Clash of Crowns: William the Conqueror, Richard Lionheart, and Eleanor of Aquitaine—A Story of Bloodshed, Betrayal, and Revenge

by Mary McAuliffe

Conflict between England and France was a fact of life for centuries, but few realize that its origins date from the time of the Vikings, when a Norse chieftain named Rollo established himself and his progeny in Normandy. In this compelling and entertaining history, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to those dark and turbulent times when Rollo s descendants, the dukes of Normandy, asserted their dominance over the weak French monarchy a dominance that became especially threatening after Duke William conquered England in 1066, giving him a royal crown. Despite this crown, William the Conqueror and his royal successors remained dukes of Normandy, with feudal obligations to their overlord, the king of France. This naturally fostered an ongoing hostility between the French and English crowns that, as McAuliffe convincingly shows, became ever more explosive as the strength and territorial holdings of the English monarchs grew. Conflict erupted regularly over the years, and Eleanor of Aquitaine s desertion of one camp for the other only added fuel to the long-simmering feud. McAuliffe takes the reader back to this dramatic era, providing the fascinating background and context for this clash of crowns. She offers colorful insights into Richard Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine as well as lesser-known French and English monarchs, especially Philip II of France. Philip proved a determined opponent of Richard Lionheart, and their cutthroat rivalry not only created fatal divisions within the Third Crusade but also culminated in an incendiary faceoff at Richard s newly built Chateau-Gaillard, the seemingly impregnable gateway to empire. The outcome would shape the course of English and French history throughout the centuries that followed.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Medieval, France, European History, British Literature

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Mary McAuliffe holds a PhD in history from the University of Maryland, has taught at several universities, and lectured at the Smithsonian Institution. She has traveled extensively in France, and for many years she was a regular contributor to Paris Notes. Her books include Dawn of the Belle Epoque, Twilight of the Belle Epoque, When Paris Sizzled, Paris on the Brink, Clash of Crowns, and Paris Discovered. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Dawn of the Belle Epoque
Twilight of the Belle Epoque
When Paris Sizzled
Paris on the Brink
Clash of Crowns
Paris Discovered

Reviews

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frustrating book that pays off in the end.
Given the scarcity of primary resources, the greatest obstacle for any writer in Medieval History is finding some new angle on familiar stories. There is nothing new in this volume so far as the life of any of the named characters is concerned. After a long build through the life of Henry II, it is Lionheart who is the real star of this book, with Eleanor and Philip of France as the supporting cast. After some 900 years of retelling there really is nothing left to be told that has not already been said repeatedly to burnish the golden legend of Lionheart any further.

So here is the clever bit. McAuliffe sets out to write a history of a place, the keystone castle Lionheart threw up in an act of defiance as a response to Philip's relentless advance on Rouen. The loss of this castle under King John marked the moment where the rulers of England transitioned from being primarily Norman Dukes with continental empire into being the Kings of England with continental claims. The history of the Chateau-Gaillard epitomizes both the shining noon of Plantagenet aspirations and their darkest nadir. A good idea for a book, right?

This attempt to hinge the course of the Angevin Empire on this watershed structure is new and admirable, but it is an idea that is swamped by the flood of recursive biography that dominates this volume until the closing chapters. The introduction makes this intention of the book clear, but somehow (I suspect the intervention of a well-meaning editor trying to aim the book to a general audience) there is a long back trail to arrive at the start. This back trail is so dominant that it is the source of the subtitle: the legacy of William the Conqueror being only a reason why Lionheart was in a position built this marvel of a castle and Eleanor mainly appears as the number one fan of her heroic son. Similarly, the long digression into the squabbles of Henry and Eleanor's children and the Third Crusade is useful staging for the rivalry of Philip and Lionheart leading to the construction of the castle, but is retold in too much detail. Also, although you would never know it while reading through, Richard's experiences while on Crusade ends up having an interesting influence on his opinions concerning defensive design. So the inclusion of all this background material is justifiable individually, but none of it is presented as background. It is instead presented as the story McAuliffe wants to tell. So the essential flaw of this book is that she buries the lede, which is sad. The story of the Chateau-Gaillard is worth the effort, but if you know the history part already you can skip to the end chapters.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially a biography of Richard I. It has an intro on his Norman heritage and a conclusion on how his brother lost Normandy.

