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Willem de Maarschalk, of De beste ridder ter wereld 1145-1219
Op 14 mei 1219 sterft Willem de Maarschalk op zijn slot Caversham, te midden van zijn dierbaren. Tot op het laatste moment heeft hij zich, als een van de meest vooraanstaande edelen van Engeland, voorbeeldig van zijn ridderlijke plichten gekweten. Tijdens zijn leven diende Willem de Maarschalk vijf opeenvolgende Engelse vorsten; na het conflict tussen Jan zonder Land en diens baronnen herstelde hij de rust in het koninkrijk, en de laatste drie jaar voor zijn dood was hij ' voogd en meester' over de jeugdige koning Hendrik III.
Willem was een ridder van uitzonderlijke reputatie. Hij nam het kruis op en trok naar het Heilige Land; in 1217 versloeg hij, als aanvoerder van het Engelse leger, de Franse kroonpretendent in de slag bij Lincoln en in zijn jongere jaren zegevierde hij in vrijwel elk toernooi waar de bloem van de Europese adel wedijverde om de hoogste eer.
Na zijn dood schreef een minstreel in opdracht van Willems zoon een heldendicht waarin de voortreffelijkheid van de overledene wordt bezongen. Met de l'Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal als uitgangspunt brengt de beroemde Franse mediaevist Georges Duby de wereld van Willem de Maarschalk op onnavolgbare wijze opnieuw tot leven – de wereld van ridderschap en feodaliteit, waar begrippen als moed, vrijgevigheid en trouw (prouesse, largesse et loyaute) de hoogste waarden vertegenwoordigen.
Willem was een ridder van uitzonderlijke reputatie. Hij nam het kruis op en trok naar het Heilige Land; in 1217 versloeg hij, als aanvoerder van het Engelse leger, de Franse kroonpretendent in de slag bij Lincoln en in zijn jongere jaren zegevierde hij in vrijwel elk toernooi waar de bloem van de Europese adel wedijverde om de hoogste eer.
Na zijn dood schreef een minstreel in opdracht van Willems zoon een heldendicht waarin de voortreffelijkheid van de overledene wordt bezongen. Met de l'Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal als uitgangspunt brengt de beroemde Franse mediaevist Georges Duby de wereld van Willem de Maarschalk op onnavolgbare wijze opnieuw tot leven – de wereld van ridderschap en feodaliteit, waar begrippen als moed, vrijgevigheid en trouw (prouesse, largesse et loyaute) de hoogste waarden vertegenwoordigen.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 17, 2014
Who is ever alone at the beginning of the thirteenth century but the mad, the possessed--marginal figures who are hunted down? An orderly world requires that each man remains swathed in a fabric of solidarities, of friendships, in a corps.
A few detractors of this text cite that Duby appears more concerned with "the age of chivalry" rather than the specifics of Marshall's life. I suppose you can't please everyone. This is an astonishing portrait of the intensely intricate and complex set of social relations in the late 1200/early 1300s. As society became more complex, a fixed monetary system apparently flourished and social mobility became an increasing reality. This wasn't an option for most folks in this milieu. Thus the code of knightly honor and courtly love. Each is actually a sober response to set of unfair circumstances. William Marshall embodied this code to a fanatical end, despite ongoing menace he maintained an unyielding loyalty and was actually rewarded. Yes, he was an exceptional warrior. He was also rather lucky, not least by a healthy constitution which allowed him to outlive most of his royals, especially those sporting crowns.
This dovetailed nicely with the Plantagenets book I'm reading, and it wasn't a bad way to spend a frozen Sunday. Despite being 153 pages, the text does require concentration as well as an awareness of the various royal houses of the time.
A few detractors of this text cite that Duby appears more concerned with "the age of chivalry" rather than the specifics of Marshall's life. I suppose you can't please everyone. This is an astonishing portrait of the intensely intricate and complex set of social relations in the late 1200/early 1300s. As society became more complex, a fixed monetary system apparently flourished and social mobility became an increasing reality. This wasn't an option for most folks in this milieu. Thus the code of knightly honor and courtly love. Each is actually a sober response to set of unfair circumstances. William Marshall embodied this code to a fanatical end, despite ongoing menace he maintained an unyielding loyalty and was actually rewarded. Yes, he was an exceptional warrior. He was also rather lucky, not least by a healthy constitution which allowed him to outlive most of his royals, especially those sporting crowns.
This dovetailed nicely with the Plantagenets book I'm reading, and it wasn't a bad way to spend a frozen Sunday. Despite being 153 pages, the text does require concentration as well as an awareness of the various royal houses of the time.
November 20, 2009
A very interesting book, although not really a satisfying biography of William Marshal. Rather the author uses the story of Marshal's life to examine the ideals of chivalry and the hierarchical structure of medieval feudal society. Marshal seems to have been adept at managing the multiple and often conflicting bonds of loyalty and obligation.
He began life as a penniless younger son of a minor nobleman. He garnered fame for his prowess on the tournament field, entered into the service of kings, and eventually became the Earl of Pembroke by way of the wife granted to him by Richard the Lionheart. In his old age he served, supposedly under protest, as regent of England.
Speaking of marriage: "A man has a thousand times more worth than a woman, but he has virtually none if he does not himself possess a legitimate wife in his bed, in the heart of his own house." It's fascinating that women were themselves little more than chattel but could convey great wealth and lofty titles to their husbands. Kings collected stray heiresses and distributed them to their supporters as bribes and rewards.
He began life as a penniless younger son of a minor nobleman. He garnered fame for his prowess on the tournament field, entered into the service of kings, and eventually became the Earl of Pembroke by way of the wife granted to him by Richard the Lionheart. In his old age he served, supposedly under protest, as regent of England.
Speaking of marriage: "A man has a thousand times more worth than a woman, but he has virtually none if he does not himself possess a legitimate wife in his bed, in the heart of his own house." It's fascinating that women were themselves little more than chattel but could convey great wealth and lofty titles to their husbands. Kings collected stray heiresses and distributed them to their supporters as bribes and rewards.
