This biographical history tells the story of 31 Gothic monarchs who fought in the crusades, enforced their feudal rights throughout the kingdom, sponsored the growth of representative government through a parliament, and ultimately created a military power that would dominate European affairs. In the process, the narrative recaptures the dramatic and chaotic span of the years between 1000 and 1400, when the great European monarchies were still in their formative stages. The book discusses the lives of English and Scottish kings in the context of their eras, discussing their achievements and failures, their relations with the Church and foreign powers, and their overall influence on the suppression of the nobility and the development of the monarchy as the primary governing institution of both Scotland and England.

Philip J. Potter is retired and lives in Hoschton, Georgia.

Philip J. Potter

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 196
Bibliographic Info: charts, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4038-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5248-4
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

PART ONE: GOTHIC KINGS OF ENGLAND
Genealogical Charts      5
Pre-Norman Invasion, Late House of Anglo-Denmark, 1016–1066      8
CNUT, 995–1016–1035      9
HAROLD I, 1017–1035–1040      14
HARTHACNUT, 1018–1040–1042      17
EDWARD III, 1005–1042–1066      19
HAROLD II, 1022–1066–1066      26
House of Normandy, 1066–1154      35
WILLIAM I, 1027/28–1066–1087      35
WILLIAM II RUFUS, 1060–1087–1100      43
HENRY I, 1068–1100–1135      48
STEPHEN, 1096–1135–1154      54
House of Plantagenet, 1154–1399      61
HENRY II, 1133–1154–1189      61
RICHARD I, 1157–1189–1199      68
JOHN, 1167–1199–1216      75
HENRY III, 1207–1216–1272      82
EDWARD I, 1239–1272–1307      87
EDWARD II, 1284–1307–1327      94
EDWARD III, 1312–1327–1377      101
RICHARD II, 1367–1377–1399–1400      108

PART TWO: GOTHIC KINGS OF SCOTLAND
Genealogical Charts      117
House of Canmore, 1058–1290      119
MALCOLM III, 1031–1058–1093      119
DONALD III, 1033–1093–1097–1099      124
DUNCAN II, 1060–1094–1094      126
EDGAR I, 1074–1097–1107      128
ALEXANDER I, 1077–1107–1124      130
DAVID I, 1085–1124–1153      133
MALCOLM IV, 1141–1153–1165      141
WILLIAM I, 1143–1165–1214      144
ALEXANDER II, 1198–1214–1249      150
ALEXANDER III, 1241–1249–1286      155
MARGARET I, 1283–1286–1290      160
House of Bruce, 1292–1371      161
JOHN BALLIOL, 1250–1292–1296–1313      161
ROBERT I, 1274–1306–1329      164
DAVID II, 1324–1329–1371      174

Appendix: Contemporary Gothic Rulers of Europe      181
Bibliography      185
Index      187