Darren Baker's "Crusaders and Revolutionaries of the Thirteenth Century" is a compelling family biography that traces the remarkable journey of the de Montfort dynasty, from their origins in France to their pivotal role in shaping England's parliamentary system.

Baker's narrative begins with the rise of the de Montfort family during the tumultuous 13th century, where they distinguished themselves as valiant Crusaders and acquired lordships across the Mediterranean. Through meticulous research, Baker dispels misconceptions and illuminates the lives of the family's most prominent members.
There were two main branches of the family, one of which was related the Ibelins by marriage. I never knew that at all, and was delighted to learn more in this book. Now I want to research that side of the family more

The most famous members of the family were Simon de Montfort, the 5th Earl of Leicester, whose military prowess in the Albigensian Crusade propelled him to prominence and is son, also named Simon de Montfort, who left an indelible mark on history. As the 6th Earl of Leicester, he led the Second Baron's War against King Henry III, ultimately paving the way for the establishment of Europe's first parliamentary state.

Tragically, the family's fortunes take a downturn following Simon's death at the Battle of Evesham in 1265. Their reputation is tarnished by their involvement in a political murder scandal that reverberates across Europe. The decline reaches its nadir with the passing of Eleanor de Montfort, the last Princess of Wales, and the end of the family's lineage.

Baker's masterful storytelling vividly brings to life the triumphs and tribulations of the de Montfort dynasty, offering readers a captivating glimpse into the intricacies of medieval power dynamics and the evolution of governance. "Crusaders and Revolutionaries of the Thirteenth Century" is a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of one of history's most influential families and their pivotal role in shaping the course of European history.

Thanks to Pen and Sword for approving me for this title on Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own & freely given.

This was a fantastic read! The de Montfort family rose from nothing to become one of the powerhouses for a period of time. This book pulls out the information perfectly, succinctly laying out the rise and fall of this family.
Whether you are strong in history or not, the facts and information laid out in a easy to follow fashion.
Darren Baker is a great author, and I highly enjoyed this book.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found the subject matter really interesting. The book was well written and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

This is well written and interesting. I did find the different chapters a bit disjointed, but I think that’s just my preference for a smoother narrative.

I had been drawn to the de Montforts many years ago, long before this book was quite possibly conceived, so was immediately attracted to the fact that the focus of this was on the family themselves, particularly as pertaining to the remnants of the family post Evesham. Baker successfully weaves all the strands and threads of this family's history together into one tome.

The de Montforts ended how they began, in obscurity. But whilst in the ascendant, they were the Icarus of their generation - flying that little bit too close to the sun. This is one tome that I will definitely be adding to my own library.

This is a book about the de Montfort Dynasty that was in its ascendancy in the 13th Century. Crusaders and revolutionaries, the de Montforts made history.

There is a family tree at the outset of the narrative to help you figure out who is who when you get lost. And the author very helpfully numbers the individuals with the same name, i.e. Simon I de Montfort, Simon V de Montfort, Guy II de Montfort, etc. It only gets confusing when you start reading about others that normally would have a numeric designator behind their name, such as Louis IX of France or Henry II of England. But I knew that the preceding two men were kings of their countries, so they were easy for me to keep straight. It was when we started talking about the Kings of Jerusalem, latin emperors of Constantinople, etc that I needed to re-read passages to make sure I knew who was who.

There is also a Timeline of important events thoughtfully provided at the beginning of the book to guide you through the ups and eventual downs of the de Montfort dynasty. The Timeline runs from the year 1000 when Amaury I, the first lord of Montfort was believed to have been born, to the year 1300 when Amaury VIII and John III die.

There are also maps of medieval cities that are important in the story.

The de Montforts began as a family of foresters that lived about 50 km west of Paris in France. By the 11th Century, the family had built a castle which became known as Montfort l’Amaury. The patriarch that we begin with was Amaury, whose father’s name was William, and that William was from Hainault. By 1032 Amaury had become an advisor to King Henry I.

Amaury had a son Simon I who became an advisor to William the Conqueror in 1063. Simon I had a son Amaury II who earned the nickname “the Strong” in battle and so we have a clear path to the de Montforts being known as fighters. This tendency was also shown by Simon I’s daughter Isabella who rode around “in knightly armour and exhibited daring among belted knights and men-at-arms.” This is impressive as at this time it was highly unusual! Another part of the de Montforts being known as fighters was that Simon II defended against an invasion force by King William II (Rufus) of England. King William’s army was led by none other than Simon II’s younger brother Amaury III. Later, Amaury III would serve England’s King Henry I but give him nothing but trouble.

