The Angevin Empire - John Gillingham

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.