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The Normans: From Raiders to Kings
"Lars Brownworth’s 'The Normans' is like a gallop through the Middle Ages on a fast warhorse. It is rare to find an author who takes on a subject so broad and so complex, while delivering a book that is both fast-paced and readable."
Bill Yenne, author of Julius Caesar: Lessons in Leadership from the Great Conqueror; Hap Arnold: The General Who Invented the USAF; The White Rose of Stalingrad; and Sitting Bull
"An evocative journey through the colourful and dangerous world of early medieval Europe"
Jonathan Harris, author of Byzantium and the Crusades
There is much more to the Norman story than the Battle of Hastings. These descendants of the Vikings who settled in France, England, and Italy - but were not strictly French, English, or Italian - played a large role in creating the modern world. They were the success story of the Middle Ages; a footloose band of individual adventurers who transformed the face of medieval Europe. During the course of two centuries they launched a series of extraordinary conquests, carving out kingdoms from the North Sea to the North African coast.
In The Normans, author Lars Brownworth follows their story, from the first shock of a Viking raid on an Irish monastery to the exile of the last Norman Prince of Antioch. In the process he brings to vivid life the Norman tapestry’s rich cast of characters: figures like Rollo the Walker, William Iron-Arm, Tancred the Monkey King, and Robert Guiscard. It presents a fascinating glimpse of a time when a group of restless adventurers had the world at their fingertips.
252 pages, ebook
First published January 3, 2014
148 people are currently reading
1401 people want to read
About the author
Lars Brownworth
20 books206 followersLars Brownworth is an author, speaker and broadcaster based in Maryland, USA.
Mr. Brownworth created the genre-defining 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, which prompted the New York Times to liken him to some of history's great popularizers. His recent book titled Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization, is available in bookstores and online. He answers questions on his Finding History blog, speaks at conferences and is currently working on a new podcast that brings to life the reign of the Normans.
Mr. Brownworth created the genre-defining 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, which prompted the New York Times to liken him to some of history's great popularizers. His recent book titled Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization, is available in bookstores and online. He answers questions on his Finding History blog, speaks at conferences and is currently working on a new podcast that brings to life the reign of the Normans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 10, 2020
A really fun and interesting romp through the middle ages. During the tenth century nobody would have predicted anything of lasting influence to come out of western Europe, but then the Normans exploded onto the scene, bursting into prominence and transforming European and Mediterranean history within the course of two amazing centuries, before fading away, absorbed into the societies they invaded, conquered, and changed forever. This is a quick and exciting read, great for anyone who is curious about medieval history.
October 31, 2023
Brownworth writes very good, readable popular history. This book traces the Normans from their Viking ancestry to the end of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Of course, a lot of focus is on William the Conqueror, but the meat of the book is about the Normans who went to Italy to find fortune and land. I had never heard of most of these Norman counts, dukes, princes, and kings, but Brownworth brought their story to life in a relatively short (200 pp) book. Seeing how these Italian/Sicilian Normans interacted with Frederick Barbarossa, Richard the Lionheart, and various Byzantine Emperors and Roman Popes was fascinating.
June 3, 2014
A popular history of the Northmen (Vikings) influence on Europe primarily during a two century period in the Middle Ages. I was aware of the Viking roots of Normandy in France, but had not known they spread into Italy, Sicily, Byzantium, and North Africa, as well as the better known 1066 invasion of England. Brownworth provides a well-written, and adequately researched, narrative of a brutal, cunning, and violence-prone people, who profoundly influenced the boundaries of Europe and Western law development. Lots of fascinating characters; the occasional love story; and war, war, war. All of the Norman kings in Sicily were highly educated and spoke many languages. The last one was a religious skeptic and scientist. This was a fun and easy read, but I would have liked to see more about the intellectual and governmental contributions of this fractious tribe.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through an early reader program, but the opinions in this review are my own.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through an early reader program, but the opinions in this review are my own.
December 20, 2017
Popular history book, no references, but includes a useful A Who’s Who of the Norman World, emperors’ list , Hautervilles family tree, maps and it’s an absolute pleasure to read. Brownworth's storytelling ability is remarkable, I have already read and enjoyed The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings, and I’m looking forward to In Distant Lands: A Short History of the Crusades. I would highly recommend this author.
June 30, 2014
Lars Brownworth’s first book catapulted to success on the back of a related podcast, and he used the same formula this time. The Norman Centuries has been another good history podcast from him (though very slow, fourteen episodes in four years, and a note saying the next episode is under production is still the most recent note a year later), and his latest book is more directly tied to it than the first time. With Byzantium he covered (in passing) most the entire history in the book, and picked the highlights for the podcast; with the Normans, it feels more like like each chapter is one of the podcast episodes.
The Normans only held sway in Europe for a couple of centuries, and Brownworth’s writing is stronger for having a more limited subject than the thousand-year life of the Eastern Roman Empire to talk about. As always, he does a great job with bringing history to life, and is at his best describing larger-than-life characters. The Normans provide plenty of larger-than-life people to write about.
My biggest complaint is that the book skips around more than I’d like in time. It starts with Normandy and the conquest of England, before stepping back to the early Norman conquests in southern Italy. The book then goes on to a brief history of the founding of the Crusader state of Antioch, and then spends the bulk of its time talking about the Kingdom of Sicily. The other complaint is that it’s all about the big-name leaders, and nothing outside of that. But, as a light popular history, that is what the book is about, and as I already said Brownworth handles them very well, and very enjoyably.