February 3, 2009
Biography of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, yet now almost obscure medieval knights, William the Marshall. He was one of the few knights ever to have unhorsed the great warrior king, Richard the Lionheart, and he lived to not only tell about it but went on to serve Richard, as he has served his father Henry II, and later John and John's son, the young Henry III. Perhaps William did no greater service than to rally the disaffected barons (in the wake of the revolt which resulted in Magna Carta) to support and save the regime of young Henry III in the face of invasions from both France and Scotland.
March 22, 2024
A pesar de su corta extensión, esta obra es un auténtico monumento en el que se trasluce la admiración del autor -disimulada bajo su obediencia debida a la objetividad propia del buen historiador- por una época en la que, contrariamente a lo que nos muestran tanto la cada vez más escasa historiografía que desprecia la Edad Media, como la "Edad Media pop" utilizada en numerosos libros, películas, series o videojuegos, podemos encontrar valiosos valores (valga la redundancia) e interesantes ejemplos de conducta (siempre salvando las distancias temporales, de clase social, de mentalidades, etc.). Mentalidades que, por cierto, vuelven a ser un elemento esencial dentro de una obra de un historiador relacionado con la Escuela de los Annales.
February 14, 2024
As a biography, this book is a bit unusual as it's only tangentially a biography. The actual focus is analysis of a biographical poem commissioned by one of William Marshall's son's after his death. As a result, the book begins with Marshall's death and the resolution of his estate. The second chapter concerns the commissioning of the poem, it's creation (it took approximately seven years), and some technical details. Only after that, does the author get into William Marshall's life. He covers specifics about the manuscript, what can or cannot be confirmed from other sources, and details about knighthood, tournaments, and fealty/feudal politics in the mid-to-late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. The text is generally pretty readable but the author sometimes throws out some real dogs. For example: "When I consult this invaluable document in order to follow the trajectory of a personal ascent - in order to construct from the example better hypotheses as to what might be the capillary movements of promotion in Western aristocracy during the half century framing the year 1200 (that is the spate of growth then weeping Europe in the upswing of a prodigious development which, with the same energy brought about the acceleration of monetary circulation, the strengthening of state structures, and consequently the multiplication of the individual's opportunities for advancement) one fact seems clear to me: the wheel of fortune, raising some, casting others down, turned ever faster in those days, even in this apparently stable social milieu constructed on its lineal armatures." I'm going to be charitable and assume that sounded better in the original French. 3 stars.
March 24, 2021
Aunque el título del libro puede llevar a cierta confusión, al pensar que se trata de una biografía de Guillermo el Mariscal (William Marshall), creo que el trabajo que realiza Georges Duby en este libro es más interesante que la propia biografía anunciada.
Usando como herramienta el panegírico escrito para conmemorar la muerte de Guillermo el Mariscal, Duby se entrega a la tarea de analizar la sociedad de finales del siglo XII y principios del XIII, en cuanto al aspecto caballeresco de la misma. Aparecen aspectos muy interesantes como el papel de la mujer, el ascensor social y las relaciones -sociales y familiares- entre caballeros.
Tampoco es desdeñable el propio hecho de que se utilice como herramienta histórica un cantar de gesta, documento más literario que histórico, pero que con las herramientas adecuadas puede ser una fuente tan válida -o más- que otras para analizar el pasado.
Una lectura muy recomendable para cualquiera interesado en la Edad Media, de la mano de uno de los grandes medievalistas del siglo XX, que nos acerca no sólo a la figura de Guillermo el Mariscal, sino a toda una sociedad.
Usando como herramienta el panegírico escrito para conmemorar la muerte de Guillermo el Mariscal, Duby se entrega a la tarea de analizar la sociedad de finales del siglo XII y principios del XIII, en cuanto al aspecto caballeresco de la misma. Aparecen aspectos muy interesantes como el papel de la mujer, el ascensor social y las relaciones -sociales y familiares- entre caballeros.
Tampoco es desdeñable el propio hecho de que se utilice como herramienta histórica un cantar de gesta, documento más literario que histórico, pero que con las herramientas adecuadas puede ser una fuente tan válida -o más- que otras para analizar el pasado.
Una lectura muy recomendable para cualquiera interesado en la Edad Media, de la mano de uno de los grandes medievalistas del siglo XX, que nos acerca no sólo a la figura de Guillermo el Mariscal, sino a toda una sociedad.
August 7, 2014
According to my research I am descended (separately) from Marshal's four daughters. That gave me enough incentive to look him up and find out his story. There isn't much extant material on William Marshal save for a secondhand copy of his life story that he commissioned on his deathbed. As a result, we both know a lot about him (relatively speaking) and not much at all.
Duby manages to spread this thin knowledge out across 150 pages, much like a high school paper-writer spreads not much across a 600-word essay. However, to his credit, Duby also places Marshal in the context of the chivalric world. He makes the book more useful from an analytical context instead of a biographical context.
Duby manages to spread this thin knowledge out across 150 pages, much like a high school paper-writer spreads not much across a 600-word essay. However, to his credit, Duby also places Marshal in the context of the chivalric world. He makes the book more useful from an analytical context instead of a biographical context.
December 2, 2019
"Ajalooteadus eksisteerib vaid läbi jutustamise. Et ta oleks hea, peab ka jutustamine olema hea. [...] Ajalooline tekst peab olema loetav kunstiteosena, millel on omaenese ilu. Ta peab olema kaasahaarav. [...] Ma arvan, et ajaloolane peab olema poeet, et kutsuda lugejat unistama."
Teos on nende teesidega igati kooskõlas. Köitev ylevaade Prantsuse ryytlikultuurist selle apogee le Marechali elukäigu läbi.
Teos on nende teesidega igati kooskõlas. Köitev ylevaade Prantsuse ryytlikultuurist selle apogee le Marechali elukäigu läbi.
