Queens of the Age of Chivalry - England's Medieval Queens by Alison Weir Paperback

About the Book

"The Age of Chivalry describes a period of medieval history dominated by the social, religious, and moral code of knighthood that prized noble deeds, military greatness, and the game of courtly love between aristocratic men and women. It was also a period of high drama in English history, which included the toppling of two kings, the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt. Feudalism was breaking down, resulting in social and political turmoil. Against this dramatic milieu, Alison Weir describes the lives and reigns of five queen consorts: Marguerite of France was seventeen when she became the second wife of sixty-year-old King Edward I. Isabella of France, later known as 'the She-Wolf, ' dethroned her husband, Edward II, and ruled England with her lover. In contrast, Philippa of Hainault was a popular queen to the deposed king's son Edward III. Anne of Bohemia was queen to Richard II, but she died young and childless. Isabella of Valois became Richard's second wife when she was only six years old, but was caught up in events when he was violently overthrown. This was a turbulent and brutal age, despite its chivalric color and ethos, and it stands as a vivid backdrop to the extraordinary stories of these queens' lives."--

Book Synopsis

Packed with dramatic true stories from one of European history's most romantic and turbulent eras, this epic narrative chronicles the five Plantagenet queens of England between 1299 and 1409, from the New York Times bestselling author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe).

"A thorough and illuminating survey of the Plantagenet dynasty."--Publishers Weekly

The Age of Chivalry was an era of the Middle Ages dominated by the social and moral code of knighthood that prized noble deeds and the game of courtly love between aristocratic men and women. A period of high drama in English history, the fourteenth century witnessed the toppling of two kings, the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt. Feudalism was breaking down, resulting in social and political turmoil.

Against this dramatic milieu, Alison Weir recounts the lives and reigns of five queen consorts: Marguerite of France was twenty when she married sixty-year-old King Edward I. Isabella of France, later known as "the She Wolf," dethroned her husband, Edward II, and ruled England with her lover. In contrast, Philippa of Hainault was a popular queen to the deposed king's son Edward III. Anne of Bohemia was queen to Richard II, but she died young and childless. Isabella of Valois became Richard's second wife when she was six years old, only to see him violently overthrown.

This was a chaotic and brutal age, despite its chivalric color and ethos, and it stands as an arresting setting for the extraordinary stories of these queens' lives.

Don't miss any of Alison Weir's fascinating England's Medieval Queens series:
QUEENS OF THE CONQUEST - QUEENS OF THE CRUSADES - QUEENS OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY - QUEENS AT WAR

Review Quotes

"Like few nonfiction authors of our time, Alison Weir again shows that history, when done properly, can captivate the mind and heart as well as (or maybe even better than) the most creative fiction."--Bookreporter

"Weir focuses on broader themes of chivalry that shaped the era's alliances and debunks the most scandalous court gossip. The result is a thorough and illuminating survey of the Plantagenet dynasty."--Publishers Weekly

"Well- researched, competent popular medieval history."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous historical biographies, including Queens of the Crusades, Queens of the Conquest, The Lost Tudor Princess, Elizabeth of York, Mary Boleyn, The Lady in the Tower, Mistress of the Monarchy, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She is also the author of historical novels including The Last White Rose and the Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII. She lives in Surrey, England, with her husband.