Monarchy: From the Middle Ages to Modernity

Monarchy: From the Middle Ages to Modernity
David Starkey

To coincide with the Channel 4 series to be aired at the end of this year – David Starkey's ‘Monarchy’ charts the rise of the British monarchy from the War of the Roses, the English Civil War and the Georgians, right up until the present day monarchs of the 20th Century.David Starkey’s magisterial new book Monarchy charts the rise of the British crown from the insurgency of the War of the Roses, through the glory and dangers of the Tudors, to the insolvency of the Stuarts and chaos of the English Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the rule of a commoner who was ‘king in all but name’, the importing of a German dynasty, and the coming-to-terms with modernity under the wise guidance of another German, Victoria’s Prince Consort Albert. An epilogue brings to story up to the present and asks questions about the future.The crown of England is the oldest surviving political institution in Europe. And yet, throughout this book Starkey emphasises the Crown’s endless capacity to reinvent itself to circumstances and reshape national polity whilst he unmasks the personalities and achievements, the defeats and victories, which lie behind the kings and queens of British history.Each of these monarchs has contributed, in their own way, to the religion, geography, laws, language and government that we currently live with today. In this book,Starkey demonstrates exactly how these states were arrived at, how these monarchs subtly influenced each other, which battles were won and why, whose whim or failure caused religious tradition to wither or flourish, and which monarchs, through their acumen and strength or single minded determination came to enforce the laws of England.With his customary authority and verve, David Starkey reignites these personalities to produce an entertaining and masterful account of these figures whose many victories and failures are the building blocks upon which Britain today is built. Far more than a biography of kings and queens, ‘Monarchy’ is a radical reappraisal of British nationhood, culture and politics, shown through the most central institution in British life.

MONARCHY

From the Middle Ages to Modernity

DAVID STARKEY

To Hal and Susie Bagot,

under whose roof it was finished.

For friendship and hospitality.

CONTENTS

GENEALOGY

INTRODUCTION: The Imperial Crown

PART I

1 The Man Who Would Be King

2 King and Emperor

3 Shadow of the King

4 Rebellion

5 New Model Kingdom

PART II

6 Restoration

7 Royal Republic

8 Britannia Rules

9 Empire

10 The King is Dead, Long Live the British Monarchy!

EPILOGUE: The Challenges of Modernity

INDEX (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by David Starkey

Credits

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

PICTURE CREDITS (#u1b50cbcc-5513-5960-800d-a8735178b6de)

SECTION I

Page 1

1 King Edward IV, by unknown artist, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

2 Elizabeth Woodville. © The President and Fellows of Queens’ College.

3 King Richard III, by unknown artist, late 16th century, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

4 Lady Margaret Beaufort, by unknown artist, c.1600, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

Pages 2–3

1 King Henry VII, by unknown artist, 1505, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

2 Elizabeth of York, by unknown artist, c.1500, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

3 King Henry VIII, (miniature), Horenbout Lucas, 1526–7. The Royal Collection © 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

4 Catherine of Aragon, (miniature), attributed to Horenbout Lucas, c.1525. The National Portrait Gallery, London.

5 Meeting at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, 7th June 1520. From an original by Hans Holbein, the Elder (oil on canvas), this copy by Friedrich Bouterwek. © Chateau de Versailles, France/Lauros/ Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library.

Pages 4–5

1 The Whitehall Mural, or The Dynasty Portrait. From an original by Hans Holbein, this copy by Remigius van Leemput, late 17th century. The Royal Collection © 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

2 The Great Bible, title page, 1539. © Lambeth Palace Library, London, UK/The Bridgeman Art Library.

Pages 6–7

1 The Family of Henry VIII, by unknown artist, c.1545, (oil on canvas). The Royal Collection © 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

2 Thomas Cranmer, by Flicke Gerlach, 1545, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

3 King Edward VI and the Pope, by unknown artist, c.1570, (oil on panel). The National Portrait Gallery, London.

4 Queen Mary I by Hans Eworth or Ewoutsz, (fl.1520–74). © Society of Antiquaries, London, UK/The Bridgeman Art Library.