Son of Blood

by David Donachie Book 1 in the Crusades Trilogy series.

First published 2012

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2.5(5)

Bohemund of Taranto and his nephew Tancred belong to the Norman de Hauteville dynasty that has conquered much of southern Italy. Rival claims, papal diplomacy and conflict with Byzantium force both men to fight for position before the call for crusade offers a new field for ambition.

Bohemund must hold together followers who expect land and reward while judging whether religious purpose can serve dynastic survival. The struggle prepares the Normans for a campaign that will carry them across the Adriatic towards Constantinople and Jerusalem.

The First Crusade offers Bohemund a way to redirect Norman ambition away from southern Italy while still seeking territory and prestige. Byzantine demands that conquered lands be restored to the empire immediately create tension with western leaders expecting independent reward. The novel places family loyalty and military reputation inside the negotiations that will eventually produce the Norman principality of Antioch.