Edward III's Round Table at Windsor: The House of the Round Table and the Windsor Festival of 1344 (Arthurian Studies)

Edward III's Round Table at Windsor: The House of the Round Table and the Windsor Festival of 1344 (Arthurian Studies)

by RichardBarber (Author), RichardBrown (Author), JulianMunby (Author)

Synopsis

The image of King Arthur's Round Table is well-known, both as Thomas Malory's portrayal of a fellowship of knights dedicated to the highest ideals of chivalry, and as the great wooden table at Winchester castle. Now a dramatic archaeological find at Windsor castle sheds new light on the idea of a round table as a gathering: the 'House of the Round Table' which Edward III ordered to be constructed at the conclusion of his Windsor festival of 1344. The discovery of the foundation trench of a great building two hundred feet in diameter in the Upper Ward of Windsor castle, allows the reconstruction of that building's appearance and raises the question of its purpose. Chronicles, building materials inventories from the royal accounts, medieval romances, and earlier descriptions of round table festivals all confirm the archaeological evidence: at a time when secular orders of knighthood were almost unknown, Edward declared his intention to found an Order of the Round Table with three hundred knights. This grand building, and the Arthurian entertainments he planned for it, would bind his nobles to his cause at a crucial point in his progress to claiming the throne of France. His ambitious scheme, however, was overtaken by events. Victory at Crecy in 1346 confirmed Edward's reputation, and the order which he founded in 1348 was the much more exclusive Order of the Garter, rewarding those commanders who had helped him to win the Crecy campaign. His reputation was assured, the omens for his reign were auspicious; he had the loyalty of his knights and magnates. The Round Table building was abandoned, and eventually pulled down in the 1360s. Thus a major plank in the strategic thinking of one of England's greatest kings almost became a footnote in history. Time Team discovered ... there [are] indeed foundations of a massive round building in Windsor Castle's upper ward. A splendidly produced volume, which gives full credit both to the history and to the archaeology: analysis of the chivalric background, archaeological analysis, discussion of the probable form of the building [and] the early history of Windsor Castle as well as the types of stone used by Edward III's masons. The book is attractively illustrated, and its appendices provide a full text in Latin, with translation, of the building accounts, as well as translations of many of the relevant chronicle extracts. MICHAEL PRESTWICH, THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

$15.14

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 312
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Publisher: Boydell Press
Published: 21 Feb 2008

ISBN 10: 1843833913
ISBN 13: 9781843833918

Media Reviews
A valuable contribution to the study of the cult of chivalry. JOURNAL OF MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY It is praiseworthy to have here such a really informative, well-illustrated and well-documented volume within only twenty-one months of the excavation. A superb book, which reflects great credit on authors and publishers alike. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW History and archaeology, romance and reality come together in this full study of the building located by Time Team's 2006 Big Royal Dig. [.] A truly intriguing story. BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY A splendidly produced volume. TLS Makes a useful contribution to Arthurian studies and the history of jousting, pageantry and royal palaces. SOUTHERN HISTORY SOCIETY This fascinating study of a fantastical building takes a suitably multi-disciplinary approach. [...] Supplemented with documentary appendices and splendid illustrations, this in-depth study explores the historical background to a modern archaeological discovery, detailing its analogues and inspirations, ultimately revealing that role-playing games are nothing new; it can't be praised enough. PENDRAGON History and archaeology, romance and reality come together in this full study of the building located by Time Team's 2006 Big Royal Dig. [.] A truly intriguing story. BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY, September / October 2008
Author Bio
Head of Buildings Archaeology, Oxford Archaeology Richard Barber has published widely on medieval history. The Knight and Chivalry won the 1971 Somerset Maugham Award. His other major interest is historical biography with books on Henry Plantagenet and the Black Prince. His most recent book is Edward III and the Triumph of England: The Battle of Cr cy and the Order of the Garter.