April 4, 2024
Fascinating character. Truly one of the greatest knights ever. Survived incredibly tumultuous times of war under 5 kings. Served Richard the Lionheart, went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands and earned the respect of the crusaders, was famous for his brute strength and swordsmanship, was (most probably) the inspiration for Sir Lancelot, won over 500 jousting bouts.. suffice it to say, man was a legend.
January 19, 2013
Georges Duby uses the 13th century biography of William Marshal, commissioned by his eldest son immediately after his death and written within the lifetime of many of his companions, as a device to present an analysis of chivalry and knighthood in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
In this book that opens with the last months of Marshal's life and describes how he prepares for death, Duby, a leading French historian and professor of medieval history, provides the reader with a wealth of information in very compact form. The book is particularly valuable for descriptions of melees, the rough-and-tumble pseudo-battles fought over rough terrain by hundreds of knights, which preceded the tame tournaments of later centuries. Likewise, Duby provides useful insight into life of “bachelor” knights of the period – the large, unruly pack of younger sons, who had no land, no income, and no wives. He shows how they had to live by their wits, their skills and by forming associations with other knights, relatives and sponsors.
However, the figure of Marshal himself is all too often lost in Duby’s commentary. Although his source is a rare authentic record written in the vernacular, which when quoted is vibrant and evocative, Duby quotes it far too seldom. It is thus Duby’s voice, not Marshal's or his biographer's, that dominates this work.
Duby is teaching his reader about the 12th/13th century, using Marshal’s life as “Exhibit A.” This is Duby’s version of events, his interpretation of 12th century society, and to scholars familiar with the material, his arguments may not always sound convincing. More important to me, however, was simply that William Marshal, the supposed subject, comes too short in this book.
To be sure, enough of William Marshal’s personality is revealed to be tantalizing, but the book left me unsatisfied. I felt particularly cheated by the way Duby rushes over Marshal’s most exceptional achievements (that of retaining the favor of three successive, bitterly hostile and very different kings: Henry II, Richard I and John). Duby may be right that these events are “so well recorded in history” they need no explanation, but the book is sold as a biography of Marshal, and readers have a right expect that his entire life will be described. Duby's book left me feeling I would have enjoyed the original medieval “song” (at least in translation) more – and interested in finding a full-length biography of Marshal.
In this book that opens with the last months of Marshal's life and describes how he prepares for death, Duby, a leading French historian and professor of medieval history, provides the reader with a wealth of information in very compact form. The book is particularly valuable for descriptions of melees, the rough-and-tumble pseudo-battles fought over rough terrain by hundreds of knights, which preceded the tame tournaments of later centuries. Likewise, Duby provides useful insight into life of “bachelor” knights of the period – the large, unruly pack of younger sons, who had no land, no income, and no wives. He shows how they had to live by their wits, their skills and by forming associations with other knights, relatives and sponsors.
However, the figure of Marshal himself is all too often lost in Duby’s commentary. Although his source is a rare authentic record written in the vernacular, which when quoted is vibrant and evocative, Duby quotes it far too seldom. It is thus Duby’s voice, not Marshal's or his biographer's, that dominates this work.
Duby is teaching his reader about the 12th/13th century, using Marshal’s life as “Exhibit A.” This is Duby’s version of events, his interpretation of 12th century society, and to scholars familiar with the material, his arguments may not always sound convincing. More important to me, however, was simply that William Marshal, the supposed subject, comes too short in this book.
To be sure, enough of William Marshal’s personality is revealed to be tantalizing, but the book left me unsatisfied. I felt particularly cheated by the way Duby rushes over Marshal’s most exceptional achievements (that of retaining the favor of three successive, bitterly hostile and very different kings: Henry II, Richard I and John). Duby may be right that these events are “so well recorded in history” they need no explanation, but the book is sold as a biography of Marshal, and readers have a right expect that his entire life will be described. Duby's book left me feeling I would have enjoyed the original medieval “song” (at least in translation) more – and interested in finding a full-length biography of Marshal.
December 9, 2015
William Marshal: The Flower of Chivalry
Georges Duby
Read it in paper-back at 168 pages, no appendix or biblio (there is one but it's actually suggested works.)
I really like Duby and the additions he makes to the field. The only other work that I have read by him was 'The Chivalrous Society' which was really fascinating. I have plans to read some of his other works as well. I had picked this up as an appetizer for Thomas Asbridge's 'The Greatest Knight' but that still woefully sits on my to-read shelf. William Marshal was an interesting guy who accomplished many a thing in his later life for the many kings he served but he was a knight first during the time of the greatest feudal cultural morph into adopting what we coin as chivalry. In a way Marshal is the manifestation of those ideals and it helped that he was both relentless on the tournament scene (before the rise of the joust a Tournament was a mock war in which attendees attempted to capture enemies for ransom, horses, and gear) and a winner. He was courted by many for these skills at the height of the tournament scene.
In The Flower of Chivalry, Duby gives his interpretation from a source text written after the Marshals death and the bulk of which was collected as testimony from his friends and intimates, those of his Fidelis. "One hundred twenty-seven parchment leaves - not one is missing; on each, two columns of thirty-eight lines; nineteen thousand nine hundred and fourteen versus: you William had done things well. It took seven years to gather the material, to elaborate, to edit the work." Very well indeed. This is not a biography at all, other works fit that bill much better. Instead Duby follows Marshal amidst the document and provides clarity and expounds on the times and events as it relates. It's incredibly readable but does not include the original deeds/document in any form, there isn't even direct quotes from the source text. This rubs me raw a bit. It's still definitely worth a read if this time period is of interest and it's significantly less academic than a lot of other works on Marshal and while the reader will come away with knowledge of Marshals life its emphasis is more in line with the legend of the Marshal.
Georges Duby
Read it in paper-back at 168 pages, no appendix or biblio (there is one but it's actually suggested works.)
