1. A Place Beyond Courage
John FitzGilbert, royal marshal to Henry I, builds his position through service, calculation and a willingness to take risks. When the king’s death produces a disputed succession, John’s first marriage collapses under the pressures of ambition and he marries Sybilla of Salisbury, daughter of a former…
2. The Greatest Knight
In 1167, William Marshal is a landless younger son seeking advancement through skill, courage and service. After rescuing Eleanor of Aquitaine during an ambush, he enters the household of Henry the Young King and earns fame on the tournament circuit, where victory can bring both wealth…
3. The Scarlet Lion
William Marshal’s marriage to the wealthy heiress Isabelle de Clare gives him land, family and responsibilities across England, Normandy, Wales and Ireland. The death of Richard I brings John to the throne, and the new king uses hostages, confiscation and suspicion to keep powerful nobles under…
4. The Time of Singing
Roger Bigod comes to Henry II’s court determined to recover the Norfolk inheritance withheld by his half-brothers. There he meets Ida de Tosny, the king’s young mistress and mother of a royal son, whose apparent privilege conceals dependence on a ruler unwilling to release control of…
5. To Defy a King
Mahelt Marshal, daughter of the celebrated William Marshal, marries Hugh Bigod while King John’s suspicion places her brothers and inheritance at risk. Her new household offers love and status, but the Bigods have their own grievances against the crown and expect obedience from a young woman…
6. Templar Silks
In 1219, the dying William Marshal asks for the silk shrouds he brought home from the Holy Land so that he can fulfil his vow to enter the Templar order in death. Waiting for their arrival, he remembers the journey he made with his brother Ancel…