Lordship and Locality in the Long Twelfth Century

This study challenges the notion that multiple lordship was a sign of decline in the structure of lordship in England between the Norman Conquest and Magna Carta and demonstrates that it was a normal practice and used to construct localised centres of authority. It also explores how minor lords navigated overlapping ties of lordship, kinship, and locality to become important actors in their own right.

Format: Hardback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Between the Norman Conquest and Magna Carta, a fresh perspective on lordship emerged in England, challenging the notion that multiple lordship, holding land or allegiance to more than one lord, was a sign of decline in the feudal structure. Through an in-depth analysis of the minor lords of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire during the long twelfth century, this study reveals that multiple lordship was, in fact, more prevalent than single lordship and was widely regarded as a normal practice. It explores how these minor lords utilized the flexibility of lordship structures to establish localized centers of authority within the landscape and assert their significance as independent actors.

Moreover, lordship was just one of the complex forces that minor lords navigated. The regional society of this period was deeply influenced by overlapping ties of lordship, kinship, and locality, each of which played a crucial role in shaping relationships and behavior. These issues are examined within and across lords' honors, around religious houses and urban areas, and in a detailed case study of the abbey of Burton-upon-Trent. By contextualizing lordship within a broader landscape of power and influence, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of lordship in medieval England.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783277834