Product Description

The Angevin Empire at its greatest extent stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. It was ruled by a succession of princes - Henry II, Richard I, John - who could claim to be the most powerful rulers in western Europe. For fifty years it was the dominant political entity and 'English' and 'French' history were inextricably woven together.

How were these disparate territories brought together? How were they ruled? Did they, indeed, constitute an 'empire'? Why did John lose his grip on much of his continental inheritance so rapidly? To these questions and others John Gillingham offers answers in this lively and boldly argued account - 'a model', in the words of a reviewer of the first edition, 'of how to write medieval history'.

The new edition is thoroughly revised and carries two wholly new chapters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #410010 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Nigel Saul in History Today
Brimming with argument and controversy every inch of the way... a book which everyone interested in the period should read.

Review
Brimming with argument and controversy every inch of the way... a book which everyone interested in the period should read. (Nigel Saul in History Today )

A model of how to write medieval history. (Peregrine Horden in British Book News )

The Angevin Empire is much more that a synthesis: it stands as a work of original research. (H.E. Mayer in Deutsches Archiv )

This concise, lucid and lively book provides readers with more than just a precise account; as the product of the author's own reflection, it will stimulate them to make up their own minds. (Jean-Phillipe Genet in Le Moyen Age )

A prime example of how to write history in a lively and interesting style. (France in Print )

H.E. Mayer in Deutsches Archiv
The Angevin Empire is much more that a synthesis: it stands as a work of original research.

Customer Reviews

I loved it, absolutly
With only 160 pages you'll be able to cope with that book faster than you could expect, but you should not believe that this book is not interesting. Many points raised are fairly pertinents and Gilligham goes straight to the point. There are no unbacked assertions although there are some points that could have deserved some more attention, like Thomas Beckett or Basile (the knight responsible for Richard I's death). But in the optic of the book, which is to strictly describe the political structure and important political evolutions, they can be regarded as dispensable.

It's simple, everything is referenced and that's highly appreciable, you can read that book and be sure you're not reading a "tabloid version" of the history.

I wouldn't put it, alone, as an absolute reference but you can then expand your reading to more specific details. The end of the book as a rather interesting list on more specific matters which people really interested in the matter should definately check.

Also some events before the "Angevin Empire" like the Norman Conquest could have deserved some more attention but then again it is not the purpose of this book.

Conclusion: If you buy this book you will read only, and strictly only, on the political structures and evolutions of the Angevin Empire. Only on political events that had direct consequences on its geopolitical status and the rest will be just mentioned. But then about the matter it definately doesn't wander around about other issues and maybe not so relevant points (yet not uninteresting).

5 stars for me, mentioning the English used in the book is fairly accessible even to foreign readers (like me).