The Normans only held sway in Europe for a couple of centuries, and Brownworth’s writing is stronger for having a more limited subject than the thousand-year life of the Eastern Roman Empire to talk about. As always, he does a great job with bringing history to life, and is at his best describing larger-than-life characters. The Normans provide plenty of larger-than-life people to write about.
My biggest complaint is that the book skips around more than I’d like in time. It starts with Normandy and the conquest of England, before stepping back to the early Norman conquests in southern Italy. The book then goes on to a brief history of the founding of the Crusader state of Antioch, and then spends the bulk of its time talking about the Kingdom of Sicily. The other complaint is that it’s all about the big-name leaders, and nothing outside of that. But, as a light popular history, that is what the book is about, and as I already said Brownworth handles them very well, and very enjoyably.
June 10, 2014
The Normans were a group that I knew nothing about beyond the fact that they are why part of France is called ‘Normandy’ and that William the Conqueror was one, so I was happy to get this book. It’s a very fast read; Brownworth doesn’t dwell on the details of battles (although the dates and statistics are there) but concentrates on the personalities- and the Normans provided some compelling personalities.
I’d always thought of the Normans as being French, but they were Vikings. At different times various Normans settled in and ruled parts of Great Britain, France, Italy and Sicily, and even parts of north
Africa. Most of the Normans who went out and conquered areas did so because there was a shortage of land in their birth families. Some of them founded monasteries, built churches and libraries, and even created organized and codified rule rather than basing government decisions on whims and who was the favorite at the time. Obviously, they weren’t all simply northern barbarians. They were greedy, ambitious and took a lot of chances that other rulers didn’t and in some cases it paid off. Paid off not just for them, but, in the end, for Europe. It was under their influence that western Europe started emerging from the dark ages.
The book was a very fast, engaging read. There are maps and a who’s who in the front of the book so that one doesn’t get lost- although with the habit rulers have to naming their heirs after themselves, I still found myself confused at times. Covering over 200 years and most of Europe, it’s interesting to see how and why areas changed hands so frequently. The book isn’t of great depth, but it gives all the highlights
I’d always thought of the Normans as being French, but they were Vikings. At different times various Normans settled in and ruled parts of Great Britain, France, Italy and Sicily, and even parts of north
Africa. Most of the Normans who went out and conquered areas did so because there was a shortage of land in their birth families. Some of them founded monasteries, built churches and libraries, and even created organized and codified rule rather than basing government decisions on whims and who was the favorite at the time. Obviously, they weren’t all simply northern barbarians. They were greedy, ambitious and took a lot of chances that other rulers didn’t and in some cases it paid off. Paid off not just for them, but, in the end, for Europe. It was under their influence that western Europe started emerging from the dark ages.
The book was a very fast, engaging read. There are maps and a who’s who in the front of the book so that one doesn’t get lost- although with the habit rulers have to naming their heirs after themselves, I still found myself confused at times. Covering over 200 years and most of Europe, it’s interesting to see how and why areas changed hands so frequently. The book isn’t of great depth, but it gives all the highlights
July 28, 2014
Forget A Game of Thrones. Someone should make a book and movie series following the descendants of the twelves sons of Tancred de Hautville. Seldom has one family so impacted the their world.
Reads like a history book, which under the circumstances is acceptable. Lots of narrative. Lots of reverses and betrayals. Fills the gap between William the Conqueror and the Renaissance.
A good read.
Reads like a history book, which under the circumstances is acceptable. Lots of narrative. Lots of reverses and betrayals. Fills the gap between William the Conqueror and the Renaissance.
A good read.
August 31, 2021
Ordinarily, I don’t trust “great man” histories. I’m fine with biographies, but I don’t appreciate histories that work on the assumption that powerful individuals have shaped the world. I tend to believe that it’s broader forces – forces of culture or capital – that do such work. Individuals ride those forces, whether as Napoleons or Trumps, and eventually reveal them, but history is about the movements and energies of groups of people rather than their representatives.
I make most of an exception here, however. Brownworth writes this with a clear focus and a thesis that’s new to me: a relatively small group of individuals, all related as Vikings who, having settled in Normandy and acculturated, took over large swaths of the world.
I already knew the story of William the Conqueror, of course, but I like the way Brownworth frames this as part of a larger changing European context. William’s conquest of England came as a late-generation impulse of Viking raiders’s desire for stability. Their system could never have worked for too many generations. It depended on each generation taking more wealth than the one before it; without the promise of expansion, it meant failure. William, as bold as can be imagined, risked his dukedom to keep growing the realm. He was a real leader of the Normans already, but they were a smaller and more precarious group (at least in this telling) than I had imagined.
I knew almost nothing about the other strand of this story, though. Tancred was a lower gentry Norman knight, a man with nowhere near the wealth to support his 12 sons. He was tall and a renowned soldier, though, so he – and, more importantly, his sons and grandsons – found himself rising in the ranks. His sons left home one after the other, all pledging as mercenaries to southern Italian interests. Within a decade, the most ambitious of them had made themselves leaders in the region. Within a generation, they had established themselves as generals, lords, and even kings.
Harnessing their staggering ambition, they eventually overtook Sicily, driving away the last of the Muslim rulers and creating a short-lived powerful kingdom. William took over England with the main force of Norman soldiers. Tancred’s sons did so more or less through their own adventurousness and cunning.
It’s easy to get lost in the details here, and I do miss more of the context of their rise. (Brownworth does talk about the decay of various groups such as the Lombards and Byzantines but the economy I admire in the William chapters leads to more confusion in this less familiar part of the story.) Still, this is a remarkable story.
