What do you think?
Rate this book
A Brief History of the Normans: How the Viking Tribe Came to Conquer Europe
The history of the Normans began long before 1066 A.D. Originating from the “Norsemen,” they were one of the most successful warrior tribes of the Dark Ages dominating Europe from the Baltic Sea to the island of Sicily and the borders of Eastern Europe. As a military force they were unstoppable; as conquerors, they established their own kingdom in Normandy from where they set out on a number of devastating campaigns, as well as introduced innovations in politics, architecture and culture.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
19 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 7, 2013
Lo, many months ago I wrote a review for this book, posted it, ate some rage cookies by Mr. Chrissastretie and BLAMMO! she found herself flushed down the proverbial drain of sullenly broken review dreams. I shed a tear or two. Thankfully, when it comes to the history of that little piece of the Land of Ice and Snow, of the Midnight Sun Where the Hot Springs Blow—Hammer of the Gods! nestled along the Channel coast of Noarthern France, my memory is like a perfectly latticed crystal in the full fulgency of the sun. So without further ado—I think the following is pretty close to the original, may she RIP:
Aesthetically, and by way of offense grammatically, this book led me to grind my teeth in a furious fashion. I don't ask for much from a publisher, but Christ-on-the-Cross, countless mix-ups between the rivers Seine and Somme—three times in the course of a single paragraph and its footnote—strikes me as crossing a line for even the most patient of readers. Shape the fuck up, Running Press.
As for Neveux, his French original has been translated quite capably, and his knowledge of the Normans is deep and is presented concisely and in a well-organized manner. What I was seeking most was information on the foundation of the principality, the character of Hrolf/Rollo/Robert—the Norwegian chieftain whose Danish/Anglo-Saxon warband's occupation of the lower Seine and a goodly portion of the diocese of Rouen in the late ninth century led to a charter from King Charles the Simple in the early tenth—and then the general progression of the Channel-bound domain under the six counts/margraves/dukes who preceded William the Conqueror. From 1066 on, I'm much more familiar with the story; and even the chapters covering the Hauteville Normans whose enterprising spirits led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Principality of Antioch, imparted little in the way of knowledge of which I had previously been unaware. But that earlier period, which saw the transmission of the French crown from the famed Carolingians to the upstart Capetians—Robert the Strong, Odo of Paris, Hugh the Great, all those impressive Neustrian Frankish dudes—and in which the rulers of the remarkably well-administered and -governed Duchy of Normandy played a pivotal role, together with the presentation and unveiling of the cultural differences, the marriage alliances, the reemergence of a powerful church within previously devastated lands, the taming of the unruly aristocracy, the new principality's clashes and cooperations with neighboring Vermandois, Picardy, Flanders, Brittany, Anjou, Maine, Blois, and, in particular, the Îsle-de-France, crown desmesne of the comparatively weak French monarch, together with the astute foreign policy conducted by the dukes with Anglo-Saxon Britain, even when under the Danelaw; the entirety was served up quite satisfactorily. In especial, with my weird requirement for compartmentalizing and organizing political structures, it was pleasing to finally come to terms with the feudal administrative role of the vicomtes and to grasp the organization of the comital dignities of Eu, Évreaux, Mortain, Avranches, etc., as border lordships tending to be distributed like appanage fiefs to the Richardides, or those ducal offspring produced through concubinage—the more Danico—or illegitimacy, and prone to reverting back to the Norman ruler upon the death or extinction of that particular familial line. I mean, how could one possibly continue on without having those particulars squared away within the cluttered closet of accumulated historical minutiae?
Aesthetically, and by way of offense grammatically, this book led me to grind my teeth in a furious fashion. I don't ask for much from a publisher, but Christ-on-the-Cross, countless mix-ups between the rivers Seine and Somme—three times in the course of a single paragraph and its footnote—strikes me as crossing a line for even the most patient of readers. Shape the fuck up, Running Press.
As for Neveux, his French original has been translated quite capably, and his knowledge of the Normans is deep and is presented concisely and in a well-organized manner. What I was seeking most was information on the foundation of the principality, the character of Hrolf/Rollo/Robert—the Norwegian chieftain whose Danish/Anglo-Saxon warband's occupation of the lower Seine and a goodly portion of the diocese of Rouen in the late ninth century led to a charter from King Charles the Simple in the early tenth—and then the general progression of the Channel-bound domain under the six counts/margraves/dukes who preceded William the Conqueror. From 1066 on, I'm much more familiar with the story; and even the chapters covering the Hauteville Normans whose enterprising spirits led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Principality of Antioch, imparted little in the way of knowledge of which I had previously been unaware. But that earlier period, which saw the transmission of the French crown from the famed Carolingians to the upstart Capetians—Robert the Strong, Odo of Paris, Hugh the Great, all those impressive Neustrian Frankish dudes—and in which the rulers of the remarkably well-administered and -governed Duchy of Normandy played a pivotal role, together with the presentation and unveiling of the cultural differences, the marriage alliances, the reemergence of a powerful church within previously devastated lands, the taming of the unruly aristocracy, the new principality's clashes and cooperations with neighboring Vermandois, Picardy, Flanders, Brittany, Anjou, Maine, Blois, and, in particular, the Îsle-de-France, crown desmesne of the comparatively weak French monarch, together with the astute foreign policy conducted by the dukes with Anglo-Saxon Britain, even when under the Danelaw; the entirety was served up quite satisfactorily. In especial, with my weird requirement for compartmentalizing and organizing political structures, it was pleasing to finally come to terms with the feudal administrative role of the vicomtes and to grasp the organization of the comital dignities of Eu, Évreaux, Mortain, Avranches, etc., as border lordships tending to be distributed like appanage fiefs to the Richardides, or those ducal offspring produced through concubinage—the more Danico—or illegitimacy, and prone to reverting back to the Norman ruler upon the death or extinction of that particular familial line. I mean, how could one possibly continue on without having those particulars squared away within the cluttered closet of accumulated historical minutiae?
