A vivid look at the clash between reform and faith in medieval England, with monks at the center of power struggles.
This volume draws on monkish histories to recount how royal politics, church reform, and noble ambition shaped the church before the Reformation. It focuses on episodes like the persecution and expulsion of monks, the transfer of monastery lands, and the dangers faced by religious communities under powerful rulers.
- Learn how monasteries were caught between royal favor and noble interests, and how this affected property and practice.
- See the monks’ resilience in defending communities like Ramsey and their role in high‑level political events.
- Discover how saints, martyrs, and relics played into medieval politics and popular faith.
- Understand the tensions around royal succession, church leadership, and the influence of influential figures such as Dunstan and Elfrida.
Ideal for readers of medieval religious history who want a compact, narrative account of church and state before the Norman Conquest.