
The Bigod Earls of Norfolk in the Thirteenth Century (Paperback)
Marc Morris (author)
£17.99
Paperback
280 Pages /
Published: 19/03/2015
- We can order this from the publisher
The Bigods were one of the most powerful and important families in thirteenth-century England. They are chiefly remembered for their dramatic interventions in high politics. Roger III Bigod (c. 1209-70) famously led the march on Westminster Hall in 1258 against Henry III, while Roger IV Bigod (1245-1306) confronted Edward I in 1297 in similar fashion.
This book is the first full-scale study of these two earls, and explores in depth the reasons that led each of them to take the extreme step of confronting his king. It is only in part, however, a political study. In seeking to understand the motives that lay behind their public actions, the book scrutinizes the earls' private affairs. It establishes for the first time the precise extent of their landed estate, the size of their incomes, and the membership and quality of their affinities. It also examines their relationships with friends and relatives, their building works, and even their personalities. Extensive use is made throughout of unpublished manuscript sources: in particular, the hundreds of ministers' accounts that have survived from the administration of Roger IV Bigod, and the charters given by both earls, which are calendared and translated in an appendix.
This book is the first full-scale study of these two earls, and explores in depth the reasons that led each of them to take the extreme step of confronting his king. It is only in part, however, a political study. In seeking to understand the motives that lay behind their public actions, the book scrutinizes the earls' private affairs. It establishes for the first time the precise extent of their landed estate, the size of their incomes, and the membership and quality of their affinities. It also examines their relationships with friends and relatives, their building works, and even their personalities. Extensive use is made throughout of unpublished manuscript sources: in particular, the hundreds of ministers' accounts that have survived from the administration of Roger IV Bigod, and the charters given by both earls, which are calendared and translated in an appendix.
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
ISBN: 9781783270095
Number of pages: 280
Weight: 460 g
Dimensions: 233 x 159 x 16 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
Morris tells the stories of the Bigods' changing fortunes through detailed study of documents [and] the two earls really come to life when he quotes contemporary chroniclers. EASTERN DAILY PRESS
Engaging and tremendously informative. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW
Admirably thorough and full of new things... a most useful addition to studies of the thirteenth-century English aristocracy. EHR
(A) careful and well-crafted treatment of the meteoric rise and fall of one of England's great baronial families of the thirteenth century. SPECULUM
This book is...without doubt important to our understanding of the thirteenth century on a number of levels. (It is) the product of extremely thorough and painstaking research and makes an illuminating and very important contribution to our understanding of thirteenth-century politics and government. REVIEWS IN HISTORY
Marc Morris has mastered the huge amount of documentary evidence...to produce an eminently readable narrative. SUFFOLK INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY NEWSLETTER
As always from Boydell, an excellent reference work for the scholar and interested reader alike. HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Engaging and tremendously informative. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW
Admirably thorough and full of new things... a most useful addition to studies of the thirteenth-century English aristocracy. EHR
(A) careful and well-crafted treatment of the meteoric rise and fall of one of England's great baronial families of the thirteenth century. SPECULUM
This book is...without doubt important to our understanding of the thirteenth century on a number of levels. (It is) the product of extremely thorough and painstaking research and makes an illuminating and very important contribution to our understanding of thirteenth-century politics and government. REVIEWS IN HISTORY
Marc Morris has mastered the huge amount of documentary evidence...to produce an eminently readable narrative. SUFFOLK INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY NEWSLETTER
As always from Boydell, an excellent reference work for the scholar and interested reader alike. HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
You may also be interested in...
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Not registered? CREATE AN ACCOUNTCREATE A plus ACCOUNT
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Reserve online, pay on collection.
Please note that owing to current COVID-19 restrictions, many of our shops are closed. Find out more by clicking here.
Please note that owing to current COVID-19 restrictions, many of our shops are closed. Find out more by clicking here.
Thank you for your reservation
Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at
When will my order be ready to collect?
Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection.
Call us on or send us an email at
Unfortunately there has been a problem with your order
Please try again or alternatively you can contact your chosen shop on or send us an email at