The Theory and Practice of Revolt in Medieval England

Claire Valente

$273

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Routledge
04 March 2003

British & Irish history; Early history: c 500 to c 1450&1500; Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions; Revolutionary groups & movements

Medieval Englishmen were treacherous, rebellious and killed their kings, as their French contemporaries repeatedly noted. In the 13th through 15th centuries, ten kings faced serious rebellion, in which eight were captured, deposed, and/or murdered. One other king escaped open revolt but encountered vigorous resistance. In this book, Professor Valente argues that the crises of the 13th and 14th centuries were crucibles for change; and their examination helps us to understand medieval political culture in general and key developments in later medieval England in particular. The book takes a comparative look at these crises, seeking to understand medieval ideas of proper kingship and government, the role of political violence and the changing nature of reform initiatives and the rebellions to which they led. It argues that rebellion was an accepted and to a certain extent legitimate means to restore good kingship throughout the period, but that over time it became increasingly divorced from reform aims, which were satisfied by other means, and transformed by growing lordly dominance, arrogance, and selfishness. Eventually the tradition of legitimate revolt disappeared, to be replaced by both parliament and dynastic civil war. Thus, on the one hand, development of parliament, itself an outgrowth of political crises, reduced the need for and legitimacy of crisis reform. On the other hand, when crises did arise, the idea and practice of the community of the realm, so vibrant in the 13th century, broke down under the pressures of new political and socio-economic realities. By exploring violence and ideas of government over a longer period than is normally the case, this work attempts to understand medieval conceptions on their own terms rather than with regard to modern assumptions and to use comparison as means of explaining events, ideas, and developments.

By: Claire Valente
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 162mm
Weight: 544g
ISBN: 9780754609018
ISBN 10: 0754609014
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 04 March 2003
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Claire Valente

Reviews for The Theory and Practice of Revolt in Medieval England

'Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.' Choice Reviews 'Valente is to be congratulated for having written an important study that puts basic questions of medieval English kingship, magnate opposition, and political society into the spotlight of analysis... The book deserves attention because it is a thoughtful scholarly enterprise along lines that are at once highly significant and radically unfashionable.' Speculum '... shows a mastery of archival sources from the period and presents a convincing and thought-provoking narrative of the evolution of revolt.' The Medieval Review 'Valente offers a thoughtful analysis of an important aspect of political life, and her book should be of considerable interest to students and scholars.' Albion '... offers [..] a rich understanding of the dynamics and political structures of late medieval England and provides a nuanced reading of the interrelation of change, reform, resistance and personality which can only enhance our interpretation of the development of English government.' Parergon 'In her well-written and well-researched recent work, Valente challenges traditional ideas concerning the reasons behind baronial resistance between the years 1215 and 1415, and concludes that the nature of rebellion changed over the centuries in accordance with previously addressed grievances' becoming common rights... This book is an excellent resource for academic libraries and researchers with specific interests. It clearly provides the more advanced student of medieval English history with an evolutionary understanding of the working relationship between barons and kings.' Sixteenth Century Journal