The Normans: Power, Conquest and Culture in 11th Century Europe

by Judith A. Green

A bold new history of the rise and expansion of the Norman Dynasty across Europe from Byzantium to England
 
In the eleventh century the climate was improving, population was growing, and people were on the move. The Norman dynasty ranged across Europe, led by men who achieved lasting fame, such as William the Conqueror and Robert Guiscard. These figures cultivated an image of unstoppable Norman success, and their victories make for a great story. But how much of it is true?
 
In this insightful history, Judith Green challenges old certainties and explores the reality of Norman life across the continent. There were many soldiers of fortune, but their successes were down to timing, good luck, and ruthless leadership. Green shows the Normans’ profound impact, from drastic change in England to laying the foundations for unification in Sicily to their contribution to the First Crusade. Going beyond the familiar, she looks at personal dynastic relationships and the important part women played in what at first sight seems a resolutely masculine world.

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

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Judith Green is an English medieval historian, who is Emerita Professor of Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh. A graduate of King's College, London and Somerville College, Oxford, she held a research fellowship and then a lectureship at the University of St Andrews before transferring to a lectureship at Queen's University, Belfast. There she became a Reader and, eventually, Professor. In 2005, she took the professorship at Edinburgh, retiring in 2011.

Specialising in Anglo-Norman England, her notable works include:

The Government of England Under Henry I, (Cambridge, 1986)
The Aristocracy of Norman England, (Cambridge, 1997)
Henry I, King of England and Duke of Normandy, (Cambridge, 2006)

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Green presented us with thoroughly research study of the Norman (the North Men), their origins and powerful establishment across Europe and beyond. This book is meant for readers who already are seasoned history buffs, like myself, but even I did find it tiresome at times owing to too much detail regarding the names and family connections and therritories of interest to the Normans.
Needless to say, most interesting and easiest to follow for me was the part dealing with the conquest of England and its aftermath. The Author is generous with details regarding the new order after William's victory and some knowledge of Doomsday Book allowed me to follow Normans in England after 1066 with greater security.
After reading I know a little more about the Normans, but I was not able to absorb everything this terrific book offers. The fault is entirely mine.
*Many thanks to Judith E Green, Yale University Press, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

[Melisende · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will preface this review by saying - reader beware.! This is not a casual and cursory look at the Normans that will appeal to the general masses; it is a more focused narrative that assumes that you - the reader - have done your due diligence and a sufficient enough grasp of the topic at hand to absorb the information contained therein.

The focus of Green's book is the Normans and their activities as related to a specific time period - the 11th Century - and is narrowed down to particular theatres of war - England, Normandy, Byzantium, Sicily & Southern Italy, Antioch & the Holy Land. It is also a look at how contemporary writers and chroniclers viewed them as well as their own perceptions of self.

Green notes that 11th Century Europe was swarming with armed men who for for wealth, land and prestige. So what made this particular group that much more successful than others - this is what is explored. Green includes a number of prominent families in her narrative, as well as some much lesser ones (which are the ones I am always on the look out for).

Their legacy, in the form of conquest, assimilation, government, religious and cultural developments, and their all important art of warfare are covered off. Green notes that they were - in essence - "... ruthless opportunists [who] were able to change the political history of Europe ...".

This is definitely one for my own library shelves, and my own personal collection of Norman literature.


see fuller review here @ Melisende's Library

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this four stars, but I’m not rating it for lackadaisical British history readers. It can be very dry at times, it likes to either move back and forth in time or just shove all time together in a peanut butter and jelly discussion. I liked it because I’m looking for books about the earlier British history and I’m serious about EARLY. I’ve tons of Tudor lit (and I still read about them like this book will be the one when everyone lives happily ever after), I have Victoria out the butt and therefore the Georgians by association, I’ve gotten deep into the Plantagenets, well you can see I can even recite the rulers starting at Henry I to today (that woman is going to have to join Keith Richard and willie Nelson in the never die here’s a Twinkie club). But this book is very factual there is no story type narration so don’t go in looking for it. William the conqueror seems to pop up like the weasel carnival game (did someone say my name? Not yet Bill.hold you’re horses).
The information about how the various buildings were built is pretty interesting. Otherwise….ummm *crickets, crickets*… let’s just go with informative.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn´t finish this at about a quarter into the book, as it is obviously meant for experts in the history of the Normans. It´s definitely well written, but too complicated for people who are rather new to the theme. A pity.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Simms · Rating 2 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched, meticulous slog. The Normans sets out to provide a detailed overview of the various Norman-ruled fiefdoms of the 11th and 12th century -- England, Sicily/southern Italy, Antioch, and of course Normandy itself -- in a wide variety of topics ranging from politics to court fashion to the relationship between the Normans and the Church, as well as a recounting of the general history of those Norman lands. And to its credit it is very thorough -- endnote numbers abound, and the actual text of the book ends only 56% of the way through the e-ARC I was reading. The rest is a list of citations and sources; an extraordinary resource for the more academically inclined.

