1217

A Sunday Times Book of the Week A thrilling episode from England s medieval history Dan Jones The Sunday Times An engrossing history of the pivotal year when the future of England was secured In 1215 King John had agreed to the terms of Magna Carta but then reneged on his word plunging the kingdom into war Rebellious barons offered the throne to the French prince Louis and set off a chain of events that almost changed the course of English history Louis arrived in May 1216 was proclaimed king in London and by the autumn had half of England under his control However the choice of a French prince had enormous repercussions now not merely an internal rebellion but a war in which the defenders were battling to prevent a foreign takeover John s death in October 1216 left the throne in the hands of his 9 year old son Henry and his regent William Marshal which changed the face of the war again for now the king trying to fight off an invader was not a hated tyrant but an innocent child 1217 charts the nascent sense of national identity that began to swell Three key battles would determine England s destiny The fortress of Dover was besieged the city of Lincoln was attacked and a great invasion force set sail and unusually for the time was intercep