Bertrade de Montfort, Simon I’s youngest child and only daughter, was married to Fulk, Count of Anjou. Later she “fled” to King Philip I of France who set aside his wife to marry her. I found her to be quite interesting; her great-granddaughter married into my family. I could go on and on about the de Montfort’s intrigues, but suffice to say they were entangled in both the courts of the French and English kings, mainly marrying into the families of England.

The family became well known as crusaders to the Holy Land, with successive generations fighting there and earning lordships there. In 1186, Amaury V was the first member of the family to go on crusade since Fulk V Count of Anjou. In 1190, Amaury V was headed eastward under King Richard I (“Lionheart”) of England A large portion of the narrative is about the various crusades with successive generations of de Montforts; I found it complicated but interesting as I have ancestors from France who were on the first, fifth, and seventh crusades.

Another type of crusade that the de Montforts were involved in was that in France against rebellious religious sects in the south, particularly Toulouse. This crusade was against other Christians that the Catholic Church found to be heretical to say the least. This engendered much fighting and loss of life spanning years. Simon V’s involvement in the Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade (July 1209 to April 1229) was controversial, although it can be seen that he did try to please the Church.

Simon VI is very important to history as his involvement in England and the reign of Henry III forced the application of the Magna Carta, as well as bringing about the first steps in a constitutional monarchy. It was Simon VI’s repeated rebellion against Henry III that brought about the beginnings of Parliament, although Eleanor of Provence had called the first elections of knights. This was the first parliament in the western world.

From 1265 to 1300, the dynasty was in decline with the last major figures dying in and around 1300. The family absolutely made its mark in England and France, and was responsible for the very beginnings of the government of the UK.

I initially requested this book because I was curious about the 13th Century and about crusaders from France. I had recently discovered through genealogical research that a branch of my family was apparently descended from the de Lusignan family of France. I also found information that also showed my direct descent from Henry III of England (21st great grandfather). I say apparently, as you have to rely to some extent on other researchers and historians to draw a conclusion when you are looking at grandparents in the 20th or further degree! Imagine the gold mine of information this book has been for me even though the de Lusignans were not exactly sympathetic figures in this narrative…. Also, Isabella d’Angouleme (second wife of King John of England) and her second husband Hugh X de Lusignan are also (supposedly) my 23rd great-grandparents… so finding them mentioned held me to the author’s narrative. I was quite surprised to find the following: “The common ancestor of King Henry II of England and Simon III was Simon I, the father of Amaury III and Bertrade, who was Henry II’s great-grandmother.” So I guess I have the tiniest amount of de Montfort blood myself…. My research hadn’t gotten that far, so this has been quite an eye-opener!

If you want to read about English or French history of the 13th Century, this is the book for you. Also, this is a very detailed book about the crusades, at least about one of the major families involved. I am VERY happy that I had the chance to read this book, and think that it might be a helpful reference for me.

A BIG thank you to Pen & Sword, author Darren Baker, and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-galley of this book. I am providing an honest review and have not been compensated in any way.

I have just concluded my examination of Darren Baker's well researched text on the Montfort family and its impact on medieval Europe entitled "Crusaders and Revolutionaries of the Thirteenth Century" (published by Pen and Sword and graciously provided to me in the form of an ARC). For the serious scholar already well versed in the general events of the period, I would think it useful, but I found it somewhat heavy going for much of the text.
The information is centered closely on the Montfort family whose substantial holdings outside of Normandy help to give the text a rather exotic feel as it tackles such topics as the Church's struggle against the Cathars and examines in some detail the way in which this particular heretical group (as well as some others) became such a thorn in the side of the Papacy during the period of the Crusades. The detailed tracking of the principal members of the Montfort family as they asserted themselves both on the continent and in England is fascinating if somewhat bewildering. Despite the putative centering of the text on the Montfort family and their struggles to increase their family influence, the text lacks the sharply reasoned focus of some other recent texts on the period.
Nonetheless, it is interesting to look at events in a broader context than simply that of the Conquest, which seems to have become a sort of default position for so many texts.

A magnificent biography of one of the most infamous families of Medieval Western Europe. Loathed by the English, hated by the French (especially in the South), the Montforts deeds and misdeeds over almost two centuries are skillfully presented from their despicable behaviors during the Albigensian Crusade to their open revolt against Royal power in England. A colorful and truculent portrait of a rebellious clan & its often violent actions against the central powers. A richly detailed and turbulent tapestry of Medieval pride and arrogance. A must read for anyone interested in Medieval history.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this terrific ARC