TY  - BOOK
AU  - Urbanski,Charity
TI  - Writing history for the king: Henry II and the politics of vernacular historiography 
SN  - 9780801451317
AV  - DA195 .U73 2013
U1  - 942.02072 23
PY  - 2013///
CY  - Ithaca
PB  - Cornell University Press
KW  - Henry
KW  - Normandy, Dukes of.
KW  - Wace,
KW  - Benoît,
KW  - Ducs de Normandie.
KW  - Roman de Rou (Wace)
KW  - fast
KW  - HISTORY
KW  - bisac
KW  - Medieval
KW  - Europe
KW  - Great Britain
KW  - bisacsh
KW  - LITERARY CRITICISM
KW  - Historiography
KW  - Regions & Countries - Europe
KW  - hilcc
KW  - History & Archaeology
KW  - History
KW  - Norman period, 1066-1154
KW  - Angevin period, 1154-1216
KW  - Normandy (France)
KW  - Grande-Bretagne
KW  - Histoire
KW  - 1066-1154 (Période normande)
KW  - Historiographie
KW  - 1154-1216 (Angevins)
KW  - France
KW  - Normandy
KW  - Electronic books
N1  - Includes bibliographical references and index; Situating the Roman de Rou and Chronique des ducs de Normandie --; Henry II --; The Roman de Rou --; The Chronique des ducs de Normandie
N2  - This book is at once a reassessment of the reign of Henry II of England (1133-1189) and an original contribution to our understanding of the rise of vernacular historiography in the high Middle Ages. The author focuses on two dynastic histories commissioned by Henry: Wace's Roman de Rou (c. 1160-1174) and Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Chronique des ducs de Normandie (c. 1174-1189). In both cases, Henry adopted the new genre of vernacular historical writing in Old French verse in an effort to disseminate a royalist version of the past that would help secure a grip on power for himself and his children. Wace was the first to be commissioned, but in 1174 the king abruptly fired him, turning the task over to Benoît de Sainte-Maure. The author examines these histories as part of a single enterprise intended to cement the king's authority by enhancing the prestige of Henry II's dynasty. In a close reading of Wace's Rou, this text shows that it presented a less than flattering picture of Henry's predecessors, in effect challenging his policies and casting a shadow over the legitimacy of his rule. Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Chronique, in contrast, mounted a staunchly royalist defense of Anglo-Norman kingship. The author reads both works in the context of Henry's reign, arguing that as part of his drive to curb baronial power he sought a history that would memorialize his dynasty and solidify its claim to England and Normandy
UR  - https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=671620
ER  -