November 19, 2020
This book covers Norman history beginning with their emergence as Viking raiders in Western Europe - with a branch also raiding in Russia - and continues through their illustrious history in France, raiding and then colonizing what became the Duchy of Normandy, which was eventually ceded to them by the King of France. The Vikings were excellent sailors whose boats exceeded in quality those of the peoples they conquered - boats that were not only ocean-going but also could navigate up rivers, which were the "highways" the Vikings used to find cities to raid and many times burn. The Vikings later accepted Christianity and became important patrons of the church in France and Italy - although the Church/Pope was also often their rival politically.
The book describes the Normans' famous invasion of England in 1066, the various struggles between members of the Norman dynasties, and the many struggles with neighboring Frankish, Breton, and Flemish lords and European royal houses. The book explains the early link between England, France, as well as the conquests of the northeastern part of England by the Danish Vikings (the Danelaw) and the invasion of England by Norwegians (under King Harald) at the same time as the Norman Conquest. (The Norwegians were defeated by the English and King Harald killed, however.) The main take-away is the rise of the Danish Viking raiders in France, at first arriving only to loot or demand money from the King of France to leave, later eventually settling around the mouth of the Seine and then little by little conquering the region later known as Normandy. As the centuries passed, there was emigration from Denmark to France, but the settlers became gallicized, so that the conquest of England in 1066 was as much a Frankish conquest as it was a Norman conquest. In fact, the invasion force included Frankish, Flemish, and Breton troops, not just the Norman army.
The book goes on to describe the Hauteville Norman family conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily and the subsequent extension of the Norman "Empire" into the Mid-East, with the seizure of Cyprus and the establishment of a Crusader state in Antioch.
This is a lot of history to cover in a relatively few pages; the recurrence of the same names of Norman rulers century after century - William, Robert, Roger etc. - makes it somewhat mind-numbing and difficult after a while to tell the leaders apart. However, the writer is careful to qualify the historical evidence upon which the narrative is based - the sources aren't many and his discussion of the quality of the source material itself and its authors is itself interesting. There is a helpful time-line appended - but even with the time-line, there is simply an overwhelming amount of action - raids/invasions/wars, alliances/treaties, construction/destruction of cathedrals/monasteries/forts along with innumerable familial events, strategic marriages, intra-family squabbles etc. to keep track of.
This is nonetheless a very interesting if basic account of one of the overlooked forces of the European Dark Ages: The Normans, who originally were Vikings, part of the same group that even landed and tried to establish a colony in Newfoundland, 500 years before Columbus discovered America.
All in all, this is an extremely interesting introduction to an often-overlooked major force in European history - the Normans.
Some quotes:
"[An] ... historical source [of information about the Scandinavians during the period of the 'invasions'] is Scandinavian literature. The earliest examples are the poems written by skalds, court poets who, like Celtic bards or African griots, were given the task of praising the great deeds of those who protected them and their ancestors."
"...the authors of the sagas were men of their time, and the principal aim of their stories was to sing the praises of a particular family or clan of the period at which they were writing."
"The vast majority of the inhabitants of Scandinavia belonged to the category of boendr (singular: bondi). These were free men who enjoyed full political and social rights. The bondi had a fixed abode and at least partly owned the lands he farmed."
"When the Viking expeditions began, the Scandinavian armies were largely composed of boendr, since at that time there was no such thing as a professional army in Scandinavia."
"...[local chiefs] derived their power from the land they owned,the armed entourages they maintained (the lidh or hirdh), and the protection they granted to a certain number of dependents."
"...the emergence of powerful local figures can be observed in many regions. In the absence of reliable texts, archaeology has been of great help..."
"[Excavated] ... sites include large halls where political and religious ceremonies were held... Such centers become more and more common the further we advance in time. They are the signs of a concentration of power, from which the Scandinavian royal families were gradually to emerge."
"The king was chosen by the aristocrats - in other words, the great boendr, or the hersar in Norway - although we do not know exactly how these elections were carried out."
"...model of a weak king, dependent on the important men of his kingdom and exercising only limited power, seems to have prevailed for a long time in Norway and Sweden."