I really like Duby and the additions he makes to the field. The only other work that I have read by him was 'The Chivalrous Society' which was really fascinating. I have plans to read some of his other works as well. I had picked this up as an appetizer for Thomas Asbridge's 'The Greatest Knight' but that still woefully sits on my to-read shelf. William Marshal was an interesting guy who accomplished many a thing in his later life for the many kings he served but he was a knight first during the time of the greatest feudal cultural morph into adopting what we coin as chivalry. In a way Marshal is the manifestation of those ideals and it helped that he was both relentless on the tournament scene (before the rise of the joust a Tournament was a mock war in which attendees attempted to capture enemies for ransom, horses, and gear) and a winner. He was courted by many for these skills at the height of the tournament scene.
In The Flower of Chivalry, Duby gives his interpretation from a source text written after the Marshals death and the bulk of which was collected as testimony from his friends and intimates, those of his Fidelis. "One hundred twenty-seven parchment leaves - not one is missing; on each, two columns of thirty-eight lines; nineteen thousand nine hundred and fourteen versus: you William had done things well. It took seven years to gather the material, to elaborate, to edit the work." Very well indeed. This is not a biography at all, other works fit that bill much better. Instead Duby follows Marshal amidst the document and provides clarity and expounds on the times and events as it relates. It's incredibly readable but does not include the original deeds/document in any form, there isn't even direct quotes from the source text. This rubs me raw a bit. It's still definitely worth a read if this time period is of interest and it's significantly less academic than a lot of other works on Marshal and while the reader will come away with knowledge of Marshals life its emphasis is more in line with the legend of the Marshal.
July 30, 2017
Duby's book begins and ends beautifully, but the middle drags a bit, and even at a brief 153 pages it feels a little long. This is partly due to Duby's chapters, of which there are only five, creating a strange sense of pacing, and his own interest more in the culture of chivalry (which is fascinating) and less in the actual life of William Marshall, which is also fascinating. He sticks very closely to his principal source material but changes the sequence of events to suit whatever aspect of chivalry he's exploring at the moment, be that the role of women, the childhood of knights, or the events of a tournement. The result is a narrative that can be frustrating given Duby's tendency to write like a novelist stylistically, but fail to really flesh out the personages which occupy his pages. Still, a strong piece of scholarship and worth reading for those interested in the time period, the life of William Marshall, and trying to understand the legacy of the 12th century in the modern imagination of the Middle Ages.
February 7, 2012
I began reading this book as background for a reenactment group that I am a member of. I was not expecting the book to be as readable and enjoyable as it proved to be. Rather than a dry list of names and dates the reader gets a glimpse into the life and times of one of the greatest knights. I would recommend this book to readers interested in the late 12th century of the life of a knight.
December 22, 2016
Parla della vita del Maresciallo Guglielmo analizzando i caratteri della vita medievale: i tornei, i matrimoni combinati, ecc.
Read
June 7, 2016DNF. Due at library since there is a very restricted renewal policy.
December 8, 2010
This is a fantastic little book: quickly readable and absolutely authoritative.
February 6, 2022
Para ser un libro tan corto y sobre un tema que me interesa, lo que me ha costado acabarlo!
No se si es culpa del traductor o del autor, pero el estilo narrativo es desesperante, en muchas ocasiones frases confusas que dejan más dudas que información (al menos a mi).
El poema medieval escrito para las exequias de William Marshal, Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal, narra el ascenso del que fuera considerado el "mejor caballero del mundo" (por ingleses, normandos y franceses, con quienes esta estrechamente relacionado), desde su modesto linaje como cuarto hijo de un barón de segunda hasta convertirse en uno de los hombres más ricos de su época y regente del rey Enrique III.
El poema es la única biografía escrita conocida de alguien que no pertenece a la realeza en el siglo XII.
Su historia es fascinante:
Al no ser el primogénito no puede esperar tierras ni dinero de su familia, antes de los 10 años (como era costumbre) es enviado a vivir con un tío de su madre y después con el hermano de su madre el Conde de Salisbury (la importancia de la familia materna sobre la paterna en esa época se hace evidente en todo el relato, los caballeros se casan con ricas herederas casi siempre de rango superior al suyo con lo que las posesiones son casi siempre de la esposa, el marido es el custodio no el dueño) quienes le educan junto a otros muchos acogidos (que forman la "casa" del barón que les acoge, unidos por una lealtad que supera a la debida a cualquier otro incluido el rey) y aprende las artes de caballería que será su oficio.
A los 20 años es nombrado caballero como manda la costumbre y empieza una exitosa carrera como combatiente en torneos (batallas campales de grupos numerosos, similares a las que se dan en la guerra), donde consigue grandes recompensas que se gasta en celebraciones y equipamiento (está mal visto ahorrar...). Su fama hace que la realeza se fije en él, servirá a 4 reyes y entrará en contacto con el trono francés a lo largo de su vida. En una contienda de un barón contra su tío, este muere y él es apresado, será salvado por la reina, Leonor de Aquitania que conocía su reputación.
Tras años luchando en torneos será elegido para ser maestro de armas y miembro de la casa del heredero Enrique, convirtiéndose en su mentor y aliado cuando este decide rebelarse contra su padre años después. Enrique fallece y pese a diferentes enfrentamientos con el rey, Guillermo es perdonado y servirá como Capitán de Enrique II durante su lucha con otro hijo, el futuro Ricardo I Corazón de León. Enfrentados en el campo de batalla Guillermo consiguió descabalgar a Ricardo y en lugar de matarlo (como era la costumbre) mató a su caballo. Pocos días después Ricardo ascendió al trono y le confirmó la promesa que le había hecho Enrique II: la mano de una de las herederas más ricas de Europa, Isabel de Clare, depositaria de enormes propiedades en Cambria, Normandía e Irlanda, además de nieta del rey de Leinster (Gales), quien llevaba 13 años bajo el cuidado del rey Enrique tras quedarse huérfana y morir su hermano. Guillermo tenía 43 años, Isabel 17.