In the end, this is perhaps more “great family” history than “great man” history. William in one context and Tancred in another kept chasing wealth that took them farther and farther from their Scandinavian origins. I love Brownworth’s insistence that those seemingly separate strands were actually connected; I love the way he makes a single story out of his sense that this relative handful of people managed to redraw the map of Europe nine centuries ago, helping set the stage for the empires and then nations that would follow.
I make most of an exception here, however. Brownworth writes this with a clear focus and a thesis that’s new to me: a relatively small group of individuals, all related as Vikings who, having settled in Normandy and acculturated, took over large swaths of the world.
I already knew the story of William the Conqueror, of course, but I like the way Brownworth frames this as part of a larger changing European context. William’s conquest of England came as a late-generation impulse of Viking raiders’s desire for stability. Their system could never have worked for too many generations. It depended on each generation taking more wealth than the one before it; without the promise of expansion, it meant failure. William, as bold as can be imagined, risked his dukedom to keep growing the realm. He was a real leader of the Normans already, but they were a smaller and more precarious group (at least in this telling) than I had imagined.
I knew almost nothing about the other strand of this story, though. Tancred was a lower gentry Norman knight, a man with nowhere near the wealth to support his 12 sons. He was tall and a renowned soldier, though, so he – and, more importantly, his sons and grandsons – found himself rising in the ranks. His sons left home one after the other, all pledging as mercenaries to southern Italian interests. Within a decade, the most ambitious of them had made themselves leaders in the region. Within a generation, they had established themselves as generals, lords, and even kings.
Harnessing their staggering ambition, they eventually overtook Sicily, driving away the last of the Muslim rulers and creating a short-lived powerful kingdom. William took over England with the main force of Norman soldiers. Tancred’s sons did so more or less through their own adventurousness and cunning.
It’s easy to get lost in the details here, and I do miss more of the context of their rise. (Brownworth does talk about the decay of various groups such as the Lombards and Byzantines but the economy I admire in the William chapters leads to more confusion in this less familiar part of the story.) Still, this is a remarkable story.
In the end, this is perhaps more “great family” history than “great man” history. William in one context and Tancred in another kept chasing wealth that took them farther and farther from their Scandinavian origins. I love Brownworth’s insistence that those seemingly separate strands were actually connected; I love the way he makes a single story out of his sense that this relative handful of people managed to redraw the map of Europe nine centuries ago, helping set the stage for the empires and then nations that would follow.
April 4, 2014
Lars Brownworth's book is very well-written and its actually quite easy to read. I received this book from the publisher as an early reviewer book. In the book, Mr. Brownworth covers the entire history of the Normans from the first Viking raid in Ireland in 885 AD to around the middle of the 12 century which was when other forces became much more powerful, The book covers two centuries of European history. The Normans were surprisingly effective in setting up prosperous communities wherever they managed to settle during their heyday. They were also not afraid to shed much blood and they made a very profound statement in England, France and Italy in particular. All the legendary names are here such as William the Conqueror, Tancred the Monkey King, Robert Guiscard, Bohemond and many more. Many Viking descendents became Kings and nobility in Europe and they were a force to be reckoned with as they pillaged and battled their way from northern Europe to the northern part of Africa. Many current monarchies are direct descendents of these Norsemen. This book is definitely a wonderful primer for anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with this very important piece of history.
August 9, 2016
I thought I knew a decent among about the Normans. I mean, I've read a couple of books focusing on Normandy's rulers, and obviously I don't think a British schoolchild gets all the way through education without getting the date 1066 hammered into them and at least a vague idea about William the Conqueror and the Domesday Book.
But! This actually goes a bit further and looks at other Norman rulers, who pushed into Italy and Sicily -- something that I wasn't really aware of as stemming from Norman origins. I've read bits about this before, but never from this perspective. I knew nothing about the descent of the family or the web of feuds between them, Byzantium, various popes, and the German kingdom/s of the time.
All in all, pretty interesting, and well-written. I'm not sure about "witty", which another review mentions, but it isn't a chore to read. It does seem to have a reasonable number of sources and footnotes, which is another thing that makes me wary when it comes to popular histories. All in all, glad I won this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
But! This actually goes a bit further and looks at other Norman rulers, who pushed into Italy and Sicily -- something that I wasn't really aware of as stemming from Norman origins. I've read bits about this before, but never from this perspective. I knew nothing about the descent of the family or the web of feuds between them, Byzantium, various popes, and the German kingdom/s of the time.
All in all, pretty interesting, and well-written. I'm not sure about "witty", which another review mentions, but it isn't a chore to read. It does seem to have a reasonable number of sources and footnotes, which is another thing that makes me wary when it comes to popular histories. All in all, glad I won this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
March 25, 2014
Not what I was expecting - 1066, the Norman Conquest, and all that - but much more interesting. 1/3 Normans in Normandy/England; 2/3 on the Norman kingdom in Sicily. Recommended.
For a further review: http://susannag.booklikes.com/post/83... .
My copy courtesy Library Thing's Early Reviewers; much thanks!
For a further review: http://susannag.booklikes.com/post/83... .
My copy courtesy Library Thing's Early Reviewers; much thanks!
December 26, 2017
It’s the first time i read a historical book and i loved it!
