A renowned scholar brings to life medieval England’s most celebrated knight, William Marshal—providing an unprecedented and intimate view of this age and the legendary warrior class that shaped it.Caught on the wrong side of an English civil war and condemned by his father to the gallows at age five, William Marshal defied all odds to become one of England’s most celebrated knights. Thomas … Thomas Asbridge’s rousing narrative chronicles William’s rise, using his life as a prism to view the origins, experiences, and influence of the knight in British history.
In William’s day, the brutish realities of war and politics collided with romanticized myths about an Arthurian “golden age,” giving rise to a new chivalric ideal. Asbridge details the training rituals, weaponry, and battle tactics of knighthood, and explores the codes of chivalry and courtliness that shaped their daily lives. These skills were essential to survive one of the most turbulent periods in English history—an era of striking transformation, as the West emerged from the Dark Ages.
A leading retainer of five English kings, Marshal served the great figures of this age, from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to Richard the Lionheart and his infamous brother John, and was involved in some of the most critical phases of medieval history, from the Magna Carta to the survival of the Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty. Asbridge introduces this storied knight to modern readers and places him firmly in the context of the majesty, passion, and bloody intrigue of the Middle Ages.
The Greatest Knight features 16 pages of black-and-white and color illustrations.
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As an English major and student of Medieval history, this was the first time I truly understood the French and English wars and reasons behind then. Enlightening, informative and fascinating. Made history come to life
I was expecting something less scholarly.
This was a very interesting book. The time frames jump around a bit, but it’s fairly easy to follow in that respect. Well-written, and explained the politics, socio-economic, and military aspects and impacts of the time.
This nonfiction book follows the career of William Marshall, who served the Plantagenet kings and epitomized knightly virtues (some of which would be considered flaws today). A younger son, he made his fortune jousting and would be made an earl.
The author takes an old source and gives a very informative look at life in the age of knights and chivalry.
If William Marshall’s life wasn’t interesting enough, Thomas Asbridge has illuminated his life like never before. Not only is the book informative, but it reads in a way that avoids the common pitfall of other history books (which can be notoriously dull). I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knights, chivalry, and the Angevin period of England and France.
I read a lot of historical romance and William Marshall pops up in many of them…I was quite thrilled to read a non fiction on his life.
I bought this book because it’s about someone who was well known in his time, but who we almost never hear about today. In fact I’ve never seen a biography on him before. The author also includes tons of data on a fascinating era – the MIddle Ages with fascinating people like Henry II of England & his family, the Crusades,
I find many biographies to be boring collections of facts. The Greatest Knight is among one of the best I have ever read.
Too long, sometimes confusing
I didn’t finish it. Was sort of boring,
An autobiography of William Marshall in the 12th century.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t know much about this time period and this book was very informative. This man had a remarkable life and great influence on history and our world today.
Great history
This is a book I’d like to read again. It was a library book and I bought it when it went on sale.
The time period of Knights in armor is fascinating. This was well written.
Interesting history but lots of military details
Well written, well documented, historically accurate and entertaining.
An excellent true story, a biography of a great person who lived long ago, and was possibly the “greatest knight” ever…..relatively little is known about the life of William Marshall, but what is known is fascinating. Highly recommended!
This book is a lightweight History. Kind of midway between a text and historical fiction. I am planning to go back and re-read a novelization of William Marshal after I finish. This is informative, that was entertaining.
History doesn’t come more exciting than this. Thomas Asbridge has written a page turner about William Marshal, the Zelig of English history, a man who was indispensable to five kings, and had a hand in practically every important event during those turbulent and eventful reigns.