And really, this seems to be a book by an academic, for academics. Your mileage may vary in proportion to how much information you already know about the subject. I probably have more knowledge about 11th and 12th century England and Sicily than most casual readers of history, thanks to a habit of playing as Normans in the Crusader Kings franchise, so I was able to hang, but the assumed knowledge of the reader is a serious issue in this book. The author doesn't seem to have any idea how much detail to go into, and veers wildly between not-enough and too-much., Often, it becomes a weird mixture of both; for example, several minor figures are emphasized as having been relatives or descendants of Edmund Ironside, the importance of which is lost because it never clarifies that Edmund Ironside was King of England (and it's not like he is someone the casual reader can be expected to know). A different character is mentioned, one Robert Bordet, as having possibly been the grandfather of "the Spanish Robert Bordet" -- but who on earth was the Spanish Robert Bordet? (As it turns out, an unimportant Norman knight and minor noble who does not figure anywhere else in the narrative of this book - thanks, Wikipedia!) When describing the events of the first Crusade, Green takes the time to mention the names of the specific gates that certain armies set up camp against during the siege of Antioch. Are we meant to have such detailed knowledge of the geography of Antioch that this would be meaningful? Surely a map could have been useful.

Green is well-stocked with primary sources, which she bafflingly chooses to spend the opening of the book enumerating (a bad first impression), but this is a double-edged sword. Often it feels like Green has a primary source that mentions a particular fact, so she's hell-bent on including it, regardless of whether it is interesting or adds anything to the narrative. As such the reader drowns in minutiae, especially during the sections that most resemble an A-follows-B narrative history. The book is strongest in its second half, when she devotes sections to broader cultural or political subjects, although it stumbles right at the end into further excesses of detail by spending much of a section discussing Norman architecture basically listing out the layouts of churches. Again this would have benefited from visual aids, which the e-ARC I have is missing; some pictures of churches and halls are listed among the table of contents, so I must hope that they aid in understanding. Otherwise, the book ends on a characteristic note - overwhelming the reader with details, and hoping they have the academic background to fill in the context.

Thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for the ARC.

[happy · Rating 3 out of 5]

very well researched with lots of information on the Norman influence not just in England, but throughout Medevial Europe and the Holy Land, but dry as dust.

[Patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I had a massive issue reading this. It is clearly a very well done and well researched book, hence the rating. However there is a very big problem that makes me lean towards not recommending it.
This was an extremely hard read. I would need to pick up a few "Norman history for dummies" type books before re-reading this. The first part of this book was so hard to get through I considered giving up but I really wanted to learn more so I kept going. I am not sure if it gets more accessible the more you read or if there is really a difference in the writing but it felt like by the end I could take a bit more out of the information. I believe this is due to how many names and families are introducted to us at the beginning (making it completely impossible to retain any information, at least for my tired brain and almost no relevant previous knowledge on the subject).

In the end I regret to say I barely kept any information but I would consider reading easier books on the subject and coming back to this one later in life. If you want to pick up this book please be aware that it is not a book for beginners, it is very dense, dry and academic.

[Shrike58 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last year, when I was reading Trevor Rowley's "The Normans," I came away dissatisfied with Rowley's somewhat dated narrative style and, having further questions, I wished that I had a more contemporary treatment at hand. I was thus delighted to discover that Green's examination of the topic was out, and moved that to the head of the TBR queue. Unfortunately, I'm still left with some basic questions after reading this monograph.

Here's the thing, Prof. Green's real agenda seems to be the dismantling of the mystique various Norman rulers built for themselves, and critiquing the sources that have been left for us; not adding to the mystique. However, Green has to admit that, in their prime, the Normans generally did win their battles. This is unless they were just faced with insurmountable numbers, and some times not even then; victory does have a way of generating its own mystique. As for the questions I had about the sources of Norman military art, Green tends to emphasize a knack for logistics, but does make one passing observation that Norman armies do seem to have been more willing to trust in the full-fledged cavalry charge than most of their competition; again, the most romantic of all military maneuvers.

On the plus side, I was given food for thought when it came to Norman political maneuvering, but this really isn't a book with for the general reader, and they still might be happier reading Rowley or J.J. Norwich.