He summarized 200 years of european history in 200 pages
You can’t put it down and resume later because
1 it is written really well
2 you will get lost a little bit in the timeline
But in general i loved it and recommend it
He summarized 200 years of european history in 200 pages
You can’t put it down and resume later because
1 it is written really well
2 you will get lost a little bit in the timeline
But in general i loved it and recommend it
December 21, 2022
Vikings raided anglo-saxons of Albion and Franks around the northern shores. As they were rather effective, a favorite tactic became to buy them off and they would be on their way back home. Then again, the Wessex and Paris funds were growing thinner and thinner. The next tactic became to offer them alliance and land. Rollo accepted the dukedom and basically became a buffer against the other vikings for the French monarch. These would become the "Normans" who
would spread into Italy, Sicily, Byzantium, and North Africa, as well as the better known 1066 invasion of England.
These are the voyages through 2 centruries of unparalleled effect that Scandinavian raiders have had to the whole Europe. That is, before fading away, absorbed into the societies they invaded, conquered, and changed forever. Described here by the author Lars Brownworth in a too short of a gallop through these fascinating times.
Rollo abandoned the viking names, religion and language, took the name Robert and French language. The vikings would attack on foot, but the newly transformed Normans would lead with an unstoppable cavalry charge. Although some ways still persisted. Before donating 100 gold coins to the church, Rollo/Robert also sacrificed 100 prisoners to Odin. A man hedging his bets, maybe a bit suspicious that Odin would have given in so easily to christian golden and gay ceremonies.
Agility and flexibility is the name of the game. They were amazingly effective in so many ways. Envigorating the old and tired medieval kingdoms.
This is the ride through the history from their hyperbolic rise as raiders to the meltingpot of the general population. And I'm still amazed this all happened during two centuries. Lars Brownworth manages to summarize the various threads all over Europe in an amusing narrative. I might have enjoyed going more into detail. And I also missed maps which I needed to google to add to the audiobook.
would spread into Italy, Sicily, Byzantium, and North Africa, as well as the better known 1066 invasion of England.
These are the voyages through 2 centruries of unparalleled effect that Scandinavian raiders have had to the whole Europe. That is, before fading away, absorbed into the societies they invaded, conquered, and changed forever. Described here by the author Lars Brownworth in a too short of a gallop through these fascinating times.
Rollo abandoned the viking names, religion and language, took the name Robert and French language. The vikings would attack on foot, but the newly transformed Normans would lead with an unstoppable cavalry charge. Although some ways still persisted. Before donating 100 gold coins to the church, Rollo/Robert also sacrificed 100 prisoners to Odin. A man hedging his bets, maybe a bit suspicious that Odin would have given in so easily to christian golden and gay ceremonies.
Agility and flexibility is the name of the game. They were amazingly effective in so many ways. Envigorating the old and tired medieval kingdoms.
This is the ride through the history from their hyperbolic rise as raiders to the meltingpot of the general population. And I'm still amazed this all happened during two centuries. Lars Brownworth manages to summarize the various threads all over Europe in an amusing narrative. I might have enjoyed going more into detail. And I also missed maps which I needed to google to add to the audiobook.
June 4, 2019
Opened my eyes to the lesser known aspects of Norman influence on Southern Europe. Norman vigor seemed to spread and infuse itself into every facet of post-Roman European life and history. Their mastery of violence made them the rulers of lands they had little political experience in how to manage. What they had in their favor was a love of battle where the locals they conquered seldom matched. This also allowed them to easily topple one set of rulers after another where the people's support was weak and their stomach for combat low. What the Normans lacked was political astuteness in ruling and so frequently relied on violence to solve their internal and external problems.
November 28, 2024
A detailed look at Norman rule throughout the entire of Europe and the impact on development of government and technology impacting the world as we know it today.
If you have an Iinterest in this medieval timeline this is a must read
If you have an Iinterest in this medieval timeline this is a must read
February 20, 2025
A survey book that touches on far too broad a brush of history and players in too little depth to be anything other than a guide for something else you want to look into.
January 18, 2018
Covers a lot of history and told extremely economically. Easy to read and informative yet somehow a little less than satisfying. Seemingly weighted somewhere closer to an easy read for the layman with (announced) suppositions than a reference for scholars and covering a wide swath, I think it suffers for the clipped prose, could use some more words, maybe a joke or two.
