The Birth of Nobility

by David Crouch

For 300 years separate and mutually uncomprehending English and French historiographies have confused the history of medieval aristocracy. Unpicking the basic assumptions behind both national traditions, this book explains them, reconciles them and offers entirely new ways to take the study of aristocracy forward in both England and France. The Birth of Nobility analyses the enormous international field of publications on the subject of medieval aristocracy, breaking it down into four key noble conduct, noble lineage, noble class and noble power. Each issue is subjected to a thorough review by comparing current scholarship with what a vast range of historical source material actually says. It identifies the points of divergence in the national traditions of each of these debates and highlights where they have been mutually incomprehensible. For students studying medieval Europe.

Genres: History, France, Medieval, British Literature, Medieval History

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2005

About the author

David Bruce Crouch, FRHistS, FBA, was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Hull, where he taught from 2003 until his retirement in 2018.

Reviews

[AskHistorians]

Crouch is a controversial historian and while his arguments have not been accepted wholesale he possesses an undeniable command of a historiographical discourse which spans centuries. Crouch sets out clearly the historiographical path of three key topics: chivalry, nobility, and feudalism then proposes challenging ideas for the future of these fields. Written in evocative prose and pulling few punches the book is a masterful exploration of the core concepts at the heart of the medieval lay elite. The Birth of Nobility is aimed at an audience interested in socio-political power structures but does not possess the prior knowledge of an academic audience.

[Karl Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction not only to current state of debates about, for example, the existence of 'feudalism,' but also an excellent introduction to how the study of nobility got to where it is today. Few books manage to treat in detail both their medieval topic and the medieval studies that called their topic into view.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book is very misleading. The majority of the book is not about the birth of the nobility but rather about the historiography of the birth of the nobility. There were interesting bits but it was really for an academic history reader and a specialized one at that.