Once again, the lovely people at Amberley have sent me a review copy of one of their newly-released titles.
"Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, was, by his own declaration, a Norman. Possessing, at one time or another, a Dukedom, numerous Earldoms and Viscounties on both sides of the Channel, he owned and controlled about a third of both England and Normandy. Skilled in siegecraft and loyal to a fault, Ranulf spent a lifetime at war alongside the impetuous King Richard the Lionheart and then his reviled brother King John, ably commanding their armies and earning a reputation for his offensive spirit and his tenacity in defence. Loyal to a fault, in 1215 he refused to sign Magna Carta and spent the next two years as England’s main defence against a French-backed rebel army. Offered the regency of all England, he graciously refused. His military might tipped the balance in support of the child king Henry III. Ranulf’s reputation grew further when he went on crusade, covering himself with glory and winning the admiration of Rome. He went on to use his experience of war to build spectacular castles, and his diplomacy secured economic prosperity for much of the Midlands. When he died at the height of his fame in 1232, it was said in France that the devil himself had thrown his soul out of hell – even in death he was simply too hot to handle! By Ranulf’s own declaration, his body was that of a foreigner; but surely his heart and soul belong to England. This is the story not just of one man, but of the birth pangs of the English nation."
I very much enjoyed this book. Iain Soden has the knack of writing in a conversational way, whilst still presenting all the history in great detail. He puts Ranulf squarely in his time: a period where the nobility were tested by the whims of the kings, where kings succeeded and wrought changes, and where many of the high-born - royalty included - held lands on either side of the channel, and thus often owed fealty to rival kings.
Ranulf appears to have steered his course prudently through these choppy waters and, as the author points out, the low-points of his career came about largely because he was stuck on the wrong side of the channel when it mattered.
It quickly becomes apparent, reading this book, that Ranulf suffered from being a contemporary of William Marshal, and perhaps would be better remembered were it not for that. However, he clearly inspired affection and loyalty, and his career was, in the main, hugely successful. Even his bitter enemy, with whom he'd argued to the point of swords being drawn, had kind words to say about him after his death. Earlier, when that same enemy (Hubert de Burgh) had fallen from favour and was seeking sanctuary, Ranulf defended him.
It also speaks volumes that when Ranulf was known to be dying the king ( Henry III) moved his court suddenly from Reading to Wallingford in what seems to have been a desire to pay his last respects to Ranulf.
His marital life was perhaps less successful, given that there was little but mutual animosity in his first marriage and his second seems to have been an arrangement rather than a love match, but I was pleased that the author gave us as much detail about that as is presumably available. I also liked that, where appropriate, he offered details about the castles and other locations mentioned in the book and whether they are still standing, and how accessible they are. Of particular interest was the detailed description of Bolingroke (Lincolnshire).
Occasionally I would have liked more detail, such as when Ranulf's style of government on his own lands is mentioned; it would have been interesting to know a bit more about the workings of estate management during this period, but with a wealth of material and a large time span to get through, I imagine some topics had to be given a little less attention.
I was interested and, impressed, that Ranulf opposed measures to expel the Jews on his lands. This may not have been for entirely altruistic reasons, but he was brave enough to stay out of step on this matter. His land-drainage programme, again whilst presumably designed to boost his own coffers, also benefited those who lived on and worked the land.
Ranulf appears to have shared something else with William Marshal - an ability to continue fighting until well into old age. He was sent back to France by the king at the age of fifty-nine, to oversee the campaign there.
Charting a long life, the books takes us through the reigns of several kings, from the reign of Henry II, through those of Richard I and John, to Henry III. It was a time of great change, fluctuating fortunes, and wavering loyalties. Much to take in, but the history of this period is presented in a chronological way and is easy to follow even if the reader is not fully knowledgeable of the period. There are some suggestions of alternative theories, such as what really happened to King John's jewels, but they are offered as just that: alternative theories and I don't think there's anything controversial here.
Throughout, Ranulf remains 'centre-stage' and there's no flying off at tangents. Although this book gives detailed coverage of these times, it never loses its way, keeping the focus on its subject.
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