"...the sacred king was the person responsible for the fertility of the land and the fecundity of women. It was he who could keep the climate favorable to the rearing of livestock and the growing of crops by maintaining a good relationship with the gods."
"The kings of Norway tried to inflate their own origins by claiming to be descended from the Ynling dynasty, the issue of the god Freyr. This use of divine genealogies was common in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. The Svear kings of Sweden also boasted of this semi-divine provenance - a clear demonstration of the connections between the Scandinavian monarchies and religion."
"...power struggles were fierce [in Scandinavian societies]. Forced into exile, the losing candidates often embarked on far-flung expeditions. More generally, it was a way for the boendr to acquire prestigious property and thereby improve their status within the social hierarchy."
"...Scandinavians were ...trying to increase their wealth. At first, some were able to achieve this through normal trade. In doing so, they became aware that some foreign countries were poorly defended and plagued by unrest, even civil war."
"The Scandinavians were well able to combine two activities that to us seem contradictory: they were pirates whenever possible, and merchants the rest of the time."
"Because of ... [their very large warships], they enjoyed an unquestionable naval superiority. The Vikings soon had control over the seas, at least in the whole of Northern Europe, from the Baltic to the Atlantic."
"...'great armies' were made up of troops brought together for the occasion from various sources. Their cohesion depended on the personality of their leader, but also on the success of the expedition: if this failed, the army dispersed and each group was left to try its luck elsewhere."
"From 792, King Offa of Mercia [England] set about putting in place a system of coastal defense in his kingdom, but he died in 796. The period of anarchy that followed would favor the Danish enterprise."
"Wherever they intervened militarily the Vikings had one objective: to accumulate as much wealth as possible."
"The Vikings could not return twice to the same place: they had to go further and further inland to find new, undefended riches."
"These [9th century Frankish] bishops and abbots were politicians who spent little time in their dioceses and had no great interest in spiritual matters."
"...the Carolingian monarchs considered bishops above all as government representatives."
"[In the mid-9th century] The Frankish... King Charles the Bald undertook a massive overhaul of the administration, the aim of which was to strengthen the ability of the territories to resist the advance not only of the Scandinavians but also of the Bretons."
"...the intention was ... to tighten control over the population and facilitate the mobilization of men."
"[Robert the Strong, who had been received the command of the region threatened by the Vikings and Bretons from Charles the Bald in 852] ... was killed at Brissarthe in the autumn of 866 while fighting a combined force of Scandinavians and Bretons."
"[Robert the Strong's] ... heroic death earned him immense prestige, from which his descendants - the Robertians, forerunners of the Capetians - were to benefit."
"This major shift in the population of the lower Seine at the end of the ninth century is not mentioned in any text, but a study of place-names may give us some useful clues."
"...the [place] names seem quite different from those usually found in agricultural areas [as they reflect economic activity]."
"Even more than his father [Rollo, the founder of the Duchy of Normandy], William [Longsword] was totally integrated into the high aristocracy of the [Frankish] kingdom."
"William continued his father's policy of expansion.."
"It seems likely that in the years following the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, Rollo had respected the commitments he had made to the Carolingian king and was content with the territory conceded to him. The situation changed with the coup led by Robert, Duke of the Franks. In 922, he succeeded in getting himself chosen as king by the aristocracy, and Charles the Simple was deposed. Robert I only had a short time in power. He was killed in 923 at the battle of Soissons. His son-in-law Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, was chosen as king by the barons."
"After Charles' deposition, Rollo considered himself to be released from his duties to the king."
"In the tenth century... Duke Richard I was determined to keep control over the bishopric of Rouen [Normandy], and so entrusted it to his own son, Robert..."
"[Robert] ... had no hesitation in bringing intellectuals long distances to form what has been called his 'literary coterie.'"
"In about 1030, when he was about twenty, [Duke Robert the Magnificent] ... seems to have manifested a sincere desire for reconciliation with the Church. He may well have been influenced by a number of great lords who wished to redeem their sins by making large gifts and even founding new institutions."
"[Robert's successor] William [the Conqueror] was the undisputed winner [of the Battle of Hastings in 1066]. Much of the English aristocracy lay dead on the battlefield. The advance of he victorious army was now unstoppable. William headed for London, and on Christmas Day 1066 was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey."
"William the Conqueror remains the greatest figure in Norman history. He created a kind of state that existed nowhere else in the Christian West, an authoritarian feudal monarchy."
"...[the Normans] demonstrated their ability to build castles very rapidly. At first, these castles were simple motte-and baileys, using the rudimentary technique tried out in Normandy during the periods when ducal power had been weakened. Such castles were an excellent way to keep control of a conquered region. The Normans used them in both southern Italy and in England. When the situation had been stabilized, the wooden palisades were replaced by stone walls, especially easy to build in Italy where stone was plentiful."
"Elected 'by the clergy and people of Rome' [in 1058], [Pope] Nicholas II would prove to be a great reformer. His first concern was to remove papal elections from external influences, especially secular ones. The choice of pope as therefore reserved for the college of cardinals of the city and province of Rome."