December 6, 2018
這算是一本可以輕鬆閱讀的「中古歐洲簡史」，主要在講述諾曼裔的幾個支族的領袖，分別在法蘭西諾曼第、英格蘭、南義西西里、以及黎凡特安提阿建國的過程。作者以「人物」為主要敘述的主體，藉由他們的一生過程，帶出歐洲各地的歷史演進。
由於一般常見介紹的中古歐洲歷史上，常常可以碰到這群「諾曼人」的勢力與王朝——但他們通常都不是主軸。因此本書則是將這個群體給放到聚光燈之下來處理，是一部更加深入瞭解各種歷史觀點的不錯輔助書籍。比如說先前在閱讀「十字軍東征」的這個主題時，我通常都會將認知體系放在「東方–西方」、「基督教–伊斯蘭教」、「歐洲人–突厥與阿拉伯人」的對立觀點上。但在本書作者所選取的角度，宗教信仰與東西方民族的差，並不是主要的衝突重點。在南義阿普里亞博希蒙德（Bohemond）與那更加有名的獅心王理查的眼下，如何與他們的同屬基督教鄰居之間的攻伐結盟，才是念玆在玆的重點；趕跑穆斯林或收復聖地，只不過是順勢為之的行有餘力之舉。而拜占庭帝國在歐洲與西亞的各方勢力的「大博奕」之下，此時也算是「一方之雄」，而非一般材料裡描寫首次十字軍時代的窩囊模樣（拜占庭 Alexis I 和 Bohemond 的交手非常有趣……）。
然而，本書作者的許多「推論」，我並不見得能全盤接受。作者似乎很愛拿著「族裔／血統」來加以論述發揮，把這群維京後裔的戰爭或統治方式給特意「刻版化」出來。實際上，自從羅洛立足諾曼地之後，這群人老早就與歐陸大部分民族「同化」了。書中介紹到的各個諾曼後裔領導者與其公國王國侯國，與同時代的日耳曼裔、倫巴底裔、法蘭克裔、撒克森裔的封建領主勢力，基本上沒什麼太大的差異，優點缺點完全融合同步。硬要將某西西里國王與其北歐祖先的「尚武」作連結，實屬不必。
可以增廣歷史知識的值得一讀好書。
由於一般常見介紹的中古歐洲歷史上，常常可以碰到這群「諾曼人」的勢力與王朝——但他們通常都不是主軸。因此本書則是將這個群體給放到聚光燈之下來處理，是一部更加深入瞭解各種歷史觀點的不錯輔助書籍。比如說先前在閱讀「十字軍東征」的這個主題時，我通常都會將認知體系放在「東方–西方」、「基督教–伊斯蘭教」、「歐洲人–突厥與阿拉伯人」的對立觀點上。但在本書作者所選取的角度，宗教信仰與東西方民族的差，並不是主要的衝突重點。在南義阿普里亞博希蒙德（Bohemond）與那更加有名的獅心王理查的眼下，如何與他們的同屬基督教鄰居之間的攻伐結盟，才是念玆在玆的重點；趕跑穆斯林或收復聖地，只不過是順勢為之的行有餘力之舉。而拜占庭帝國在歐洲與西亞的各方勢力的「大博奕」之下，此時也算是「一方之雄」，而非一般材料裡描寫首次十字軍時代的窩囊模樣（拜占庭 Alexis I 和 Bohemond 的交手非常有趣……）。
然而，本書作者的許多「推論」，我並不見得能全盤接受。作者似乎很愛拿著「族裔／血統」來加以論述發揮，把這群維京後裔的戰爭或統治方式給特意「刻版化」出來。實際上，自從羅洛立足諾曼地之後，這群人老早就與歐陸大部分民族「同化」了。書中介紹到的各個諾曼後裔領導者與其公國王國侯國，與同時代的日耳曼裔、倫巴底裔、法蘭克裔、撒克森裔的封建領主勢力，基本上沒什麼太大的差異，優點缺點完全融合同步。硬要將某西西里國王與其北歐祖先的「尚武」作連結，實屬不必。
可以增廣歷史知識的值得一讀好書。
February 9, 2017
Entering this book knowing almost nothing -- NOTHING -- about eleventh and twelfth century history in the Mediterranean Sea area, I learned a lot. Since I accidentally requested an audio book and I'm not as good a listener as I am a reader, I have to admit that only the overview will stick with me but even that was a tremendous amount of material.
Lars Brownworth's prose seems serviceable. I have to admit that the organization of the book, mostly following individuals, was a little confusing from time to time. However, given the breadth of land area covered by the Normans, a strictly time-oriented organizational structure might also have been so. There are just a lot of wandering armies and people to keep track of. (And I can't begin to tell you how spell half of the names I encountered.)
If you have an interest in this period, the curiosity to learn more about the Normans who didn't invade England, inquisitiveness about those early popes and their political aspirations, and/or have ever wondered what was happening in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Northern Africa back in the day, I'll recommend reading this book. You might want to keep a map handy.
Lars Brownworth's prose seems serviceable. I have to admit that the organization of the book, mostly following individuals, was a little confusing from time to time. However, given the breadth of land area covered by the Normans, a strictly time-oriented organizational structure might also have been so. There are just a lot of wandering armies and people to keep track of. (And I can't begin to tell you how spell half of the names I encountered.)
If you have an interest in this period, the curiosity to learn more about the Normans who didn't invade England, inquisitiveness about those early popes and their political aspirations, and/or have ever wondered what was happening in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Northern Africa back in the day, I'll recommend reading this book. You might want to keep a map handy.
July 1, 2015
For two centuries, from late in the 10th through late in the 12th, the Normans managed – meaning fought – to get themselves crowned kings in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Sicily, North Africa, parts of the Byzantine Empire, and Antioch. And the fighting was bloody. Splitting people in half (lengthwise) by sword or battle axe was not uncommon. No sooner was the issue of one battle settled than the victor faced rebellion among the defeated. Unsuccessful rebels faced execution. Diplomacy was marked by cunning, deceit, and betrayal as well. With all of the violence and turmoil, you wonder how anything lasting was accomplished. But it was. The Normans built churches (Westminster) and universities (Palermo) that were the best in their time and that still stand today. I doubt there is any better account of it than this.
May 28, 2014
It was a better "light" history; it was highly readable and taught about a part of history that I did not know much about. I did not know that the Normans were Vikings who settled in France and converted to Christianity. I always thought the "Norman" invasion of England was done by the French. However, the Normans were ethnically Vikings not Latin. For a while the Normans controlled southern Italy,Sicily and northern Africa. When they were in Italy they had close family in England. The Normans also played a major role in the crusades and in wars over the control of the papal succession.
While the book is not high scholarship, it is an enjoyable history of part of the Middle Ages that I did not know much about and it is easy to follow.
While the book is not high scholarship, it is an enjoyable history of part of the Middle Ages that I did not know much about and it is easy to follow.
