Nobility and Kingship in Medieval England
The Earls and Edward I, 1272–1307

This book reassesses the relationship between Edward I and his earls, and the role of English nobility in thirteenth-century governance.

Andrew M. Spencer (Author)

9781107026759, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 31 October 2013

317 pages, 2 maps 13 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.6 kg

'Andrew M. Spencer's Nobility and Kingship in Medieval England provides a new and enterprising view of an old subject by arguing, contra almost everyone, that most of Edward's earls were loyalists during the great crises of his reign and that their local power was more dependent on the defence and extension of jurisdictional rights than on their use of retainers to control the shires.' John Maddicott, 'Books of the Year', History Today

Nobility and Kingship in Medieval England is a major new account of the relationship between Edward I and his earls, and of the role of the English nobility in thirteenth-century governance. Re-evaluating crown-noble relations of the period, Spencer challenges traditional interpretations of Edward's reign, showing that his reputed masterfulness has been overplayed and that his kingship was far subtler, and therefore more effective, than this stereotype would suggest. Drawing from key earldoms such as Lincoln, Lancaster, Cornwall and Warenne, the book reveals how nobles created local followings and exercised power at a local level as well as surveying the political, governmental, social and military lives of the earls, prompting us to rethink our perception of their position in thirteenth-century politics. Adopting a powerful revisionist perspective, Spencer presents a major new statement about thirteenth-century England; one which will transform our understanding of politics and kingship in the period.

Introduction
1. The Earls and their lands
Part I. The King and the Earls: 2. Consorts, companions and counsellors
3. Justice, franchises, war and reward
Part II. The Earls in Local Society: 4. Introduction to Earls in local society
5. The creation of comital followings
6. The exercise of comital power
Part III. Politics and the Earls: 7. The making of Edwardian power, 1265–86
8. The Testing Ground, 1286–1307
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Medieval history [HBLC1], British & Irish history [HBJD1], History [HB]