Nemesis

The extraordinary tale of Philip Augustus, one of medieval Europes greatest monarchs, and the part he played in the downfall of four Plantagenet kings of England.

Philip II ruled France with an iron fist for over 40 years, expanding its borders and increasing its power. For his entire reign his counterpart on the English throne was a member of the Plantagenet dynasty, and Philip took on them all: Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, John and Henry III. Yet we know so little about medieval Englands greatest enemy.

Historian Catherine Hanley, author of the critically acclaimed 1217, redresses this imbalance, bringing Philip out of the shadows in this fascinating history. Delving into French medieval archives, Nemesis explores Philips motives for attacking England and in doing so we learn not only about him but discover so much more about Englands most colourful and controversial of rulers – the Plantagenets.

When Philip first succeeded to the throne in 1180, Henry II of England, thanks to his Angevin and Norman ancestry as well as his wifes inheritance of Aquitaine, ruled more of France than Philip himself. By the end of Philips reign in 1223, the pendulum of power had swung the other way. Nemesis reveals how Philip exploited the constant squabbles of the Plantagenets to secure his grip on France, his wily political manoeuvring combined with a mastery of the medieval battlefield turning France into a powerhouse of Europe.