March 16, 2014
Lars Brownworth has written an interesting and detailed history of the Normans that goes far, far beyond what I learned about the Norman invasion in 1066. I am woefully ignorant of much of European history, especially history in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. As a result, I found this book interesting and informative. An added bonus is that the information is written in a very readable manner; it isn't dull or overly detailed. For the casual historical reader or amateur history buff, this is an excellent source on a group of people who had a tremendous effect on western European society.
January 24, 2017
Moving briskly, if at the cost of slim detail in some instances, this book covers the experiences of the Normans, the most successful expansive middle ages in the military sphere west of the Turco-Mongol world. Thankfully, its primary focus is on the Norman kingdom in Sicily rather than the more famous England we have already been saturated with. This was the Norman Kingdom I was always interested in learning more about.
May 3, 2015
Interesting account of the Norman empire which lasted only a few generations but controlled England, France, Sicily, Central Italy, North Africa, and parts of the Byzantine empire. Who knows for sure, maybe our family has more Norse heritage than Italian.
July 1, 2014
Over simplified
November 17, 2018
This is a very good, albeit brief and cursory, look into the legend that is the Normans.
The Normans were originally Vikings. Their founder, Rollo (whose story in history is nothing at all what the cable tv drama Vikings portrays it as) agreed to take the land of Normandy in exchange for a deal with the French King. Normandy itself basically translates into The North Mans Land.
Rollo's baptism and conversion to Christianity (if it was at times not exactly Christ like), set the template for the rest of the Normans who were, in time, Christianized.
Eventually the Normans grew too powerful for comfort, and the French Kings attempted to bring them to heel via military force. But although the later generations were Christians, they were still Vikings in blood.
And war was their past time.
Eventually, this tension was largely erased when one of the leading Norman leaders, William, a bastard, declared his claim on the English throne and invaded England in 1066. The ensuing Battle of Hastings forever changed English history.
With the death of the Anglo-Saxons as the dynastic rulers of England, the Normans rose to their place as the transformers of England.
However, Normans being Normans, those not named William the Conqueror, sought glory and authority elsewhere.
Enter Robert Guiscard.
Guiscard would send the Norman eyes South, and this would, eventually, lead to the Normans waging a brilliant war against Muslim occupiers, to liberate and re-Christianize Sicily and southern Italy. The Kingdom of Sicily would be one of the longest lasting political entities in European history.
Waging wars against the various principalities in Italy, the Popes and the Papal States, the Arab and North African Muslims, the Orthodox Byzantines, the Syrian, Egyptian and Turkic Muslims in the Holy Land, and the German Holy Roman Empire, the Normans established a reputation for themselves as the greatest soldiers and marshalls in all of the known world. Their military reputation was matched by an amazing administrative ability, and an equally amazing ability to manage a multi-ethnic, and multi-faith, Kingdom with only a few hiccups. And those were mostly during the Norman decline.
As the author himself stated, the greatest lesson to learn a study of the Normans is that individuals really can make an enormous impact upon history.
The only real criticism of the work is its sheer brevity. 215 main narrative text pages is simply too few to do justice to the tales. None of the military campaigns are described in any useful detail, and neither are some of the more intriguing political happenings of the period.
The focus is primarily on individuals, which is a needed counter to the cold, lifeless academic style that focuses on a, still theoretical, notion of social movements as opposed to actually telling narratively what happened, by whom, how, and why. Still, this focus on individuals reverts to biographical vignettes which can never open into the meat of the story of the lives of a King Roger or a Robert Guiscard.
Nevertheless this is a very fun little book to read, and stands as an excellent appetiser and primer on the astounding story of the warrior lords the Normans.
The Normans were originally Vikings. Their founder, Rollo (whose story in history is nothing at all what the cable tv drama Vikings portrays it as) agreed to take the land of Normandy in exchange for a deal with the French King. Normandy itself basically translates into The North Mans Land.
Rollo's baptism and conversion to Christianity (if it was at times not exactly Christ like), set the template for the rest of the Normans who were, in time, Christianized.
Eventually the Normans grew too powerful for comfort, and the French Kings attempted to bring them to heel via military force. But although the later generations were Christians, they were still Vikings in blood.
And war was their past time.
Eventually, this tension was largely erased when one of the leading Norman leaders, William, a bastard, declared his claim on the English throne and invaded England in 1066. The ensuing Battle of Hastings forever changed English history.
With the death of the Anglo-Saxons as the dynastic rulers of England, the Normans rose to their place as the transformers of England.
However, Normans being Normans, those not named William the Conqueror, sought glory and authority elsewhere.
Enter Robert Guiscard.
Guiscard would send the Norman eyes South, and this would, eventually, lead to the Normans waging a brilliant war against Muslim occupiers, to liberate and re-Christianize Sicily and southern Italy. The Kingdom of Sicily would be one of the longest lasting political entities in European history.
Waging wars against the various principalities in Italy, the Popes and the Papal States, the Arab and North African Muslims, the Orthodox Byzantines, the Syrian, Egyptian and Turkic Muslims in the Holy Land, and the German Holy Roman Empire, the Normans established a reputation for themselves as the greatest soldiers and marshalls in all of the known world. Their military reputation was matched by an amazing administrative ability, and an equally amazing ability to manage a multi-ethnic, and multi-faith, Kingdom with only a few hiccups. And those were mostly during the Norman decline.
As the author himself stated, the greatest lesson to learn a study of the Normans is that individuals really can make an enormous impact upon history.
The only real criticism of the work is its sheer brevity. 215 main narrative text pages is simply too few to do justice to the tales. None of the military campaigns are described in any useful detail, and neither are some of the more intriguing political happenings of the period.