"Overall, following the era of the founders, especially the founders of kingdoms, the era of the successors leaves us with a rather mixed impression. In England, the Normans were to leave a lasting imprint, but from the beginning the coexistence of the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy proved problematic. The entity thus created could only be maintained by exceptional figures such as Henry I Beauclerc, Henry II Plantagenet and Richard Lionheart. It only took a weak king, John, to destroy the fine structure inherited from William the Conqueror and Henry II. By 1204, it was all over."
"What truly unites these 'Norman' protagonists...is the spirit of adventure. It took daring for the first Vikings to embark on such hazardous expeditions."
"Thanks to its dukes, Normandy was for a long time the best governed principality in the Kingdom of France. These dukes were of Scandinavian origin, and yet, in order to establish their authority, they used means borrowed from the Franks."
"Once conquered and tamed, England was remarkably well administered, as was the Duchy of Normandy. The same is true of the Kingdom of Sicily, which Roger II and his successors would make the strongest state in Italy."
"...the Kingdom of Sicily had three official languages, Greek, Arabic and Latin."
"One of the principal merits of the Normans is that hey made the most of their military adventures, establishing strong, well-administered states. It was in this way that they left a deep imprint on vast regions of the West, from England to southern Italy. More than adventurers, they proved to be builders, carving out structures which have stood the test of time."
The book describes the Normans' famous invasion of England in 1066, the various struggles between members of the Norman dynasties, and the many struggles with neighboring Frankish, Breton, and Flemish lords and European royal houses. The book explains the early link between England, France, as well as the conquests of the northeastern part of England by the Danish Vikings (the Danelaw) and the invasion of England by Norwegians (under King Harald) at the same time as the Norman Conquest. (The Norwegians were defeated by the English and King Harald killed, however.) The main take-away is the rise of the Danish Viking raiders in France, at first arriving only to loot or demand money from the King of France to leave, later eventually settling around the mouth of the Seine and then little by little conquering the region later known as Normandy. As the centuries passed, there was emigration from Denmark to France, but the settlers became gallicized, so that the conquest of England in 1066 was as much a Frankish conquest as it was a Norman conquest. In fact, the invasion force included Frankish, Flemish, and Breton troops, not just the Norman army.
The book goes on to describe the Hauteville Norman family conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily and the subsequent extension of the Norman "Empire" into the Mid-East, with the seizure of Cyprus and the establishment of a Crusader state in Antioch.
This is a lot of history to cover in a relatively few pages; the recurrence of the same names of Norman rulers century after century - William, Robert, Roger etc. - makes it somewhat mind-numbing and difficult after a while to tell the leaders apart. However, the writer is careful to qualify the historical evidence upon which the narrative is based - the sources aren't many and his discussion of the quality of the source material itself and its authors is itself interesting. There is a helpful time-line appended - but even with the time-line, there is simply an overwhelming amount of action - raids/invasions/wars, alliances/treaties, construction/destruction of cathedrals/monasteries/forts along with innumerable familial events, strategic marriages, intra-family squabbles etc. to keep track of.
This is nonetheless a very interesting if basic account of one of the overlooked forces of the European Dark Ages: The Normans, who originally were Vikings, part of the same group that even landed and tried to establish a colony in Newfoundland, 500 years before Columbus discovered America.
All in all, this is an extremely interesting introduction to an often-overlooked major force in European history - the Normans.
Some quotes:
"[An] ... historical source [of information about the Scandinavians during the period of the 'invasions'] is Scandinavian literature. The earliest examples are the poems written by skalds, court poets who, like Celtic bards or African griots, were given the task of praising the great deeds of those who protected them and their ancestors."
"...the authors of the sagas were men of their time, and the principal aim of their stories was to sing the praises of a particular family or clan of the period at which they were writing."
"The vast majority of the inhabitants of Scandinavia belonged to the category of boendr (singular: bondi). These were free men who enjoyed full political and social rights. The bondi had a fixed abode and at least partly owned the lands he farmed."
"When the Viking expeditions began, the Scandinavian armies were largely composed of boendr, since at that time there was no such thing as a professional army in Scandinavia."
"...[local chiefs] derived their power from the land they owned,the armed entourages they maintained (the lidh or hirdh), and the protection they granted to a certain number of dependents."
"...the emergence of powerful local figures can be observed in many regions. In the absence of reliable texts, archaeology has been of great help..."
"[Excavated] ... sites include large halls where political and religious ceremonies were held... Such centers become more and more common the further we advance in time. They are the signs of a concentration of power, from which the Scandinavian royal families were gradually to emerge."
"The king was chosen by the aristocrats - in other words, the great boendr, or the hersar in Norway - although we do not know exactly how these elections were carried out."
"...model of a weak king, dependent on the important men of his kingdom and exercising only limited power, seems to have prevailed for a long time in Norway and Sweden."
"...the sacred king was the person responsible for the fertility of the land and the fecundity of women. It was he who could keep the climate favorable to the rearing of livestock and the growing of crops by maintaining a good relationship with the gods."
