Pretenders to the English Throne

by Jeremy Potter

Alternative kings and queens of England from the 11th to the 19th centuries. First US 1987 edition published by Barnes and Noble.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1986

About the author

Jeremy Potter served the Richard III Society as Chairman from 1971-1989. During his chairmanship, the Society launched several important initiatives, including the commissioning of a heroic statue of Richard III (on display in Castle Gardens, Leicester), the securing of royal patronage from H.R.H. Richard Duke of Gloucester, and the broadcast of a trial of Richard III, with Lord Elwyn-Jones, former Lord Chancellor, presiding. During his tenure, the Society also became active in sponsoring the publication of fifteenth-century source documents and works of current scholarship on the period. It also created the Richard III and Yorkist History Trust, which provides financial support for graduate study and publishing. Potter was elected President of the Society at its Annual General Meeting in London, October 4, 1997.

Reviews

[Jan-Maat]

Run through of different historical pretenders to the English Crown, and eventually the British crown, with John of Grant thrown in as pretender to the crown of Castile as a bonus. Each gets a chapter to themselves, from the well known Perkin Warbeck to the cardinal who could have been Henry IX the younger brother of Bonnie Prince Charlie, if he had raised an army and conquered the country or if the circumstances of conception, birth, and succession worked out differently.

An Unthreatening book written for the general reader, history as curiosity and adventure.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done popular history of unsuccessful claimants to the throne of England and Great Britain, from the heirs of William the Conqueror (Duke Robert and William Clito) to various Stuart claimants, ending with Henry IX, the so-called King Cardinal. This book felt more organized than did REBELS, PRETENDERS, AND IMPOSTERS (Cheeesman and Williams). Quite readable and the author has a deft touch with the occasional snarky comment; too many books like these try to lay the humor on with a shovel to jarring effect. The book sticks with actual unsuccessful pretenders, with the exception of the Chapter on the Wars of the Roses ("Yorkists, Lancastrians, and Henry Tudor"), which, to be honest, is kind of a grey area, legitimacy-wise. Also Henry VII's successful bid for the throne does provide a telling contrast with many failed claimants. Solid 3 stars.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly interesting look at those who might have been kind. Informative, but a little dry to read. Not bad, but not great either.