The focus is primarily on individuals, which is a needed counter to the cold, lifeless academic style that focuses on a, still theoretical, notion of social movements as opposed to actually telling narratively what happened, by whom, how, and why. Still, this focus on individuals reverts to biographical vignettes which can never open into the meat of the story of the lives of a King Roger or a Robert Guiscard.
Nevertheless this is a very fun little book to read, and stands as an excellent appetiser and primer on the astounding story of the warrior lords the Normans.
October 23, 2025
I can still remember being scandalized in seventh grade when I opened the next chapter in our western civ text to discover we would be studying THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND. England, conquered? At that age, for whatever reason, I had a notion of England as an impregnable island fortress: from that time on I regarded the Normans with enmity. Recently, though, I found myself in possession of a generous gift card and a desire to find out just what those Normans got up to outside of England. As a regular reader of medieval European history, I’m always stumbling upon them getting up to mischief, and figured a survey would be helpful. Given Lars Brownworth’s adjacent research into the Byzantines, Rome, and the Crusades, From Raiders to Kings is not only a very readable survey, but one that brings in useful context without getting long-winded.
The story of the Normans begins, of course, with the story of the Vikings — aggressive Norse and Danish raiders who savaged Britain, France, and other parts of Europe while also vigorously exploring across the Atlantic and into what we now call Russia. Viking predations caused the coasts of France to depopulate themselves, as people moved away from areas of easy access to the raiders; when the Franks decided to bribe the Norsemen with land, sea-facing Normandie around Rouen seemed an obvious place. There the Northmen in Frankland — the Normans — slowly began slipping into respectability. After first following the French Normans and their eventual attack on Britain — where other Vikings had also been attacking, leading to poor Harold Godwinson having to fight attacks back to back in different areas of the country — Brownsworth moves to the arguably more interesting Sicilian Normans. The Norman arrival in Sicily was amusingly mercenary; they were at first hired to fight one side, then switched the other when geld proved shiner and more numerous there; eventually they began a conquest of Sicily. The Med was…..complicated back then, and most of the book focuses on the constant political wrangling that goes on between the Norman powers, the Eastern Empire, saracens of various sorts, the Papal States, and other European powers. Because of the focus on the Sicilian Normans, my animosity toward the conquerors of Anglo-Saxon Britain was quickly put aside in the very entertaining history of the Normans in the Med. One chapter is called “William the Bad”, followed by “William the Worse”: What’s more, even while the Normans frequently shifted allegiances over the years — especially where the Eastern Empire was concerned, since Constantinople could be both patron and arch-rival — they also fought against misplaced enemies like Anglo-Saxons in the Varangian guard. Englander displaced by the arrival of zis people with outrageous accents were delighted to be able to seek vengeance against the Normans, even if they weren’t quite the same Normans.
The Normans, in short, was an unexpected ball of fun. It added enormously to my appreciation of the medieval Mediterranean world, even if I don’t quite buy Brownsworth’s hypothesis that the sheer amount of energy the Normans added to Europe transformed its history and helped propel it into global dominance, at least for a few centuries. What is obvious is the Normans’ gift for adaptability: they always took what they had and grafted it on to the existing culture to create systems that not only worked, but flourished. This led to some institutional strength that persisted even if a strong man perished and was succeeded by someone with an inferior skillset. Alas, I think I’m almost done reading Brownsworth unless I can find a copy of his Macedonian book
The story of the Normans begins, of course, with the story of the Vikings — aggressive Norse and Danish raiders who savaged Britain, France, and other parts of Europe while also vigorously exploring across the Atlantic and into what we now call Russia. Viking predations caused the coasts of France to depopulate themselves, as people moved away from areas of easy access to the raiders; when the Franks decided to bribe the Norsemen with land, sea-facing Normandie around Rouen seemed an obvious place. There the Northmen in Frankland — the Normans — slowly began slipping into respectability. After first following the French Normans and their eventual attack on Britain — where other Vikings had also been attacking, leading to poor Harold Godwinson having to fight attacks back to back in different areas of the country — Brownsworth moves to the arguably more interesting Sicilian Normans. The Norman arrival in Sicily was amusingly mercenary; they were at first hired to fight one side, then switched the other when geld proved shiner and more numerous there; eventually they began a conquest of Sicily. The Med was…..complicated back then, and most of the book focuses on the constant political wrangling that goes on between the Norman powers, the Eastern Empire, saracens of various sorts, the Papal States, and other European powers. Because of the focus on the Sicilian Normans, my animosity toward the conquerors of Anglo-Saxon Britain was quickly put aside in the very entertaining history of the Normans in the Med. One chapter is called “William the Bad”, followed by “William the Worse”: What’s more, even while the Normans frequently shifted allegiances over the years — especially where the Eastern Empire was concerned, since Constantinople could be both patron and arch-rival — they also fought against misplaced enemies like Anglo-Saxons in the Varangian guard. Englander displaced by the arrival of zis people with outrageous accents were delighted to be able to seek vengeance against the Normans, even if they weren’t quite the same Normans.
The Normans, in short, was an unexpected ball of fun. It added enormously to my appreciation of the medieval Mediterranean world, even if I don’t quite buy Brownsworth’s hypothesis that the sheer amount of energy the Normans added to Europe transformed its history and helped propel it into global dominance, at least for a few centuries. What is obvious is the Normans’ gift for adaptability: they always took what they had and grafted it on to the existing culture to create systems that not only worked, but flourished. This led to some institutional strength that persisted even if a strong man perished and was succeeded by someone with an inferior skillset. Alas, I think I’m almost done reading Brownsworth unless I can find a copy of his Macedonian book
November 13, 2024
Lars Brownworth's "The Normans: From Raiders to Kings" offers a fresh perspective on the Norman Conquest, framing it as part of a larger European transformation. Brownworth's thesis centers on a small, interconnected group of Viking descendants who settled in Normandy, acculturated, and subsequently shaped the course of world history.