"The kings of Norway tried to inflate their own origins by claiming to be descended from the Ynling dynasty, the issue of the god Freyr. This use of divine genealogies was common in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. The Svear kings of Sweden also boasted of this semi-divine provenance - a clear demonstration of the connections between the Scandinavian monarchies and religion."
"...power struggles were fierce [in Scandinavian societies]. Forced into exile, the losing candidates often embarked on far-flung expeditions. More generally, it was a way for the boendr to acquire prestigious property and thereby improve their status within the social hierarchy."
"...Scandinavians were ...trying to increase their wealth. At first, some were able to achieve this through normal trade. In doing so, they became aware that some foreign countries were poorly defended and plagued by unrest, even civil war."
"The Scandinavians were well able to combine two activities that to us seem contradictory: they were pirates whenever possible, and merchants the rest of the time."
"Because of ... [their very large warships], they enjoyed an unquestionable naval superiority. The Vikings soon had control over the seas, at least in the whole of Northern Europe, from the Baltic to the Atlantic."
"...'great armies' were made up of troops brought together for the occasion from various sources. Their cohesion depended on the personality of their leader, but also on the success of the expedition: if this failed, the army dispersed and each group was left to try its luck elsewhere."
"From 792, King Offa of Mercia [England] set about putting in place a system of coastal defense in his kingdom, but he died in 796. The period of anarchy that followed would favor the Danish enterprise."
"Wherever they intervened militarily the Vikings had one objective: to accumulate as much wealth as possible."
"The Vikings could not return twice to the same place: they had to go further and further inland to find new, undefended riches."
"These [9th century Frankish] bishops and abbots were politicians who spent little time in their dioceses and had no great interest in spiritual matters."
"...the Carolingian monarchs considered bishops above all as government representatives."
"[In the mid-9th century] The Frankish... King Charles the Bald undertook a massive overhaul of the administration, the aim of which was to strengthen the ability of the territories to resist the advance not only of the Scandinavians but also of the Bretons."
"...the intention was ... to tighten control over the population and facilitate the mobilization of men."
"[Robert the Strong, who had been received the command of the region threatened by the Vikings and Bretons from Charles the Bald in 852] ... was killed at Brissarthe in the autumn of 866 while fighting a combined force of Scandinavians and Bretons."
"[Robert the Strong's] ... heroic death earned him immense prestige, from which his descendants - the Robertians, forerunners of the Capetians - were to benefit."
"This major shift in the population of the lower Seine at the end of the ninth century is not mentioned in any text, but a study of place-names may give us some useful clues."
"...the [place] names seem quite different from those usually found in agricultural areas [as they reflect economic activity]."
"Even more than his father [Rollo, the founder of the Duchy of Normandy], William [Longsword] was totally integrated into the high aristocracy of the [Frankish] kingdom."
"William continued his father's policy of expansion.."
"It seems likely that in the years following the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, Rollo had respected the commitments he had made to the Carolingian king and was content with the territory conceded to him. The situation changed with the coup led by Robert, Duke of the Franks. In 922, he succeeded in getting himself chosen as king by the aristocracy, and Charles the Simple was deposed. Robert I only had a short time in power. He was killed in 923 at the battle of Soissons. His son-in-law Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, was chosen as king by the barons."
"After Charles' deposition, Rollo considered himself to be released from his duties to the king."
"In the tenth century... Duke Richard I was determined to keep control over the bishopric of Rouen [Normandy], and so entrusted it to his own son, Robert..."
"[Robert] ... had no hesitation in bringing intellectuals long distances to form what has been called his 'literary coterie.'"
"In about 1030, when he was about twenty, [Duke Robert the Magnificent] ... seems to have manifested a sincere desire for reconciliation with the Church. He may well have been influenced by a number of great lords who wished to redeem their sins by making large gifts and even founding new institutions."
"[Robert's successor] William [the Conqueror] was the undisputed winner [of the Battle of Hastings in 1066]. Much of the English aristocracy lay dead on the battlefield. The advance of he victorious army was now unstoppable. William headed for London, and on Christmas Day 1066 was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey."
"William the Conqueror remains the greatest figure in Norman history. He created a kind of state that existed nowhere else in the Christian West, an authoritarian feudal monarchy."
"...[the Normans] demonstrated their ability to build castles very rapidly. At first, these castles were simple motte-and baileys, using the rudimentary technique tried out in Normandy during the periods when ducal power had been weakened. Such castles were an excellent way to keep control of a conquered region. The Normans used them in both southern Italy and in England. When the situation had been stabilized, the wooden palisades were replaced by stone walls, especially easy to build in Italy where stone was plentiful."
"Elected 'by the clergy and people of Rome' [in 1058], [Pope] Nicholas II would prove to be a great reformer. His first concern was to remove papal elections from external influences, especially secular ones. The choice of pope as therefore reserved for the college of cardinals of the city and province of Rome."
"Overall, following the era of the founders, especially the founders of kingdoms, the era of the successors leaves us with a rather mixed impression. In England, the Normans were to leave a lasting imprint, but from the beginning the coexistence of the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy proved problematic. The entity thus created could only be maintained by exceptional figures such as Henry I Beauclerc, Henry II Plantagenet and Richard Lionheart. It only took a weak king, John, to destroy the fine structure inherited from William the Conqueror and Henry II. By 1204, it was all over."
