Royal Childhood and Child Kingship

'Ward has undoubtedly already achieved an enormous amount with her book: she has worked out her subject in a stringent manner, examined a wealth of material and prepared it in an original way, compiled numerous observations worth considering and created various starting points for a critical examination of the subject. In this respect, her contribution to research can undoubtedly be described as successful.' Clara Harder, Sehepunkte (from German) ' a convincing reinterpretation of royal childhood and the kingship of rulers in childhood and a variety of suggestions for further research into the topic' Andreas Bttner, H-Soz-Kult 'Ward's greatest contribution is to help broaden our understanding of medieval rulership. Her main conclusion, that children were valued members of and active participants within ruling families, provides a crucial contribution to ongoing research into medieval royal rulership. Ward's study will no doubt help to shape and further our understanding of what medieval rulership entailed.' Abigail S. Armstrong, Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth 'This study, which also features a large number of valuable individual observations and new assessments of prominent cases of underage kings such as the Salian Henry IV, is convincing due to its consistent comparative analysis of a Europe-wide phenomenon.' Benjamin Msegades, Deutsches Archiv fr Erforschung des Mittelalters '[This] excellent book leaves the reader not only knowing more, but wanting more, information about royal children in medieval Europe.' Lahney Preston-Matto, Speculum

Emily Joan Ward is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh. She began her British Academy funded project on 'Adolescence and Belonging in Medieval Europe, c.1000-c.1250' in her previous role at University College London. Royal Childhood and Child Kingship is her first book.

1. Royal childhood and child kingship: An introduction; Part I. Royal Childhood and Child Kingship: Models and History: 2. Children and kingship in the early and central Middle Ages; 3. Woe to thee, O land? Models of child kingship; Part II. Royal Childhood: Preparation for the Throne: 4. Familial education: Preparing boys to be kings; 5. Loyalty, diplomacy and (co-)kingship: Preparing political communities; 6. The royal deathbed: Preparing for child kingship; Part III. Child Kingship: Guardianship and Royal Rule: 7. Guardianship, regency and legality; 8. Adapting and collaborating: Child kingship and royal rule; 9. Feasting princes? Violence, conflict and child kingship; 10. Entering adolescence: Knighting, seals and royal maturity; Conclusion: Re-thinking child kingship, c. 1050-1262.