1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910159441203321

Autore

Creighton O. H (Oliver Hamilton), <1972->

Titolo

The anarchy : war and status in 12th-century landscapes of conflict / / Oliver H. Creighton and Duncan W. Wright with contributions by Michael Fradley and Steven Trick [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Liverpool : , : Liverpool University Press, , 2016

ISBN

1-78694-399-9

1-78138-369-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xi, 346 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Exeter studies in medieval Europe : history, society and the arts

Disciplina

942.02/4

Soggetti

History

Great Britain History Stephen, 1135-1154

Great Britain Antiquities 12th century

Civilization, Medieval 12th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 07 Jul 2017).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sommario/riassunto

The turbulent reign of Stephen, King of England (1135-54), has been styled since the late 19th century as 'the Anarchy', although the extent of political breakdown during the period has since been vigorously debated. Rebellion and bitter civil war characterised Stephen's protracted struggle with rival claimant Empress Matilda and her Angevin supporters over 'nineteen long winters' when, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 'Christ and his Saints slept'. Drawing on new research and fieldwork, this innovative volume offers the first ever overview and synthesis of the archaeological and material record for this controversial period. It presents and interrogates many different types of evidence at a variety of scales, ranging from nationwide mapping of historical events through to conflict landscapes of battlefields and sieges. The volume considers archaeological sites such as castles and other fortifications, churches, monasteries, bishops' palaces and urban and rural settlements, alongside material culture including coins, pottery, seals and arms and armour. This approach not only augments but also challenges historical narratives, questioning the



'real' impact of Stephen's troubled reign on society, settlement, church and the landscape, and opens up new perspectives on the conduct of Anglo-Norman warfare.