The Medieval Gentry
Power, Leadership and Choice During the Wars of the Roses
1st Edition
Published on 4. November 2010
184 pages
978-1-4411-4083-8 (ISBN)
Description
What were the principal factors that influenced and shaped the behaviour of the gentry during the Wars of the Roses, from 1455 at the first battle of St Albans to the final encounter at Stoke in 1487? It was the gentry who were the natural leaders within their communities and the nobility relied upon them for military manpower, and to act as their mouthpieces at local levels. Consequently, the gentry's ability to persuade their kinsmen and tenants to act in a particular way was crucial, especially their capacity to raise and lead men into battle. This was a critical factor in the outcome of the Lancastrian and Yorkist campaigns. The book begins by outlining how individuals are understood to make decisions and the discussion then moves to the late medieval gentry and the characteristics that define them as a social formation. A definition of the gentry will also be offered. The remainder of the book assesses the relationship between the gentry and the political and social world of the late middle ages.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-4083-8 (9781441140838)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2012
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€55.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Malcolm Mercer is Assistant Manager of the Medieval and Early Modern Records Information Service at the National Archives. He has written widely on the late medieval period, and has contributed to two BBC Radio 4 history programmes, 'What If' and 'Making History'. He lives in Croydon, Surrey.
Malcolm Mercer worked at The National Archives, London from 1997 to 2006 as senior medieval records specialist, and then as senior research archivist at Canterbury Cathedral Archives. He is currently curator of Tower history at the Royal Armouries Museum.
Malcolm Mercer worked at The National Archives, London from 1997 to 2006 as senior medieval records specialist, and then as senior research archivist at Canterbury Cathedral Archives. He is currently curator of Tower history at the Royal Armouries Museum.
Content
Chapter 1: Introduction - A fascination with choice / Chapter 2: Who were the gentry? / Chapter 3: The decision making process / Chapter 4: Gentry, warfare, and violence / Chapter 5: The public domain: service, lordship and principles / Chapter 6: The private domain: locality, neighbourhood and family / Chapter 7: The personal domain: contradictory responses to conflict / Chapter 8: Conclusions
