The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones

Knighthood in the twelfth century was still being defined, and no man more embodies knighthood than William Marshal. He was figure who lived through the rule of five kings and who would have been forgotten if not for an obsessed scholar and a mysterious manuscript. In most contemporary narratives, William Marshal is a shadowy figure. However, in a nondescript book that sold through Sotheby’s in 1861, another narrative waited to be told.

From facing death as a five-year-old to his final days, Marshal lived through fascinating times, serving various roles as knight errant, adviser to several English monarchs, and even serving as a kind of regent for nineteen months.

The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, The Power Behind Five English Thrones by Thomas Asbridge is a laudable historical read for anyone interested in the Medieval era. Marshal is a fascinating figure all on his own, and standing as a representative of a very compelling period in history, he illuminates the political turmoil of the period as well as the changing ideas around what it meant to be a warrior. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy well-told history and a fantastic story for those merely interested in good storytelling.