The kings & queens of England by Ormrod, W. M., 1957-; British Library instant download

The kings & queens of England by Ormrod, W. M., 1957-; British Library instant download

287 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : 25 cm, \"The lives of kings and queens include some of the most colourful and dramatic episodes in the history of England and Great Britain. William the Conqueror's great survey, Domesday Book, caused his new subjects to rail and quake at the king's new knowledge of the extent of their lands, livestock and livelihoods. King John's rapacious attitude towards his subjects made him, within a generation of his death, into the mythical monster of Hollywood legend - though his association with the fictional Robin Hood came only later. Henry VIII eagerly accepted the title of 'defender of the faith' from the pope, then promptly dismantled papal authority in England and created his own state church.\" \"This book offers an historical context in which to appreciate the political and moral significance of both the famous and the more obscure incidents in the public and private lives of Britain's monarchs. Why, in an age that placed such store by the provision of heirs, were Edward the Confessor, Richard II and Elizabeth I all reputed to have taken vows of chastity? What curious conventions allowed Edward I to exhibit Scottish noblewomen in wooden cages as war trophies? Which genetic defects might account for the fact that both Henry VI and George III went mad? In this fabulously illustrated new history, a group of distinguished historians, each a specialist in their field, offers the answers to these and other questions through a wealth of information and insights into the lives and reigns of English and British sovereigns from the 5th century AD to the present day.\"--Jacket, Published in association with The British Library, Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-270) and index, The kings of the English from earliest times to 1066 -- The House of Normandy (1066-1154) -- The House of Anjou (1154-1272) -- The House of Plantagenet (1272-1399) -- The Houses of Lancaster & York (1399-1485) -- The House of Tudor (1485-1603) -