Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > The Conquest > Status Update

‘The medieval warhorse had to be easy to mount at a moment’s notice, i.e. not too high off the ground. It had to have a strong back, powerful quarters, and be capable of fast manoeuvre. In constitution, an ideal horse would have resembled a modern heavy hunter or small showjumper, and would have stood no more than fifteen and a half hands in height.’

‘Mauger was probably right. Albeit that William’s eldest son, Robert, was currently in rebellion against his father, the young man would doubtless inherit Normandy, and William Rufus would take England. It was a worrying prospect. The relationship between Robert and Rufus was a stormy one, compounded of brotherly love and brotherly hate in equal proportions.’

‘a little about Matilda – how in the days when William had sued for her hand in marriage, she had refused him, saying that she would not mate with a bastard, and how William had dragged her from her chamber and thrashed her with a riding crop in front of her father’s court. They had married, their passion had changed direction, and still powerfully dominated their marriage.’

Very romantic (sarcasm)!

‘“It is too much,” Ailith said in a distant voice and knelt at Goldwin’s side. “My brothers, my baby, my husband. What more is there to take?” She stared up at the Norman, but he had no answer for her. A look of appalled comprehension dawned on his face and his eyes went to the corner where her baby lay, surrounded by lighted candles on his last night above ground.’

‘Order was swiftly restored, but not before the coronation ceremony had been marred by the violence of several English deaths and the burning of some nearby buildings by an overzealous conroi of Norman mercenaries. To placate the English, and because his own sense of justice dictated it, the new king had the bodies brought to a side room at the abbey, where their relatives could come and claim them’

“The King’s brother Tostig and Harald Hardraada of Norway are ravaging the north country. York has fallen and the armies of the northern English lords have taken a severe battering. If you want to save your child, pray as never before that the winds continue to keep William of Normandy from our shores and that we can hold back the might of the Norwegians.”