Cuando Ricardo parte para la 3ª Cruzada, Guillermo, ahora uno de los Barones más ricos además de famoso guerrero, es nombrado miembro del Consejo de Regencia que gobernará en ausencia del rey, y continuará la intermitente guerra contra Francia.
Cuando Ricardo muere y le sucede Juan I sin Tierra (curioso nombre para la posteridad cuando su padre le consideraba el favorito tras las rebeliones de sus hermanos, y le concedió el Señorío de Irlanda además de tierras en Inglaterra y Francia). Guillermo se pone a su servicio y durante la rebelión de los Barones contra Juan, permanece a su lado, acompañándole durante la firma de la Carta Magna en 1215. Al año siguiente muere Juan y Guillermo será nombrado Regente del futuro Enrique III, ronda los 70 años (todo un logro para alguien cuyo oficio es la guerra durante la Edad Media).
3 años después muere en su casa rodeado de la familia, amigos y seguidores.
Su hijo primogénito ordenará la composición del poema que relata su vida.
Este breve resumen deja fuera multitud de sucesos que ocurrieron durante la vida de Guillermo, como que fue embajador del rey ante Felipe II de Francia en varias ocasiones durante los muchos años de guerras intermitentes, entre otros.
Volviendo al libro de Duby, me ha parecido un comentario de texto con ínfulas pero escaso, con construcciones gramaticales enrevesadas, centrándose mucho en algunos aspectos y dejando muchos otros sin mencionar (ej. cuenta que en 1215 "la baronía se rebela" contra Juan y el autor del poema "prefiere pasar sobre este tiempo de discordia, afirmando que de todo este mal, nada fue hecho que viniera del Mariscal", pero Duby no menciona que ese año Guillermo acompaña al rey a firmar la Carta Magna, uno de los documentos más importantes de la historia inglesa), da el marco de referencia de algunos acontecimientos sociales (la importancia de la familia materna, la nula importancia de las mujeres, costumbres de los caballeros, etc...) pero se deja fuera hechos históricos fundamentales para entender el relato. Si me tocara corregir un comentario de texto así el suspenso está asegurado.
En fin, decepcionada aunque he aprendido algunas cosas interesantes sobre la sociedad anglonormanda del siglo XII.
No se si es culpa del traductor o del autor, pero el estilo narrativo es desesperante, en muchas ocasiones frases confusas que dejan más dudas que información (al menos a mi).
El poema medieval escrito para las exequias de William Marshal, Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal, narra el ascenso del que fuera considerado el "mejor caballero del mundo" (por ingleses, normandos y franceses, con quienes esta estrechamente relacionado), desde su modesto linaje como cuarto hijo de un barón de segunda hasta convertirse en uno de los hombres más ricos de su época y regente del rey Enrique III.
El poema es la única biografía escrita conocida de alguien que no pertenece a la realeza en el siglo XII.
Su historia es fascinante:
Al no ser el primogénito no puede esperar tierras ni dinero de su familia, antes de los 10 años (como era costumbre) es enviado a vivir con un tío de su madre y después con el hermano de su madre el Conde de Salisbury (la importancia de la familia materna sobre la paterna en esa época se hace evidente en todo el relato, los caballeros se casan con ricas herederas casi siempre de rango superior al suyo con lo que las posesiones son casi siempre de la esposa, el marido es el custodio no el dueño) quienes le educan junto a otros muchos acogidos (que forman la "casa" del barón que les acoge, unidos por una lealtad que supera a la debida a cualquier otro incluido el rey) y aprende las artes de caballería que será su oficio.
A los 20 años es nombrado caballero como manda la costumbre y empieza una exitosa carrera como combatiente en torneos (batallas campales de grupos numerosos, similares a las que se dan en la guerra), donde consigue grandes recompensas que se gasta en celebraciones y equipamiento (está mal visto ahorrar...). Su fama hace que la realeza se fije en él, servirá a 4 reyes y entrará en contacto con el trono francés a lo largo de su vida. En una contienda de un barón contra su tío, este muere y él es apresado, será salvado por la reina, Leonor de Aquitania que conocía su reputación.
Tras años luchando en torneos será elegido para ser maestro de armas y miembro de la casa del heredero Enrique, convirtiéndose en su mentor y aliado cuando este decide rebelarse contra su padre años después. Enrique fallece y pese a diferentes enfrentamientos con el rey, Guillermo es perdonado y servirá como Capitán de Enrique II durante su lucha con otro hijo, el futuro Ricardo I Corazón de León. Enfrentados en el campo de batalla Guillermo consiguió descabalgar a Ricardo y en lugar de matarlo (como era la costumbre) mató a su caballo. Pocos días después Ricardo ascendió al trono y le confirmó la promesa que le había hecho Enrique II: la mano de una de las herederas más ricas de Europa, Isabel de Clare, depositaria de enormes propiedades en Cambria, Normandía e Irlanda, además de nieta del rey de Leinster (Gales), quien llevaba 13 años bajo el cuidado del rey Enrique tras quedarse huérfana y morir su hermano. Guillermo tenía 43 años, Isabel 17.
Cuando Ricardo parte para la 3ª Cruzada, Guillermo, ahora uno de los Barones más ricos además de famoso guerrero, es nombrado miembro del Consejo de Regencia que gobernará en ausencia del rey, y continuará la intermitente guerra contra Francia.
Cuando Ricardo muere y le sucede Juan I sin Tierra (curioso nombre para la posteridad cuando su padre le consideraba el favorito tras las rebeliones de sus hermanos, y le concedió el Señorío de Irlanda además de tierras en Inglaterra y Francia). Guillermo se pone a su servicio y durante la rebelión de los Barones contra Juan, permanece a su lado, acompañándole durante la firma de la Carta Magna en 1215. Al año siguiente muere Juan y Guillermo será nombrado Regente del futuro Enrique III, ronda los 70 años (todo un logro para alguien cuyo oficio es la guerra durante la Edad Media).
