1. The Bastard King
William, illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, grows from a vulnerable boy into a ruler determined to hold his duchy against rebellious nobles and foreign rivals. Plaidy follows the alliances, marriage and warfare that secure William’s position before the disputed English succession gives him a…
2. The Lion of Justice
Henry I, youngest son of William the Conqueror, seizes the English throne after his brother William Rufus dies and then defeats his elder brother Robert’s challenge to his rule. Plaidy follows a king determined to impose order on the Anglo-Norman realm through law, marriage and calculated…
3. Passionate Enemies
Henry I has outlived his legitimate son, leaving the English succession dangerously uncertain. His second marriage fails to produce the male heir he wants, and the king is forced to make his barons swear that they will accept his daughter Matilda as ruler after his death.…