240s found that Catharism and the Waldensian heresy had taken firm hold in the county of Quercy in Languedoc, which had previously played a significant role in the Albigensian crusade against the Cathars. With detailed analysis of the evidence gathered by the inquisitors, this study investigates the cultural and political origins of Quercy's dramatic confessional shift, the divergent beliefs and allegiances within families and the impact of heresy on everyday life.

Norbert Ohler describes in vivid detail the conditions of medieval travel - by land, river and sea, for pilgrimage, trade, sending messages or exploration; and gives accounts of some well-documented journeys.

Beginning with the settlement of Britain by Germanic peoples after the Roman occupation, Venning explores historical what-ifs such as the unification of England by different kingdoms, a Viking triumph over Alfred and an Anglo-Saxon victory at the battle of Hastings. Grounded in the actual forces and tensions of the period, this counterfactual history illuminates the reality while discussing intriguing speculative scenarios.

What course would English history have taken had Henry V been defeated at Agincourt? What if Joan of Arc had not galvanized French resistance at Orleans? Venning explores these and many more what-ifs during the reigns of kings Edward III to Henry VI, focusing on decisive moments in Britain's history. Grounded in the actual forces and tensions of the Middle Ages, this counterfactual study illuminates the reality as well as discussing engrossing speculative scenarios.

In this volume of his Alternative History of Britain , Timothy Venning focuses on an unprecedented era of political instability in Britain and illuminates what really happened while exploring the fascinating alternative courses history would have taken if, for example, Warwick had won the Battle of Barnet, young Edward V had not disappeared, or the outcome at Bosworth had been in Richard's favour.

During the three centuries following the collapse of Carolingian rule, Europe was transformed by a vigorous ecclesiastical reform movement and the building of great monasteries and local churches. Hamilton's study of these changes focuses on England, France, Germany and northern Italy, using recent research into religious institutions and the neglected evidence of liturgical material: it offers a new interpretation of ordinary people's experience of Christianity against a background of continual evolution in the roles of clergy and laity.

In the last decades of the 13th century the British Isles appeared to be on the point of unified rule, dominated by the lordship, law and language of the English. However, by 1400 Britain and Ireland were divided between the warring kings of England and Scotland, and peoples were still starkly defined by race and nation. This study addresses the question of why the apparent trend towards a common Anglicised world stopped so abruptly after 1300.