Synopses & Reviews
The first full-length study of the elite group which surrounded King John, his household knights.
Review
"...[Church] has presented a book that is exceptionally well organized; thus, his line of arguement is easily followed." Boyd Breslow, History"Church...is the first to offer an in-depth examination of this group of men." Heather Tanner, The Medieval Review"Church...helps to answer...important questions in this tightly focused and efficiently presented study of the household knights of King John." Choice"...illuminating and useful study..." Comitatus"Church's skillful research in and explication of the sources results in an important monograph that illuminates the workings of King John's government as the careers of this special set of knights...assessment of the circumstances at work in the recruitment, responsibilities, rewards, and loyalties of King John's household knights adds another level of actuality to our understanding" Speculum-a Jrnl Of Medieval Studies Oct 2001
Synopsis
This is the first full-length study of the elite group which surrounded King John, the household knights. As well as fighting for the king, they organized his armies, were involved in government, undertook diplomatic missions, controlled important castles, and proved themselves generally indispensable for the workings of English medieval government.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Recruitment into the royal military household; 3. Monarchy in action: the functions of the kingâs household knights; 4. The rewards of royal service; 5. Loyalty, civil war, and the household knights; 6. Johnâs household knights during the minority of Henry III; 7. Some case histories; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.