3 años después muere en su casa rodeado de la familia, amigos y seguidores.
Su hijo primogénito ordenará la composición del poema que relata su vida.
Este breve resumen deja fuera multitud de sucesos que ocurrieron durante la vida de Guillermo, como que fue embajador del rey ante Felipe II de Francia en varias ocasiones durante los muchos años de guerras intermitentes, entre otros.
Volviendo al libro de Duby, me ha parecido un comentario de texto con ínfulas pero escaso, con construcciones gramaticales enrevesadas, centrándose mucho en algunos aspectos y dejando muchos otros sin mencionar (ej. cuenta que en 1215 "la baronía se rebela" contra Juan y el autor del poema "prefiere pasar sobre este tiempo de discordia, afirmando que de todo este mal, nada fue hecho que viniera del Mariscal", pero Duby no menciona que ese año Guillermo acompaña al rey a firmar la Carta Magna, uno de los documentos más importantes de la historia inglesa), da el marco de referencia de algunos acontecimientos sociales (la importancia de la familia materna, la nula importancia de las mujeres, costumbres de los caballeros, etc...) pero se deja fuera hechos históricos fundamentales para entender el relato. Si me tocara corregir un comentario de texto así el suspenso está asegurado.
En fin, decepcionada aunque he aprendido algunas cosas interesantes sobre la sociedad anglonormanda del siglo XII.
January 29, 2023
Guillaume le Maréchal est probablement le premier livre de Georges Duby que j'ai vraiment eu plaisir à lire de bout en bout après la série de livres de cet auteur que j'ai lu récemment. D'habitude, l'auteur a un style lourd mais ici, on ne sent pas cette lourdeur et on est au contraire prit par le récit du début à la fin.
Ce récit c'est celui de la vie de Guillaume le Maréchal, généralement reconnu comme "le meilleur chevalier du monde". Et à bien des égards, cette réputation est méritée. Guillaume détenait réellement un talent inégalé pour participer aux tournois et faire des prises qui lui ont rapporté d'immenses richesses. Au cours de sa vie, ce sont plusieurs centaines (jusqu'à 500 selon lui) de chevaliers qu'il a capturé. Il était également expert à naviguer les règles de vassalité dans un environnement complexe, où l'on se trouve facilement le vassal de différents seigneurs dont les intérêts divergent et dont les obligations en tant que vassal sont difficiles à réconcilier.
Cependant, c'est bien cela la chevalerie et, au delà d'une simple biographie de Guillaume le Maréchal, c'est un véritable panorama de cette culture avec ses codes, ses tournois, ses croyances. La chevalerie de la réalité, bien loin de cette idéal ancré dans notre imaginaire de ce preux chevalier sans le sous et voguant à travers champs et marées seul pour défendre la veuve et l'orphelin, est un système social complexe où la recherche du gain n'est non pas souhaitable mais requise tandis que l'association à d'autres est bien plus qu'un atout mais la survie. D'ailleurs, un exemple concret d'acte peu chevaleresque selon notre imaginaire que nous n'imqgiberions las un chevalier de la qualité de Guillaume faire est le fait relevé par Duby que Guillaume aurait couché avec l'épouse de son seigneur, le jeune Henri Plantagenet, fils de Henri II. Ce dernier l'aurait renvoyé pour cette raison, ce qui aurait blessé Guillaume. Partager sa couche avec l'épouse de son seigneur, à une époque où la légitimité du lignage est tout, semble assez peu digne du meilleur chevalier du monde. Duby explique bien que dans le milieu que Guillaume fréquente, il fait partie du jeu de l'amour courtois de faire la cour à la dame du château. Mais il dit aussi qu'il arrive parfois que l'on dépasse les bornes, preuve qu'il est acceptable de faire la cour tant que celle-ci ne reste qu'un jeu. Voilà donc la réputation du meilleur chevalier du monde quelque peu ecornée.
L'ouvrage de Duby est donc une excellente référence sur la sujet et cela est d'autant plus rafraîchissant qu'il s'agit là d'une des lectures les plus plaisantes de cet auteur.
Ce récit c'est celui de la vie de Guillaume le Maréchal, généralement reconnu comme "le meilleur chevalier du monde". Et à bien des égards, cette réputation est méritée. Guillaume détenait réellement un talent inégalé pour participer aux tournois et faire des prises qui lui ont rapporté d'immenses richesses. Au cours de sa vie, ce sont plusieurs centaines (jusqu'à 500 selon lui) de chevaliers qu'il a capturé. Il était également expert à naviguer les règles de vassalité dans un environnement complexe, où l'on se trouve facilement le vassal de différents seigneurs dont les intérêts divergent et dont les obligations en tant que vassal sont difficiles à réconcilier.
Cependant, c'est bien cela la chevalerie et, au delà d'une simple biographie de Guillaume le Maréchal, c'est un véritable panorama de cette culture avec ses codes, ses tournois, ses croyances. La chevalerie de la réalité, bien loin de cette idéal ancré dans notre imaginaire de ce preux chevalier sans le sous et voguant à travers champs et marées seul pour défendre la veuve et l'orphelin, est un système social complexe où la recherche du gain n'est non pas souhaitable mais requise tandis que l'association à d'autres est bien plus qu'un atout mais la survie. D'ailleurs, un exemple concret d'acte peu chevaleresque selon notre imaginaire que nous n'imqgiberions las un chevalier de la qualité de Guillaume faire est le fait relevé par Duby que Guillaume aurait couché avec l'épouse de son seigneur, le jeune Henri Plantagenet, fils de Henri II. Ce dernier l'aurait renvoyé pour cette raison, ce qui aurait blessé Guillaume. Partager sa couche avec l'épouse de son seigneur, à une époque où la légitimité du lignage est tout, semble assez peu digne du meilleur chevalier du monde. Duby explique bien que dans le milieu que Guillaume fréquente, il fait partie du jeu de l'amour courtois de faire la cour à la dame du château. Mais il dit aussi qu'il arrive parfois que l'on dépasse les bornes, preuve qu'il est acceptable de faire la cour tant que celle-ci ne reste qu'un jeu. Voilà donc la réputation du meilleur chevalier du monde quelque peu ecornée.
