{"product_id":"writing-history-for-the-king-henry-ii-and-the-politics-of-vernacular-historiography-hardback-9780801451317","title":"Writing History for the King; Henry II and the Politics of Vernacular Historiography (Hardback) 9780801451317","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eWriting History for the King\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eHenry II and the Politics of Vernacular Historiography\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eCharity L. Urbanski (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780801451317\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 15 October 2013\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e272 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.5 x 15.5 x 2.2 cm, 0.907 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrbanski's \u003ci\u003eWriting History for the King\u003c\/i\u003eis a shining example of the kind of work more researchers needs to do in the primary texts that underpin medieval historical narratives—a dedicated, nuanced, and insightful examination of the writing of vernacular history during the reign of Henry II.\u003c\/p\u003e - Thomas Lecaque (Comitatus)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWriting History for the King is at once a reassessment of the reign of Henry II of England (1133–1189) and an original contribution to our understanding of the rise of vernacular historiography in the high Middle Ages.\u003c\/b\u003e Charity Urbanski focuses on two dynastic histories commissioned by Henry: Wace's Roman de Rou (c. 1160–1174) and Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Chronique des ducs de Normandie (c. 1174–1189). In both cases, Henry adopted the new genre of vernacular historical writing in Old French verse in an effort to disseminate a royalist version of the past that would help secure a grip on power for himself and his children. Wace was the first to be commissioned, but in 1174 the king abruptly fired him, turning the task over to Benoît de Sainte-Maure. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrbanski examines these histories as part of a single enterprise intended to cement the king's authority by enhancing the prestige of Henry II's dynasty. In a close reading of Wace's Rou, she shows that it presented a less than flattering picture of Henry's predecessors, in effect challenging his policies and casting a shadow over the legitimacy of his rule. Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Chronique, in contrast, mounted a staunchly royalist defense of Anglo-Norman kingship. Urbanski reads both works in the context of Henry's reign, arguing that as part of his drive to curb baronial power he sought a history that would memorialize his dynasty and solidify its claim to England and Normandy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAcknowledgments\u003cbr\u003e List of Abbreviations\u003cbr\u003e Norman Genealogical Table\u003cbr\u003e Map of the Angevin Empire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e1. Situating the \u003ci\u003eRoman de Rou\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eChronique des ducs de Normandie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003ePoetry and History\u003cbr\u003e The Origins of Old French Historiography\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e2. Henry II\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eLineage and Regional Rivalries\u003cbr\u003e Stephen's Reign and the Civil War\u003cbr\u003e The Restoration of Royal Authority\u003cbr\u003e The Great War, 1173\/74\u003cbr\u003e The Succession Question\u003cbr\u003e History and Dynastic Memory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e3. The \u003ci\u003eRoman de Rou\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe Conquest of England\u003cbr\u003e The Death of William the Conqueror\u003cbr\u003e Henry I and Robert Curthose\u003cbr\u003e The Battle of Tinchebray\u003cbr\u003e Wace\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e4. The \u003ci\u003eChronique des ducs de Normandie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eProvidence and the Norman Dukes\u003cbr\u003e The Norman Conquest\u003cbr\u003e William the Conqueror\u003cbr\u003e Henry I\u003cbr\u003e The Empress Matilda and Henry II\u003cbr\u003e Benoit de Sainte-Maure\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003e Index\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cornell University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52735246172440,"sku":"9780801451317","price":53.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/writing-history-for-the-king-henry-ii-and-the-politics-of-vernacular-historiography-hardback-9780801451317","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}