"What truly unites these 'Norman' protagonists...is the spirit of adventure. It took daring for the first Vikings to embark on such hazardous expeditions."
"Thanks to its dukes, Normandy was for a long time the best governed principality in the Kingdom of France. These dukes were of Scandinavian origin, and yet, in order to establish their authority, they used means borrowed from the Franks."
"Once conquered and tamed, England was remarkably well administered, as was the Duchy of Normandy. The same is true of the Kingdom of Sicily, which Roger II and his successors would make the strongest state in Italy."
"...the Kingdom of Sicily had three official languages, Greek, Arabic and Latin."
"One of the principal merits of the Normans is that hey made the most of their military adventures, establishing strong, well-administered states. It was in this way that they left a deep imprint on vast regions of the West, from England to southern Italy. More than adventurers, they proved to be builders, carving out structures which have stood the test of time."
August 13, 2023
I enjoyed this book, for the most part it was clear. A few family trees would be good.
I found out about William the Bastard being heir to the throne and Edward made him his heir. Also about the Hautville brothers being dynastic in the name of Normandy and becoming monarchs. I might reread chapter 3 after some more books on the subject, but then as I say there was no family trees. I may well have been a bit more characterisation of the the character or more knowledge on my part would have allowed the switch of names.
William the Bastards mother's name was Harleva or Arlette.
I found out about William the Bastard being heir to the throne and Edward made him his heir. Also about the Hautville brothers being dynastic in the name of Normandy and becoming monarchs. I might reread chapter 3 after some more books on the subject, but then as I say there was no family trees. I may well have been a bit more characterisation of the the character or more knowledge on my part would have allowed the switch of names.
William the Bastards mother's name was Harleva or Arlette.
December 22, 2015
This is an informative history of the Normans from their Scandinavian origins to the rise of Normandy to the Norman Conquests of England and Sicily. I found the bias in favour of William the Conqueror a little hard to swallow as some of his most ruthless actions, such as they Harrying of the North in 1070, are glossed over as if his choice to respond to poorly-co-ordinated Saxon rebellions left him with no other choice than to launch a brutal mass-murdering spree that left tens of thousands of citizens dead.
October 3, 2021
The Norman influences on England can be seen even in the present time. Their real presence in history is a scant two centuries. From the English Channel to Sicily and beyond they brought kingdoms down and empires feared them. I like the format of this "Brief History." In a little less than 200 page, it tells you what you need to know and how to delve deeper if you desire. There is Church history too which may be boring, but is important for this time period.
May 11, 2016
The best beginners guide I have read.
August 26, 2023
American and UK readers are largely familiar with the conquest of England in 1066. But the fascination, broader story of the Normans is less well known. A remarkable story of conquest and state building ranging from the North Sea to Turkey. The book covers a lot of ground in summary form. It will leave a reader wanting to more of the culture, institutions and attributes that helped a relatively small duchy with a Scandinavian ruling elite out compete much largely states and groups for centuries.
July 3, 2017
I enjoyed this short book -- only eight chapters, but with a chronology and notes -- and recommend it to anyone needing an overview of how the Normans came to be and of their accomplishments in France, England, and Italy.
There are a few typos (in the main text and in the notes), most minor but some that left me slightly befuddled, which is why I cannot give the book five stars. Also, sometimes the wording or sentence structure caused me to pause and puzzle out what was actually intended, but this could be a result of the translation from French to English.
However, this volume is a concise reference for not only the serious scholar but also the recreational reader of history.
There are a few typos (in the main text and in the notes), most minor but some that left me slightly befuddled, which is why I cannot give the book five stars. Also, sometimes the wording or sentence structure caused me to pause and puzzle out what was actually intended, but this could be a result of the translation from French to English.
However, this volume is a concise reference for not only the serious scholar but also the recreational reader of history.
February 7, 2020
a lot of typos which was weird, and everyone was called richard or robert or roger which made things confusing (and william), it would be better to understand if it was written in a more chronological order but cool book in the end
July 10, 2022
There was a lot of information thrown at you in this short book. But it was interesting to see the French outlook on the battle of hastings as opposed to that of the English.
July 13, 2025
A thorough account of the Normans, from their beginnings as Norse settlers in France, to their lasting impact on much of Western Europe. Felt like this was a must read in preparation for the lads holiday to Normandy!
October 3, 2012
The Normans were an amazing bunch of adventurers and Neveaux definitely encourages this view. The writing is excellent. The style is easy to follow. There are generalizations and examples to help the reader truly appreciate the Norman kingdoms. Bias is something of a problem as Neveaux writes with stars in his eyes when describing the successes of the second generation Norman bureaucrats.
The bias is an obvious weakness - Neveaux glosses over constant warfare and unwarranted aggression as common and acceptable. He argues that local lords needed the Normans more than the Normans needed a base of operations for further war. He glosses over the fact that in both successful Norman kingdoms the success was due to constant warfare in the region, weak local control, and impeding continued warfare - areas ripe for conquest.
