Read Blood Cries Afar for Free Online Page A

and Henry III. (The British Library Board)

    The Franco-Angevin border in 1202. (John Gillingham, The Angevin Empire )

    The coronation of Philip II Augustus, 1179. The birth of Philip in 1165 secured the Capetian dynasty and he was therefore considered by many contemporaries in France as sent from Heaven, hence he was known as ‘ Dieudonné ’ – ‘Godgiven’. (Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore)

    John’s visits to his French domains by the end of 1202. Note the time spent at Chinon and also around Rouen, the capital of Normandy. (John Gillingham, The Angevin Empire )

    The opening stages of the Anglo-French conflict, spring to autumn 1202.(W.L. Warren, King John )

    Autumn 1202 to December 1203. The main French-led attack on Normandy, with Philip leading his forces against Normandy and the crucial defence network of Château Gaillard, which guarded the Norman border just north of Paris, while his Breton allies attack John’s Angevin territory from the west. (W.L. Warren, King John )

    Château Gaillard from the Seine. Richard the Lionheart’s ‘Bold Castle’ which he claimed he could defend even if its walls were made of butter. (Author)

    View of the Seine from the ramparts of Château Gaillard. Note the isle of Andely, the scene of a fierce engagement before the castle was fully assaulted. (Author)

    Château Gaillard. The thrust of Philip’s main assault came from the southwest (left of picture). (Author)

    Plan of Château Gaillard. (E.E. Viollet-le Duc, Military Architecture )

    The keep of Château Gaillard. (E.E. Viollet-le Duc, Military Architecture )

    The northeastern scarp slope of Château Gaillard. It was here that most of the hundreds of non-combatants expelled from the castle – ‘the useless mouths’ – died from exposure and starvation during the winter months of the siege. Neither side dared show the weakness of compassion. (Author)

    The advanced design of the keep’s curtain wall at Château Gaillard. Here the dramatic final moments of the siege took place. (Author)

    The final phase of the conquest of Normandy, showing the advances of Philip and the Bretons in the summer of 1204. (W.L. Warren, King John )

    Falaise Castle. John spent a huge amount of resources on fortifying the castle and was outraged in 1204 at the actions of his mercenary captain Louvrecaire who commanded it for him. Arthur of Brittany was imprisoned here after the Battle of Mirebeau. (Author)

    King John hunting with dogs. He came in for much criticism from some quarters for devoting too much attention to his pleasures – including his young wife – rather than to defending the Duchy of Normandy. (The British Library Board)

    John’s French campaign, 1206. His success at Montauban was deep in the south, far away from the main crucible of war to the north. (W.L. Warren, King John )

    The great seal of Philip Augustus. (Archives Nationales, Sceaux, Paris)

    A cavalry charge at the Battle of Bouvines, 1214, one of the most important battles of the entire Middle Ages. (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)

    The Battle of Bouvines: King Philip lies in mortal danger while Huge de Boves makes his escape from the battlefield. (Corpus Christi College, Cambridge)

    Count Ferrand of Flanders and Count Renaud de Boulogne are escorted to prison after the Battle of Bouvines. (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)

    Philip Augustus receives the swords of his vassals in homage. (Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore)

    Magna Carta. King John hoped it would buy him time to muster his forces against the rebels and prevent a French invasion. (Dean and Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral)

    Seal of Robert Fitzwalter, general of the rebel army and a leading commander of Louis’s forces. The other shield is that of Robert’s fellow rebel, Saer de Quincy, representing their solidarity in their cause. (Trustees of the British Museum)

    Rochester Castle. The tower in the background was rebuilt after the original one was destroyed during the siege of 1215; it is