Don't let the names in the subtitle pull you in. None of them is clashing with the other. Richard is clashing with Philip of France. I think the title (similar to Game of Thrones), the subtitle and the blurb are all part of the marketing.

The writing is choppy and it needs a good edit, but there are some good chapters.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw this book, the names included in the title alone drew me in, Eleanor of Aquitaine being one of my favorite historical figures. I assumed, given the way the book was presented, I would be reading about the establishment of the legacy of the Normans, how it impacted the greater part of England and France, and how it was expanded into the Angevin Empire of the Plantagenet family. And I was correct, to a point. McAuliffe does discuss how the Vikings came to France and claimed/were gifted vast tracks of land in what became known was Normandy, and how their legacy spread and grew in power, putting them into conflict with their fellow nobles and also the Capetian Kings of France. She does spend some time with Eleanor of Aquitaine, discussing her early years and how she traded the title Queen of France for Queen of England, her marriage with Henry II Plantagenet, their children, and their subsequent problems that through a good chunk of the continent into chaos.

Make no mistake, however - this book's primary subject is Richard the Lionheart. The rest is, ultimately, just window-dressing.

Richard has never been the source of huge fascination for me (no, I tend to reserve that for his illustrious parents and ancestors), so I was disappointed that there wasn't more of them, but I was still mildly interested in what the author had to say of the king who is made famous for his part in the fantastical legends of Robin Hood.

Learning about Richard's immensely complicated relationship with Phillip Augustus of France was fascinating, as it shows much of the origins of France and England's historic enmity, something that did not really start to end until the early 20th century when English and French soldiers fought side-by-side against the Germans in World War I.

Overall, the book was a bit dry for my tastes, but not too bad. Though disappointed by both William the Conqueror and Eleanor of Aquitaine being pretty much just a background/side-show to the main attraction of Richard, I still learned quite a bit.

[Malacima · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
If you've read the historical fiction (with very good historical research) from the Sharon Kay Penmann -Lionheart (Plantagenets #4) and A King's Ransom (Plantagenets #5)- then this book will not tell you anything new. This book is a battered history of Richard Lionheart. Mostly about his enemy Philip of France, about his impressive the Chateau-Gaillard castle and other people who passed through Richard's life. The title of book itself (which attracted me) can lead you astray, but if you look at who the main heroes of the story are (Philip and Richard), it's really the clash between the crowns (but not as it says in the title ), everything else is just a list of people through their lives, family and marriage connections...etc
But anyway, book is very informative.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering my strong interest in Medieval history, it probably won’t surprise many to see that I picked this as a read. It is, in many ways, a history of many of the most important Plantegets. Starting with Rollo the Viking, who helped settle his people and founded what would eventually become the Duchy of Normandy, readers get to hear the stories of many members of the family, whether by birth or marriage, including William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine and her husband Henry II, and their sons William the Lion-Hearted and John Longshanks. Readers even get a glimpse of the battle between Henry’s mother Matilda and her cousin Stephen of Blois, who play such a major role in the redirection of English nobility and set the background for the Brother Cadfael books and The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Part of what draws me to the period is all of the political intrigue that surrounds the royal families of the time period, particularly the entwined French and English nobility. Some of that might be due to the face that my genealogy traces itself back to some of the more obscure members of these families. McAuliffe definitely focuses a lot of the earlier portions of the book on just that. Besides the Plantagenets of England and the Capets of France, the book looks at some of their relatives in the smaller realms in the Frankish lands and German areas. Of course, the Church is right in the middle of things.

The later Crusades also play a larger role as the book focuses more and more on Richard Lionheart. I have to admit that I was surprisingly less interested in this part of the book than I would have thought, though. It was not bad writing, but I just couldn’t get drawn in.

I thought the book was well written, giving strong insight into the lives of some important historical figures. I do think the book would have benefited from the inclusion of family trees to help with connecting various cousins, and the books is very short on maps, which would have been very helpful. With that said, I did enjoy the book. It is worth a try if you like the time period.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, where to begin. I suppose with the title, seeing as how that is what drew me to the book in the first place. The sub title is especially misleading, and as someone who considers Eleanor of Aquitaine one of her hypothetical 'five people dead or alive I'd invite to a dinner party', her small role was disappointing. This is especially true given how crucial she was in her family's success. Had it not been for Eleanor - in her 80s - securing the ransom, Richard never would have been freed after his capture and detainment by Leopold. This really is primarily a biography of Richard I, the Lion Heart.