These problems are only highlighted when Neveaux goes on to extoll the virtues of second and third generation Normans - William the Bastard, Roger II, Frederick, etc. He correctly points out their remarkable ability to curtail the war-like aggression of their vassals while promoting successful - economic, political, and social states through diplomacy and the threat of violence.
Another drawback is that while offering many examples to support his generalizations, there are many unanswered questions. Why did the Normans decline? Why did the leaders slowly curtail the aggressiveness of their vassals? Even more generic questions remain such as how did they manage to negotiate between so many divergent groups to establish such stable kingdoms? The details can be fuzzy, and this may be due to space constraints or negative imagery for the Norman heroes.
The only real conclusion that Neveaux propounds on their decline is a dilution of the blood-line. There was too much interbreeding and the Norman genes were slowly wiped out through social evolution. This seems a little too simple; especially considering their remarkable successes. Overall, this is an excellent primer on the Normans for casual-advanced readers. Other readers seeking more details with less bias will have to look elsewhere.
The bias is an obvious weakness - Neveaux glosses over constant warfare and unwarranted aggression as common and acceptable. He argues that local lords needed the Normans more than the Normans needed a base of operations for further war. He glosses over the fact that in both successful Norman kingdoms the success was due to constant warfare in the region, weak local control, and impeding continued warfare - areas ripe for conquest.
These problems are only highlighted when Neveaux goes on to extoll the virtues of second and third generation Normans - William the Bastard, Roger II, Frederick, etc. He correctly points out their remarkable ability to curtail the war-like aggression of their vassals while promoting successful - economic, political, and social states through diplomacy and the threat of violence.
Another drawback is that while offering many examples to support his generalizations, there are many unanswered questions. Why did the Normans decline? Why did the leaders slowly curtail the aggressiveness of their vassals? Even more generic questions remain such as how did they manage to negotiate between so many divergent groups to establish such stable kingdoms? The details can be fuzzy, and this may be due to space constraints or negative imagery for the Norman heroes.
The only real conclusion that Neveaux propounds on their decline is a dilution of the blood-line. There was too much interbreeding and the Norman genes were slowly wiped out through social evolution. This seems a little too simple; especially considering their remarkable successes. Overall, this is an excellent primer on the Normans for casual-advanced readers. Other readers seeking more details with less bias will have to look elsewhere.
March 18, 2013
On page 96 it states that Robert the Magnificent was the legitimate son of Duke Richard I, when in fact it was Richard II. This therefore makes this book worthless, as you have to ask yourself what else is wrong.
The author also states on page 132 that Edward the Confessor unquestionably promised the throne to William with out supplying one iota of proof. I could go on, but I think you get the gist. I.m sure there are far better histories about the Normans, so my advice is spend a little time finding one of them, and NOT buy this book.
The author also states on page 132 that Edward the Confessor unquestionably promised the throne to William with out supplying one iota of proof. I could go on, but I think you get the gist. I.m sure there are far better histories about the Normans, so my advice is spend a little time finding one of them, and NOT buy this book.
March 18, 2022
I suppose I'm not as finicky as other Goodreads members, for I enjoyed the book and was able to look past the minor problems of spelling, format issues, etc. As an armchair historian, I found most of the information insightful and interesting. It's not my only book on the Normans and Anglo-Saxons, so I enjoyed the different perspective offered. I'd recommend others wanting to be sure of the information to find and read other books on the matter in addition to this one. Having a wrong fact or two is not unique to this book, so you build a knowledge base from multiple sources.
February 28, 2010
Although there is lots of interesting information given, particularly regarding the origins and decline of the Normans, there is too much data for one to take in. The pictures are good, but there is no real argument behind the narration. Additionally, the translation from French is somewhat slapdash - there are capital letters missing, incorrect spellings etc.
December 10, 2017
This book has a lot of problems. The most obvious is that the publisher seems to have taken no interest whatsoever in ensuring spelling, capitalization, and the like is correct. Was there even a copy editor? Who knows, but I expect better.
At a deeper level, the book fails at the task it imposes on itself as a narrative history. The chapters are too disorganized, jumping from one place, time, and set of characters to another without warning over and over again. The author introduces minor characters time and time again without meaningfully addressing who they are or their importance. The book assumes extreme familiarity with geographic details of Normandy that most readers simply will not have. And finally, the author fails to connect narrative threads in Naples and other Southern Norman territories with the story he is trying to tell.
In all, the author clearly knows his subject broadly and deeply, but is unable to effectively communicate his knowledge to a lay audience. He spends all of his time describing individual trees in a book marketed to readers unfamiliar with the forest.
At a deeper level, the book fails at the task it imposes on itself as a narrative history. The chapters are too disorganized, jumping from one place, time, and set of characters to another without warning over and over again. The author introduces minor characters time and time again without meaningfully addressing who they are or their importance. The book assumes extreme familiarity with geographic details of Normandy that most readers simply will not have. And finally, the author fails to connect narrative threads in Naples and other Southern Norman territories with the story he is trying to tell.