Actual rating: 3.5.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Normans. I have been fascinated by them as a group for a pretty long time now. The conquest of England! Randomly being in Sicily! The First Crusades! Occasionally popping up elsewhere!

I also love a good interrogation of sources. And asking new questions, or using new information to contribute to questions already asked.

Therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Given the above, I can't say how easy this would be to read for someone with zero knowledge of the Normans. Even I found it hard to follow the Roberts and Rogers and various families (honestly I kind of stopped caring about whether I was completely following who was related to who; it didn't seem to matter in some instances, and Green often reminded me when it did). It should also be noted that there is more historiography than I think is usual for a purely narrative sort of history, so if learning what specific historians (medieval and modern) have said about specific issues is not your cup of tea, you may well find this book a bit annoying. For the rest of us... this is a really great, and thorough, examination of the Normans in the 11th century.

I really liked how Green examined what was going on in Normandy, England, Sicily/Italy and Antioch/the First Crusade as a way of trying to see if there really is something to the very IDEA of 'being a Norman' - which honestly is a brave thing when you're entire book is about 'the Normans' - but that's exactly the point of it. Some people at least claimed the Normans as Very Special People with a Very Special Place in the World (via God or character or whatever else). Is that actually true? Is it even possible to speak of "Normans"? Gosh I love these sorts of questions. I also quite like that Green doesn't entirely come to a complete answer. She has some suggestions - that maybe Normans themselves in the 11th century weren't alway seeing themselves as 'Normans' - and also proposes a whole bunch more avenues for investigation. Which is the other awesome thing that Green does - she's not just using the old Williams of history (Jumieges, Malmesbury, etc), but adding in archaeology and DNA and various other sources to make a way more interesting and complete picture.

Overall, not My First Introduction to Medieval History, but a really great work on a group of people who had a fairly hefty impact on medieval Europe (and beyond).

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Culture in 11th Century Europe by Judith Green
This was not for the casual readers. The reader needed some knowledge of the major figures and history of Europe and the Middle East during the 11th century. Or at least have been willing to look up some of the information. However, academics would love the extensive endnotes and list of sources which takes up about 40% of the book.

The first part was a traditional political and military narrative. I found parts got bogged down by lists of people who were not major movers and shakers of the time period. (It did not help that there was a lack of diversity in names at the time. Of course, this was not the fault of the author). For me, the strongest part of the book was the exploration and analysis of the less traditional areas of historical discourse: culture, women’s roles, dress, legal codes, court proceedings, and other areas.

This was definitely for people who have an interest in the Norman time period. This was not a light read. Green did extensive research and it showed in this monograph. It was well written and the points were easy to understand but it did require more knowledge than the average reader probably had. I found it interesting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Simon Mee · Rating 3 out of 5]

We need, therefore, to turn to other explanations.

Normans reads in the style of how I was taught to do essays in my last year of high school. Obviously the calibre of Green’s research and writing is much higher than mine (then or now), however the style screams “academic paper.”

Doing careful summaries of information and sticking closely to your sources can be a tough ask, especially when there is the temptation to take flights of fancy by relying on one particularly colourful retelling of events, which the more popular books tend to (while genuflecting to conflicting material). However, I do believe we are at an age where we can step away from the academic style without too much sacrifice. Peter Heather’s books tend towards the colloquial, and occasionally controversial (such as downplaying the Plague of Justinian), but I would argue they have a clear academic basis to them (later books noticeably tending towards being approachable to the average reader).

…which leads me to the irony of the final paragraph:

The central argument of this book is that behind the legends about the Normans, their successes owed much to timing and to their leaders. From one perspective this might look like old-style history, of heroes and battles, but thanks to new research we now understand much more about the circumstances in which ruthless opportunists were able to change the political history of Europe, and about the broader consequences of their achievements.

…which is strictly correct in terms of the arguments made in the book but also feels like an unintentional admission that this book isn’t actually that interesting as it does not really talk about those heroes and battles!

To be less harsh, the book summarises existing scholarship in a manner that is presentable to a lay reader with (perhaps above) average reading skills. Spain feels undercovered but that is probably due to the limitations of the sources. Normandy and Sicily receive their due, with the bonus of the First Crusade and the Normans in Antioch (Robert Curthose also finds some redemption from being the biggest loser of William the Conqueror’s adult sons). There is also value in demystifying and demythologising the Normans, placing them in the proper context of the 11th century.

In the end, it is an academic work clearly well-done book that is held back by readability without being novel or revelationary enough to overcome that handicap (and again, it feels like a very good essay). The writing style is clear enough to me, so I would actually be interested in seeing the author do more works and pick up a way of structuring the work – maybe even a collection of biographies of those Normans?