L'ouvrage de Duby est donc une excellente référence sur la sujet et cela est d'autant plus rafraîchissant qu'il s'agit là d'une des lectures les plus plaisantes de cet auteur.
July 7, 2022
Questo libro mi ha attirata perché volevo approfondire la figura di William Marshall, in Italia Guglielmo il Maresciallo, passato alla storia come “il cavaliere perfetto”, modello di virtù cavalleresche tramandate ai posteri. L’autore ha compiuto un’operazione molto interessante: analizzando il poema che venne commissionato dalla famiglia di Marshall dopo la morte, per onorarlo, cerca di capire quali sono i dati oggettivi e quali gli abbellimenti dovuti all’esigenza di compiacere il committente. In questo modo, non solo ci fornisce una panoramica realistica della vita di un uomo che, per nascita, era soltanto uno dei tanti figli cadetti di una famiglia poco in vista eppure divenne uno dei cavalieri più potenti della sua epoca, ma ci mostra anche le usanze della cavalleria e le dinamiche di potere, ci spiega la mentalità e il concetto di onore, l’importanza dei matrimoni, il disprezzo verso il denaro e la noncuranza dei nobili verso le condizioni del popolo.
Un ottimo testo per chi vuole approfondire la propria conoscenza del Medioevo e della Cavalleria in particolare.
FERNANDA ROMANI PER IL BLOG BABETTE BROWN LEGGE PER VOI
Un ottimo testo per chi vuole approfondire la propria conoscenza del Medioevo e della Cavalleria in particolare.
FERNANDA ROMANI PER IL BLOG BABETTE BROWN LEGGE PER VOI
December 1, 2024
Interesting examination of the practice and mechanics of chivalry, William Marshal: The Flower of Chivalry is a semi-biographical book that follows one of the Medieval period's greatest knights. The book assumes the reader has some knowledge of the time period surrounding Henry I, Richard the Lionheart, and John Lackland. I think the book could benefit from covering some of the broader history surrounding Marshal's life. The book does not serve as an exact biography, choosing to hone in on only the themes of chivalry and how Marshal's life informs us of chivalric standards, morals, and systems in the 11th and 12th centuries. I found the last two or so chapters to be the most interesting, examining the transition from knighthood to lordship and how obligations between lords and kings would play out in the feudal system. Probably not somewhere to start with Medieval history and don't go in expecting a fully fleshed out biography. I also found the tone and writing style to be a bit off-putting to me, but I'll chock it up to something lost in translation (the book was originally written in French).
December 27, 2024
Asombra que, siendo Georges Duby un catedrático de reconocido prestigio, nos presente este plomizo comentario de texto. Algo que para el aficionado podría ser muy atractivo (El mundo de los caballeros y su relación con la nobleza a final del siglo XII y principios XIII en la actual Francia y Inglaterra) como consecuencia de un farragoso estilo narrativo, resulte tan difícil de leer. Aquí Duby no se muestra nada didáctico.
La obra es una monográfica que analiza la biografía de William Marshal, escrita por encargo de su primogénito a la muerte de aquel. Con este pretexto el autor nos va adentrando en la sociedad de esa época, las guerras, las alianzas, las traiciones, el honor, el poder real y el poco amor en el hogar familiar. Especialmente me sorprendieron como nos muestra los torneos, nada tienen que ver con las justas que aparecen en el cine, en las que dos caballeros forrados de acero luchan por la sonrisa de una dama.
Todo ello es muy interesante. Una pena que el estilo haya resultado tan soporífico y difícil de seguir.
Pese a la corta extensión del texto me ha costado acabar la lectura.
La obra es una monográfica que analiza la biografía de William Marshal, escrita por encargo de su primogénito a la muerte de aquel. Con este pretexto el autor nos va adentrando en la sociedad de esa época, las guerras, las alianzas, las traiciones, el honor, el poder real y el poco amor en el hogar familiar. Especialmente me sorprendieron como nos muestra los torneos, nada tienen que ver con las justas que aparecen en el cine, en las que dos caballeros forrados de acero luchan por la sonrisa de una dama.
Todo ello es muy interesante. Una pena que el estilo haya resultado tan soporífico y difícil de seguir.
Pese a la corta extensión del texto me ha costado acabar la lectura.
August 4, 2017
Un arrampicatore sociale al torneo medievale
Splendido esempio di saggio storico preciso, serio e documentato che non è mai pesante, didascalico o poco scorrevole. Duby ci presenta Guglielmo il Maresciallo, simbolo dell'epoca della cavalleria medievale, figura eccezionale per longevità e ascesa sociale. Il fatto notevole è che l'autore si basa su un documento del tempo per narrarci la sua storia, una fonte molto importante - la "Vita di Guglielmo il Maresciallo" - e la sa rendere viva e affascinante senza perdere di rigore storiografico. Cito solo alcuni aspetti che mi hanno colpito: - la fondamentale differenza tra cavalieri e borghesi nel rapporto con il denaro, disprezzato dai primi e accumulato dai secondi (il prestare a interesse era uno dei delitti più gravi!!) - la lealtà è solo e sempre verso una cerchia: familiare, di compagni in armi, di vassallaggi - l'idea stessa di lealtà verso tutti gli uomini è senza senso nel Medioevo - la descrizione dei tornei fa riecheggiare alcuni fenomeni collegato agli eventi sportivi di oggi - i matrimoni sono un privilegio dei primogeniti, mezzo irrinunciabile di scalata sociale e difesa del patrimonio
Splendido esempio di saggio storico preciso, serio e documentato che non è mai pesante, didascalico o poco scorrevole. Duby ci presenta Guglielmo il Maresciallo, simbolo dell'epoca della cavalleria medievale, figura eccezionale per longevità e ascesa sociale. Il fatto notevole è che l'autore si basa su un documento del tempo per narrarci la sua storia, una fonte molto importante - la "Vita di Guglielmo il Maresciallo" - e la sa rendere viva e affascinante senza perdere di rigore storiografico. Cito solo alcuni aspetti che mi hanno colpito: - la fondamentale differenza tra cavalieri e borghesi nel rapporto con il denaro, disprezzato dai primi e accumulato dai secondi (il prestare a interesse era uno dei delitti più gravi!!) - la lealtà è solo e sempre verso una cerchia: familiare, di compagni in armi, di vassallaggi - l'idea stessa di lealtà verso tutti gli uomini è senza senso nel Medioevo - la descrizione dei tornei fa riecheggiare alcuni fenomeni collegato agli eventi sportivi di oggi - i matrimoni sono un privilegio dei primogeniti, mezzo irrinunciabile di scalata sociale e difesa del patrimonio
February 10, 2018
A fascinating book; anyone interested in medieval European history should pick it this classic of microhistory. Duby approaches the material - a single, unique biographical poem - with a sensitive and vivid touch, providing insight into the subject's aspirations and moral calculus.