If the text had a bit better of an editing job, I'd have been able to rate it higher. And perhaps part of the problem too is that this is one of my favorite time periods and dynasties, so I know a bit more than someone who is unfamiliar with the Plantagenets. The author makes a good attempt, but she jumps around quite a bit in the beginning before finally setting her sights on Richard and following him specifically through the Crusades and up to his death. Richard and John are presented in typical fashion, Richard was good and John was bad - though I do not recall him being referred to Lackland, so that is a bonus. I am in no way defending John, he certainly was not England's greatest king, but I am not sure he has always gotten a fair trial - how could he, following Richard, who is seen as the all-powerful warrior king who could do no wrong? (Yet another image that may not be entirely historically accurate).

I did learn a few new details, particularly about Gaillard, Richard's 'daughter', but I am currently also in the midst of reading "Richard and John: Kings at War" so perhaps had I finished that one first, these facts wouldn't have been so new. I'd love to see Gaillard now, though it is in ruins, what a site it must have been in Richard's day.

Over all, this is a decent work, something a bit more introductory than I am used to in regards to this family, but still recommended, especially for those who are new to the subject.

[Kirk Borger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[Riley Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good primer on early English history, however it assumes the reader has some knowledge of European history in the Middle Ages. Coming in with little info at times I felt like I was playing catch up.

In summary, Vikings led by Rollo conquered Normandy and ruled from the 900’s (I hate the use of centuries in historical writing) and up to William the conqueror in 1066 who sailed across the Chanel and became the King of England.

Fast forward to the late 1100’s and Henry the 2nd is king of England. He controls Normandy and most of Northern France but is considered a vassal to Phillip II of France. As a way to get back at Phillip he marries his Fathers ex-wife Eleanor of Aquitaine who bears many heirs, most importantly Richard the Lionheart and Prince John (of Robin Hood fame). However Phillip turns Richard against his father and king Henry dies after he rebels.

Richard is a great warrior and defends his holdings in Normandy and goes on crusade with mixed successes. On his return he is imprisoned in Austria and held for ransom. Meanwhile Price John takes the throne but allows the Norman kingdom to crumble by ceding land to Phillip of France. Upon his return, Richard fights to save his Norman territory and builds a huge castle called Château Gaillard as key to his defense. He is killed a minor battle as part of his war to reclaim Normandy.

His Norman control and monster castle last only 4 years under King John. In 1204 chateau Gaillard is beaten and with it most English nobleman cross the Chanel for good. Very cool to understand the foundations of the British Monarchy and the reason for the fall of British control of Normandy.

[Mike Shoop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, brief overview of the roots of the problems between the English and the French monarchs that have lasted for centuries. Author touches on Rollo (the Viking invader that grabbed onto Normandy), the English Plantagenet king Henry II and French Capetian king Louis VII and their wife-in-common, the fabulous and powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine, but the main focus is really on the glorious warrior Richard the Lionheart. Richard's numerous contests and clashes with Philip II of France are legendary, and this book explains their multi-faceted personalities, long-simmering feud, territorial issues, problems on the Third Crusade, castle building, etc. At the center of it all are Richard's attempts to bolster the huge Plantagenet empire and his constantly being challenged by Philip's efforts to create a unified France. It's a good review for those interested in 12th century European history. I only wish there had been family trees and more maps provided with the text.

[Brett Van Gaasbeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fair history of three (but mostly focused on Richard...and Philip of France) important figures in English politics from the middle ages. McAuliffe briefly touches on William the Conqueror, does justice to Eleanor, and then presents a detailed breakdown of Richard's tumultuous and brief time as monarch of England. It is good in spurts, but gets bogged down in details about castle-building or family trees that are solid research, but don't make for page turning reading. If you want a more narrative history of these individuals, check out "The Plantagenets" by Dan Jones.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This covers a wide range of time from Rollo the Viking to after the death of Richard the Lionheart. This also covers a wide geographical area from England, Normandy, France, Sicily, Palestine and other places. This jumps around a lot and is more of a quite synopsis. The writer clearly loves the subjects, but makes it a very short take on it. Perhaps building deeper chapters or limiting the topics would have made for a more effective book.

