During the century and a half of their power the Black Douglases earned fame as Scotland's champions in the front line of war against England. On their shields they bore the bloody heart of Robert Bruce, the symbol of their claim to be the physical protectors of the hero-king's legacy. But others saw the power of these lords and earls of Douglas in a different light. To their critics the Douglases were a force for disorder in the kingdom, lawless, arrogant and violent, whose power rested on coercion and whose defiance of ...
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During the century and a half of their power the Black Douglases earned fame as Scotland's champions in the front line of war against England. On their shields they bore the bloody heart of Robert Bruce, the symbol of their claim to be the physical protectors of the hero-king's legacy. But others saw the power of these lords and earls of Douglas in a different light. To their critics the Douglases were a force for disorder in the kingdom, lawless, arrogant and violent, whose power rested on coercion and whose defiance of kings and guardians ultimately provoked James II into slaying the Douglas earl with his own hand. Michael Brown analyses the rise and fall of this family as the dominant magnates of the south, from the deeds of the Good Sir James Douglas in the service of Bruce to the violent destruction of the Douglas earls in the 1450s. Alongside this study of the accumulation and loss of power by one of the great noble houses, The Black Douglases includes a series of thematic examinations of the nature of aristocratic power. In particular these emphasise the link between warfare and political power in southern Scotland during the fourteenth century. For the Black Douglases, war was not just a patriotic duty but the means to power and fame in Scotland and across Europe.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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Near Fine. 8vo vi (iv), 358 pp, acknowledgments, list of b&w illustrations, maps and genealogical tables, abbreviations, Introduction: 'A Large and Attractive Book'; 1. The Black Douglas; 2. The Knight of Leddesdale and the Lord of Douglas; 3. Archibald the Grim (1358-1388); 4. The Douglas Inheritance; 5. Ruler of the South: Archibald Fourth Earl of Douglas; 6. The Bloody Heart: The Rise of the Douglases and the Kingdom of Scotland; 7. The War Wall: The Douglases at War; 8. Douglas Lordship; 9. 'Eldest Son of the Pope': The Douglases and the Church; 10. 'Known Through all Christendom': The Douglases and Europe; 11. The Rise of James the Gross; 12. A Pride of Douglases; 13. The Fall; 14. Exile and End; bibliography, index. First Paperback Edition, 1998. "The author examines aristocratic power and status and its place in Scottish polotical society throught the greatest and most notorious magnate dynasty of late medieval Scotland. He analyses the rise and fall of the family as dominant magnates of the south, from the deeds of the Good Sir James Douglas in the service of Bruce to the violent destruction of the Douglas ears in the 1450s, and includes a series of thematic examinations of the nature of aristocratic power. In particular these emphaise the link between warfare and political power in southern Scotland during the 15th century." Bumped with only the slightest wear to rear fore-edge wrapper, else, Pristine, no wear. Clean, tight and strong binding with no underlining, highlighting or marginalia. Illustrated wrappers.