[Danyal Mian · Rating 4 out of 5]

En bra, övergripande, encyklopedisk historia om 1100-talets normander som beskriver det folkets maktmedel och olika exempel på hur de brukades.

[Allison M · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this interesting read on Norman history and legend.

This is a painstakingly detailed look at the Normans, particularly as regards their rise to power and their achievements in the eleventh century. To investigate the truth behind the image of the Normans as unstoppable warriors produced by an exceptionally well-organised society, Green, who is professor emeritus of history at the University of Edinburgh, draws extensively on contemporaneous accounts such as those by Dudo, William of Jumièges and William of Poitiers, and interrogates the narratives they constructed. She examines too the Bayeux Tapestry, Norman buildings both secular and ecclesiastical, the law and literature.

Green emphasises in her conclusion that there was no single Norman world. Rather, encounters with other peoples led to variances over time and place. Norman successes are attributed by Green to their leaders, good timing and some luck, and the book ends by contemplating what fields such as archaeology and the study of archaeological DNA might yet contribute to the debate.

I enjoyed learning more about the Normans in this book, although sometimes I felt that the writer’s need not to generalise or homogenise the Normans might prevent her reaching any conclusions about them at all. The examination of power, unfettered or contested, was most interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her book The Normans, Judith Green offers the reader a solid, authoritative and original view of the Normans and their world with a particular focus on the eleventh century. Green is an erudite writer and is methodical in her rigorous examination and commentary of the primary sources related to her subject.

The book is a scholarly work presenting in depth analysis of historical narratives, their writers and patrons and their respective agendas, to examine the truth of the accepted view of the Normans as a distinct group of people who were exceptional warriors produced by a well organised society. Green successfully demonstrates that there are many things to consider in reaching conclusions about the Norman’s and that various contributing factors mean that one image of them does not hold true, at all times, and in all places where they ventured. Green’s narrative suggests that in understanding the Normans there is a need to encompass greater contextual information by interrogating other sources such as poems, annals, charters and textiles such as the Bayeux tapestry. She also suggests more may be revealed about the Normans in the future through study of historical DNA, an exciting prospect.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found Green’s discourse both educative and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Norman’s and the medieval world. I would recommend the book to those interested in Medieval History and the Norman’s.

Thank you to NetGalley and Yale University Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[DG Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Yale University for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As someone whose exposure to Norman history has been mostly confined to broad-ranging survey courses, THE NORMANS was a fascinating read on a people group whose reign had an enormous impact on the trajectory of medieval European history. Green contends that the typical historical narrative that surrounds the Normans is that they enacted an explosive, unalloyed rise to power on the strength of an exceptionally well-organized society and a military of unsurpassed strength. However, she says that such a narrative does not tell the full story, as these features were not unique to the Normans during this time. Instead, Green argues that there are a number of oft-overlooked factors (such as location, the nature of their warfare, the fact that they aligned themselves with the Roman papacy as the western Christian church consolidated religious power, etc.) that historians must consider in telling the Norman story. She further problematizes the idea that there was a single, monolithic ‘Norman world,’ instead exploring the various different factions under Norman rule as well as the diverse societies they encountered.

Green writes engagingly and convincingly in support of her theses, offering a new perspective on an ethnic group whose influence reverberated throughout the medieval world. THE NORMANS would make an excellent addition to many university libraries and is highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Normans: Power, Conquest and Culture in 11th Century Europe by Judith A. Green is an excellent nonfiction that delves into the fascinating existence of the Normans mainly during 11th century. I loved this!

We all know the conquest of 1066 involving the Normans, but how much do we really know about the Norman people as a whole? Their beginnings socially, politically, and geographically? Where did they originate and what type of transitions occurred to take them to 1066? This book takes us into all of those questions.

I learned so much about the Normans in general. I know there is only so much that os currently known due to limited archeological evidence in certain areas in what is now France, but with discoveries happening every day, hopefully more pieces will be added to the puzzle for us.

The author does an excellent job at presenting our subject in a straightforward and easy to understand format that made this feel less like a history text and more like a novel.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.


5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Yale University Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/22/22.