[Kevin Whitaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was entertaining but also hard to follow as someone who doesn't know anything about this time period -- it was confusing how it jumped around in time early on, and I could have really used more maps or something. I'm also not sure what the point of this book was; despite the subtitle it's pretty much all about Richard and Philipp, and I didn't take away anything about what it all meant.

[Angela Alessandroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting side road (read) for me about a period of history I often hear mentioned, but know little about. I appreciate getting a somewhat clearer picture about the Norman Conquest of England, the Platagenets, Eleanor of Aquitaine and many of the medieval players in the histories. Constant wars, destruction and rebuilding by real estate mad self made wealthy oligarchs.. Not too much about shared ideals and a common sense of culture.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading history as a story. It took me a while to read it, but that is because I wanted it to sink in and not simply rush through it. Sometimes I get mixed up with so many names and places, but Mary McAuliffe has additional notes and information in the back if the book that helps. I really liked it and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the library!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short! Good if you want to read up on Medieval history but only have one weekend. I had a hard time keeping track of the timelines but I enjoyed the history nonetheless.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many to remember all important kings, queens, church men, fight, win, lose, get sick, die.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

only read this for my history class, really boring but had some interesting parts. i don’t think i will remember any of what i read lol

[Ann Cardwell]

Did not finish it. Too difficult to be interesting to me. Too much detail.

[Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun gallop through the life and times of William the Conqueror, his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons--with some of their more notable wives thrown in (Eleanor of Aquitaine, Berengaria). The Conqueror did become king of England but was also empire-building in France and died and was buried there--and his heirs the Plantagenet kings really cared more about their French possessions, and England was secondary. Thus the focus of this book is what these colorful, brutal rulers did in and to Normandy, Poitou, Aquitaine, and the Vexin. Good illustrations; could use a few more maps. Handy glossary and useful footnotes.

[Trevor · Rating 1 out of 5]

With an MA in history, I know a bad book when I see one. Wait, that is a bit harsh. This book has promise, but it needs Attila the editor to go through it. McAuliffe introduces figures too quickly and shuttles back and forth on their chronology like a shuttlecock I gave up trying to keep track of her narrative. It is not often that I abandon a book, but this was one of them. I want to learn more on the period, as I didn't do Medieval history, and I am fine with pop style history books, but it just didn't have any flow.

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle is really misleading, but the book itself is well written, well annotated, and takes a different and intriguing look at Richard the Lionheart's life and reign.

The real focus of the book is Chateau Gaillard, Richard's famed castle that he boasted of to Philip Augustus that he could defend if were its walls made of butter.

It's a short read, and an easy one, but the history is good (based on what I know of the period.)

Recommended.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too long, not too tedious. A good overview, with enough details to keep it interesting. I teach the Middle Ages, and this provided a lot of background information on three famous Medieval rulers: Eleanor of Aquitaine, William the Conqueror, and Richard the Lionheart, as well as their siblings and progeny.

[Keeley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't read this book. It was so scattered. I was so confused. I love this genre but this book just wasn't working for me. But I want to read about these people so I will find a different author.

[Julian Haigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real life medieval soap-opera. I just can't believe how convoluted were the relationships between the descendents of the bastard William the Conqueror. Success breeds its own problems in families and this explains the animosity between the snobby French and the block-headed English.

[Dr. Sharada · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book deserves 2.5 rather than merely 2 stars. I learned a number of interesting facts, but the book wasn't particularly well-written and it wasn't as engaging as the subject matter could have made it.

[Kyla]

The subject matter is something I'm very interested in. However, this book's organization, combined with a lack of helpful images, makes it difficult to follow. I couldn't stay interested or invested in any of the "characters."

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - excellent historical overview of the history of the English-French conflict.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slim introduction to the historical background preceding the 12th and 13th century Anglo-French conflict.

[Terri Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly writtenn.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book I've read on the subject, and somewhat scattered at times, but I did like the exclusive focus on the continental lands of the English crown.