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The history of kings and queens has always appealed to popular imagery. Monarchy is also a central theme to classic surveys of political history. The present volume approaches the relation between imagery and authority of the monarchy from a cultural historical angle. The authors focus on the different discourses produced since the Middle Ages aiming at the symbolic construction of royal power in Western Europe, as well as at its subversion. The history of monarchy is not a linear process from sacralization to banalization. Throughout premodern, modern and postmodern times, the mystification and demystification of the monarch remain inextricably intertwined.

Inhaltsverzeichnis: Cover -- Contents -- Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- David CROUCH and Jeroen DEPLOIGE -- Taking the Field: Knighthood and Society in the High Middle Ages -- Part I: Noble Warriors, Warring Nobles -- Dominique BARTHÉLEMY -- Chivalry in Feudal Society According to French Evidence -- Jörg Peltzer -- Knighthood in the Empire -- Eljas OKSANEN -- Knights, Mercenaries and Paid Soldiers: Military Identities in the Anglo-Norman Regnum -- Part II: Knighthood and Lineage -- Sara MCDOUGALL -- The Chivalric Family -- Jean-François NIEUS -- Sigard's Belt: The Family of Chocques and the Borders of Knighthood (ca. 980-1100) -- Part III: Martial Ideals in Crusading Memories -- John D. HOSLER -- Knightly Ideals at the Siege of Acre, 1189-1191 -- Nicholas L. PAUL -- Writing the Knight, Staging the Crusader: Manasses of Hierges and the Monks of Brogne -- Part IV: Women in Chivalric Representations -- Louise J. WILKINSON -- The Chivalric Woman -- Nicolas RUFFINI-RONZANI -- The Knight, the Lady, and the Poet: Understanding Huon of Oisy's Tournoiement des Dames (ca. 1185-1189) -- Part V: Didactics of Chivalry -- Claudia WITTIG -- Teaching Chivalry in the Empire (ca. 1150-1250) -- David CROUCH -- When Was Chivalry? Evolution of a Code -- Notes on Contributors -- Index.

This immensely readable and informative study outlines the cultural history of the relations between royal imagery and royal authority.