Brownworth masterfully weaves together two strands of this narrative: William the Conqueror's famous conquest of England and the lesser-known story of Tancred, a Norman knight, and his astonishingly ambitious sons. William's bold expansion was, in Brownworth's view, a late-generation impulse driven by the Viking raiders' desire for stability and wealth.
The author skillfully contextualizes William's rise within the broader European landscape, highlighting the decay of established powers like the Lombards and Byzantines. However, the chapters on Tancred's sons, who established themselves as leaders in southern Italy and Sicily, sometimes feel dense and lacking in context.
Despite this, the story remains remarkable. Brownworth's emphasis on the interconnectedness of these seemingly separate strands is compelling. He demonstrates how this relatively small group of individuals, bound by family ties and shared ambition, redrew the European map nine centuries ago, laying the groundwork for future empires and nations.
Key Takeaways:
- Fresh perspective on the Norman Conquest and its broader European context
- Engaging narrative spanning William the Conqueror and Tancred's remarkable family
- Insightful analysis of Viking raiders' motivations and the limitations of their system
- Remarkable story of ambition, cunning, and leadership
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommendation:
"The Normans: From Raiders to Kings" is a must-read for history enthusiasts and those interested in the complex dynamics of power and ambition.
Brownworth masterfully weaves together two strands of this narrative: William the Conqueror's famous conquest of England and the lesser-known story of Tancred, a Norman knight, and his astonishingly ambitious sons. William's bold expansion was, in Brownworth's view, a late-generation impulse driven by the Viking raiders' desire for stability and wealth.
The author skillfully contextualizes William's rise within the broader European landscape, highlighting the decay of established powers like the Lombards and Byzantines. However, the chapters on Tancred's sons, who established themselves as leaders in southern Italy and Sicily, sometimes feel dense and lacking in context.
Despite this, the story remains remarkable. Brownworth's emphasis on the interconnectedness of these seemingly separate strands is compelling. He demonstrates how this relatively small group of individuals, bound by family ties and shared ambition, redrew the European map nine centuries ago, laying the groundwork for future empires and nations.
Key Takeaways:
- Fresh perspective on the Norman Conquest and its broader European context
- Engaging narrative spanning William the Conqueror and Tancred's remarkable family
- Insightful analysis of Viking raiders' motivations and the limitations of their system
- Remarkable story of ambition, cunning, and leadership
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommendation:
"The Normans: From Raiders to Kings" is a must-read for history enthusiasts and those interested in the complex dynamics of power and ambition.
December 22, 2024
"The Normans: From Raiders to Kings" by Lars Brownsworth is a popular history gem. The book covers the history of the Normans, the Viking horde of Rollo who were settled by the French King in Northeast France in what would become known as Normandy. The Normans within two generations would become completely Francofied, Brownsworth and the strip of land they were granted overpopulated. As Brownsworth would state, they had not really dropped all of their Norse habits such as keeping multiple wives and recognizing all of their children. This would lead to an overabundance of well armed noble born second sons who would go on to be discharged all over Europe, fighting as mercenaries as far afield as the Byzantine Empire, North Africa, and Italy. Though Brownsworth gives a nod to line of William the Conqueror and his conquest, royal line and rule of England the focus of the book remains on Robert Guiscard and his Kingdom of Sicily. Brownsworth's treatment of the Kingdom of Sicily is one of the best that I have read thus far. Brownsworth brings the reader into the his diverse and vibrant world established by hearty Northern mercenaries and nurtured by good governance and forbearance. Brownsworth also details Bohemond's, an offshoot younger son of Guiscard's line, conquest of the city of Antioch during the First Crusade. However, they do not figure into the narrative after their brief mention; if the reader is curious to learn more Brownsworth give them extensive treatment in "In Distant Lands." I would recommend this to any history buff or anyone just curious about the Middle Ages.
June 24, 2018
“The Normas: From Raiders to Kings” by Lars Brownwich is an enjoyable and overall informative read. Unlike many books on this subject that focus almost entirely on William the Conqueror and his ilk from 1066, Brownwich expands his study of the Normans from the cold shores of the English Channel to Byzantium. This way that the author presents this breadth of information is all the more impressive since this book is not long at all and is paced in a manner that would appeal to both a learned medievalist and a general audience interested in this critical time in Euroasian history. Brownwich begins by highlighting that the most impressive historical feat of the Normans was their adaptability. Beginning with their Viking promigenoitur Rollo the Walker through the mercenary de Hauteville family that established multiple states in Italy and the Levant, the strength of this book is Brownwich’s analysis of the way in which the Normas melded their Norse military heritage with the native peoples they conquered. Always a numerical minority in their new lands, Brownwich highlights how the Normas adapted, absorbed, and utilized what was best of their own and their subjects. The highlight of the book is the chapters on the formation of the Kingdom of Sicily. Brownwich’s narrative of Roger de Hauteville’s skillful establishment of the Kingdom of Sicily bu weaving together a state that’s military was Norman, bureaucracy was Byzantine-Greek, and educational system Muslim could be a lesson for contemporary rulers on how to create a modern, diverse state.
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