Forging the Kingdom Power in English Society, 973–1189

Between the imperial coronation of Edgar in 973 and the death of Henry II in 1189, English society was transformed. This lively and wide-ranging study explores social and political change in England across this period, and examines the reasons for such developments, as well as the many continuities. By putting the events of 1066 firmly in the middle of her account, Judith Green casts new light on the significance of the Norman Conquest. She analyses the changing ways that kings, lords and churchmen exercised power, especially through the building of massive stone cathedrals and numerous castles, and highlights the importance of London as the capital city. The book also explores themes such as changes in warfare, the decline of slavery and the integration of the North and South West, as well as concepts such as state, nationalism and patriarchy.

1. Introduction; 2. Contexts; 3. Kings; 4. Lay lords: an age of aristocracy; 5. Archbishops, bishops and abbots; 6. Individuals, communities and networks; 7. Power and place; 8. London: the making of a capital city; 9. A patchwork kingdom; Conclusion.

Judith Green was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh and Queen's University, Belfast, prior to her retirement. She is the author of several works on the history of England and Normandy between the tenth and twelfth centuries, including The Aristocracy of Norman England (Cambridge, 2002) and Henry I: King of England and Duke of Normandy (Cambridge, 2006). She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.