[Wafflepirates · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

My only knowledge of the Normans comes from learning about William the Conqueror and watching some YouTube videos after playing Assassins Creed: Valhalla. So, imagine my surprise when I read this book and learn the Normans basically had a hand in nearly every facet of Medieval life, war, and society. A lot of their influence seems to have come through their activities as mercenaries; their participation in several big wars solidified their influence in the regions they fought in. This book covers some of the geographic areas where their influence was the strongest, like Britain and Sicily, as well as major war campaigns (the first Crusades) and their impact on religion, societal norms, and their relationship with power. Very interesting, though it was written very academically, which did make getting through it a bit difficult at times.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fairly heavy read, jumping as it does from Normandy, to Italy, to Great Britain and to the Holy Land and it is demanding to separate the various, or almost countless, Williams, Richards, Tancreds, Rogers, etc. A certain amount of previous knowledge would benefit the reader and seems to be assumed. I followed best when the narrative was in Normandy and England as I have studied that history to a degree, but I was occasionally at sea when the author took us to Italy and Antioch. Still, there's a lot of analysis here to learn from that helps shape the modern take on the Normans, and the book is well-informed as a review of the massive end notes and bibliography will testify. Both primary and secondary sources are used extensively. A good read, but not recommended as an introduction to the Normans.

[G Liguori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing at times. Having read the books written by John Julius Norwich and Marc Morris on the Normans and books on Bohemond, I bought this book following a review on a podcast. I hoped it would add to my knowledge but at times I found myself frustrated by what appeared to be a lack of attention to detail. I keep having to re-read sections to check that I have confused a son with a nephew or Peter Bartholomew with Peter the Hermit. The premise of the book appears to be just how influential were the Normans, who were they but what did they achieve? The book achieves this but in my opinion, not terribly well. I have nearly given up on it several times. A real pity as the author has put a lot of effort into the research but....

[Mariama Thorlu-Bangura · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extremely detailed history of the Norman world of the 11th century. This is a book meant for the staunch history buff, particularly one who is interested in the Norman era of European history. A little bit of dry read for me, even though I do enjoy reading about European history. Something that bothered me was the author's name dropping of other scholars as if the general reader knows who is being referenced. A little bit of description would have been most helpful. Not something I'd read again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for this arc, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sashka Stojakov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a meticulous research and I enjoyed it! :)

I decided to give it 4 stars because it shows in-depth the lives of Normans, their powerful army and conquests they have acted upon.

Please be aware you would need a lot of focus and as someone who was familiar with some facts due to my studies, it was easier to delve into the reading. However, I find it fit for those who would like to get themselves familiar with the Normans history.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to Yale University Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

There was a TON of great information in this book. While I enjoy reading about history, I found this more high level than I am used to and it took me a significant amount of time to get through just because I reread a lot to make sure I had a grasp of the info. Casual history readers be warned, this is dense material. While incredibly well researched, it's not an undertaking i'd recommend for casual readers looking to learn more about the Normans.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough work of history. I enjoyed the academic nature of this book, though it might be too academic for some readers. The first chapter focuses on the historiography of the Normans so it will quickly weed out those who have no taste for academic historical writing. Those who make it through (or skip) the first chapter will be fortunate enough to experience a well-researched, well-organized, and entirely thorough examination of the Normans and their history.

[Jon Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doubtless very erudite but written in a meandering style and intended to address a set of specific questions that are never terribly well expressed. Needs a much stronger introduction and an editing pass, assumes too much knowledge of not only the period but current academic discussions on the part of reader. I’m willing to believe that I’m simply not the target audience but given the relatively mainstream presentation of the book, ie this is not sold as an academic text, I wonder who is.

[Neil Bradford · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is marketed for the general reader (I bought it from Hatchards on Piccadilly after a review in The Times) but is utterly impenetrable.

Never has the passive tense been used so much.

I hope this useful to scholars but it not useful to anyone interested in a vibrant readable history of the Normans.

[spencer wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive look at an often overlooked, or misunderstood group in history. Pivotal in the creation of modern England, this book is a must-read for those who want to take a deep dive into the Normans: their customs, ideas, military pursuits, etc. This is a history book, but one accessible for a general reader.

[CASPER HILEMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Emerita Judith Green has written a truly well-done one-volume history of the Norman Kingdoms. Green traces the history of the Viking settlements ranging throughout Europe to the amalgamation of Celt, English, Norman, Sicilian as well as Near Eastern cultures into unique Norman peoples.

[Andrew Balog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read this unless you're a historian or history student. It felt like I was reading scientific papers - draining, tiring, and only readable in small bursts.

Essentially, it was just a lot of words to say at the end of every chapter "the influence of the Normans in X area is still unclear".

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was heavier material than I was expecting (compared to other history books I’ve come across)- still very interesting.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reliable academically, but a bit dry. Some juicy anecdotes and direct quatations from original sources would have helped. It is written in a revisionist style and argues that Normans were not that special compared to other military people of the age. However, I would have wanted to know more about writers ideas of what drove events at high middle ages. A bit of well argued speculation, doesn't hurt in a popular history book.