Taylor, April Royal Favourites of Medieval England, 1066-1485

This programme explores the monarchs of medieval England and their trusted, often ruthless courtiers, who shaped history through loyalty, power and conflict. All monarchs need people they can trust. Never was this more important than for the kings of medieval England. From the Norman victory in 1066 to the bloody death of Richard III in 1485, the taunts and attacks of royal life led to relentless vigilance, mistrust and paranoia. This volume covers a period of 419 years. It begins with a bloody battle and ends with a bloody battle. To understand the lives and actions of the courtiers, one must also know something about the monarchs they served. In this book, you will find short biographies of each monarch, followed by some of the courtiers whom they trusted, though not always deservedly so. You will learn about the cruel deeds of William the Conqueror, who, despite his victory at Senlac Hill, took five years to subdue the English, but could not have achieved his victories without trusted lieutenants such as William Fitz Osbern. How Stephen's innate laziness almost cost him England, had it not been for William of Ypres, and how Matilda's half-brother Robert of Gloucester kept alive her hopes for the throne bequeathed to her by her father, Henry I. The Plantagenet kings changed the face of England and often brought wealth to those who joined the monarchy. Men who are still revered today, such as William Marshal, known as the greatest knight, who served five kings loyally. Various younger brothers held high ecclesiastical offices. Not all served to enrich themselves. John Beauchamp became a favourite of Edward III, but was not openly greedy for money. The Wars of the Roses left England virtually bankrupt. The favourites on both sides, the Somersets of the House of Lancaster and the Nevilles of the House of York, gained enormous wealth and power and were determined to fight to the death. The death that ended the war was that of Richard III on 22 August 1485, when Henry Tudor seized the throne and the Tudor era began.