My one problem with this was that it wasn't as accessible as it seemed intended to be. There's a certain lack of historical context provided, but the bigger issue is Duby's oblique writing style that can make the narrative unnecessarily hard to follow. The book isn't all that demanding, but I worry that it would scare off more casual readers.
My one problem with this was that it wasn't as accessible as it seemed intended to be. There's a certain lack of historical context provided, but the bigger issue is Duby's oblique writing style that can make the narrative unnecessarily hard to follow. The book isn't all that demanding, but I worry that it would scare off more casual readers.
April 22, 2020
If you are approaching this book thinking it's a chronicle or biography, you're going to find it desperately lacking. This book was more a reflection of chivalric norms of the time while using Marshal as an exemplary figure of the expectations of a knighted man. A large portion of this book focused on the very intricate details of tournament culture in the 12-century. It dragged on a little long, but I only imagine it was because the source itself did too.
Feeling a little unsatisfied, I'm going to pick up an actual biographical account or primary source next. But this was a decent start.
Feeling a little unsatisfied, I'm going to pick up an actual biographical account or primary source next. But this was a decent start.
June 26, 2023
There are other, more complete biographies of William Marshal (e.g., Thomas Asbridge’s “The Greatest Knight”). This slim book is translated from French, which may account for its somewhat stilted, almost archaic language. Its main interest is less about Marshal and more about how feudalism worked in practice, given the multiple loyalties that Marshal and others had to navigate, and its detailed discussion of medieval tournaments: how they were organized, what practices were followed, and their importance to someone like William Marshal, who profited from both his skill and his relationships with his peers and his class superiors.
March 12, 2020
E' considerato un classico, e non manca alle aspettative. Un testo che ogni amante del medioevo deve leggere: carico di realismo, ma senza rinunciare ad una vena poetica, Duby crea uno spaccato irrinunciabile del mondo cavalleresco di fine XII secolo. Il personaggio di Guglielmo ne esce come una figura carica di quelle caratteristiche proprie del cavaliere: ignoranza gretta, violenza, materialismo, ma allo stesso tempo capace di fortissimi legami di amicizia e di amore verso i propri pari (più che verso i cari) e di lealtà assoluta al signore (ma sempre con intelligenza politica notevole).
February 14, 2025
Resenha do livro de Cabeça William Marshall
O livro é muito interessante afinal o mesmo consegue desenvolver uma trama deveras única ao longo de suas páginas com reviravoltas que o tornam único e fazem com que cada página seja mais chamativa que a outra sendo uma obra que se mostra bastante atrativa a primeira vista porém o mesmo se torna confuso em algumas partes e com uma linha cronológica fora de compreensão porém apesar disso sua leitura vale muito a pena devido a sua trama rústica e bem construída
Nota:7/10
O livro é muito interessante afinal o mesmo consegue desenvolver uma trama deveras única ao longo de suas páginas com reviravoltas que o tornam único e fazem com que cada página seja mais chamativa que a outra sendo uma obra que se mostra bastante atrativa a primeira vista porém o mesmo se torna confuso em algumas partes e com uma linha cronológica fora de compreensão porém apesar disso sua leitura vale muito a pena devido a sua trama rústica e bem construída
Nota:7/10
August 23, 2025
When Duby wrote this in 1984 access to the 'History of William the Marshall' was limited to those with access to a university library. These days there is a fine single volume translation, and reading it alongside this book is essential.
Duby's book is not a biography of the Marshall, nor a study of the History, but a reflection on, and a reading of, the History. In the light of more recent research some of the facts may no longer be facts, but Duby's comments on the story are illuminating if taken with a pinch of salt.
Duby's book is not a biography of the Marshall, nor a study of the History, but a reflection on, and a reading of, the History. In the light of more recent research some of the facts may no longer be facts, but Duby's comments on the story are illuminating if taken with a pinch of salt.
January 2, 2018
I read this book not only because of the prominence in his day of William Marshal, but he is also my ancestor. Much of information is taken from a small group of sources and there is not a lot that is contemporary information. No footnotes used at all. The writing is very elaborate, so much so that it was flowery and not that easy to read. I appreciate the difficulties in writing about a non-royal person from so long ago, but I would have preferred a better annotated history.
July 22, 2021
Un libro maravilloso, así de sencillo. Duby rompe con los esquemas tradicionales en muchos sentidos. Aquí, nos ofrece la vida de un caballero, de Guillermo, y a partir de ella nos presenta el mundo caballeresco de los siglos XII y XIII y el funcionamiento interno de las élites aristocráticas del sistema feudal. Todo ello a partir de forma narrada, como si de una obra de narrativa histórica se tratase. Apto para cualquier tipo de público.
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