In all, the author clearly knows his subject broadly and deeply, but is unable to effectively communicate his knowledge to a lay audience. He spends all of his time describing individual trees in a book marketed to readers unfamiliar with the forest.
January 22, 2019
First published in 2006, 'A Brief History of the Normans' is a short, yet detailed, look at the achievements of the Normans roughly over the period of the 10th to the 12th centuries. The book concentrates far more on the political aspects of Normans in that period, and consequently less on repetitive tales about lots of indistinguishable battles. This in itself makes it different from many histories and it does so quite well, apart from the inevitable skimping on details which you are going to get in covering three centuries in 200 pages. It also gives the impression that the naming convention of the time often meant that your second name either described where you came from, like 'Geoffrey of Brittany' or described you in terms that were not always flattering, eg 'William the Bastard' and 'Robert the Magnificent'. Enjoyable.
June 16, 2022
Great entry level book for Norman history. Bar its spelling mistakes there is a wealth of information in its 200 pages. It was most interesting for me to learn about the Hauteville family and the Norman conquests of Sicily and Southern Italy. I'll definitely be looking into the Normans further given their impact on England but I'm glad my assumption that the Plantagenates were a purely Norman line has been dispelled too. The rivalry between Normandy and Anjou is definitely a feisty one that I'm now freshly intested it!
Overall a good starting point, clear and concise, it'll definitely fire the flames of inspiration and intrigue if you are interested in this subject.
Overall a good starting point, clear and concise, it'll definitely fire the flames of inspiration and intrigue if you are interested in this subject.
January 10, 2021
As a basic reference for dates and events of the time period, this book is sufficient, but the overwhelming number of errors and odd translations are too distracting to make it a really good read. While I enjoyed getting a little bit deeper into the details of these influential events and people, the long list of kings, princes, dukes, bishops, and popes with similar, if not identical, names makes it hard to develop a more complete portrait of each figure.
May 15, 2021
On the back cover, someone described this book as “accessible”. Well... It is fascinating history, but not as accessible as it could be. Maps would be helpful. Not just the battle plans of the Battle of Hastings, but rather maps showing us WHERE in Normandy and Brittany, etc, the action is happening. And family genealogy would be helpful. So many families, so many sons with the same names....
In short, quite a slog through. Sad. It is a period of history that is utterly fascinating.
In short, quite a slog through. Sad. It is a period of history that is utterly fascinating.
December 24, 2022
A difficult book to read but short and packed with information. This is really a study book, rather than a story book. It just contains a constant stream of names and dates, but it is trying to cover 420 years of history in only 200 pages. Also, it was translated from French. If you like history, or want to learn more about the origins of Europe, this is worthwhile. It concerns England, France, Italy and to a lesser extent, some other parts of the continent.
August 10, 2024
Excellent concise summary of the history of the Normans from the founding of the state by Rollo he Viking to the invasion of England by William the Conqueror and the succession of Norman Plantagenet Kings that ruled England, The book also deals with the Hauteville brothers adventures to create the kingdom of Sicily and control much of Southern Italy. The one flaw of the book was the lack of a map to show where many of the places are located in France, Germany , the UK and Italy. Still recommended!
February 10, 2022
Interesting overview of the Normans from their viking beginnings to the reign of King John. Obviously a translation, I found the writing to be a little tiresome in places. Nevertheless a sound summary of key events which helped me to understand how things in England and Europe are linked. A quick read, I'm left wanting to know more, which to me is always the sign of a good book.
February 19, 2024
A good book about the foundation of normandy and the kingdom of sicily, as well as the normans in england.
Since its a small book and it covers these three topics over a period of 400 years, it doesnt go to deeply into anyone of them.
Yet i can still recommend this book if you're interested in the history of normandy and the normans.
Since its a small book and it covers these three topics over a period of 400 years, it doesnt go to deeply into anyone of them.
Yet i can still recommend this book if you're interested in the history of normandy and the normans.
September 13, 2025
It provides a solid overview of characters like Rollo, William, the Hautevilles and the supporting cast surrounding them. It works well as an introductory piece to the Normans, medieval England and Southern Italy among others.
Alexios Komnenus makes a guest appearance so good that you want to read his book instead.
Alexios Komnenus makes a guest appearance so good that you want to read his book instead.
November 17, 2019
I enjoyed its perspective on William The Conqueror, and the way power was established by heritage. This archaic system teaches us a good lesson about why strong democracies are crucial for human development.
February 20, 2024
While a fine study by a leading Norman historian, the translation left some to be desired, grammar issues and spelling problems abounding. Still, a fascinating and informative read, just needs some editing.
May 5, 2025
I don't know if this book was written by a child because there are capital letters missing, incorrect spellings and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open because this book needs a good editor and I've only read the first 20 pages.
September 2, 2017
I'm glad I only spent £2.49 on this!
November 25, 2019
Some very good insights into the factors that led to the rise of the Normans - an assimilation of Vikings and Frankish - would play a pivotal role in the UK, France, and the Mediterranean.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews