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Scotland, England and France after the loss of Normandy, 1204-1296: 'Auld Amitie'

2015; Association of College and Research Libraries; Volume: 52; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5860/choice.191481

1943-5975

Meagan Pollock,

Scottish History and National Identity

Scholarly investigation of diplomatic relations among kingdoms and principalities during the 12 th and 13 th century often has focused on the longterm interests of rulers and their efforts to undertake policy initiatives in pursuit of these interests.This approach has the benefit of allowing scholars to present a coherent narrative of events, clearly explaining cause and effect based upon a thorough analysis of the range of options open to a ruler, and the consequences of the choices that he made.In her study of diplomatic and political relations among Scotland, England, France, and Wales in the period between King John's loss of Normandy and King Edward I's first invasion of Scotland, Melissa Pollock has sought to change the focus from rulers to aristocrats, particularly those who held lands in one or more of the realms in Britain as well as in the French kingdom.In doing so, Pollock largely accepts the prevailing historiographical traditions concerning the decisiveness of the French conquest of Normandy in 1204 in forcing AngloNorman families, in effect, to choose sides between the English and French kings.However, she argues that aristocratic families still sought, sometimes successfully, to maintain extensive properties in several realms, even as their rulers were in conflict with each other.As a corollary to this argument, Pollock avers that it was pressure exerted by and connections offered by these transregnal aristocratic families that shaped, in large part, relations among the rulers of France, England, Scotland, and Wales.Following a brief introduction, Pollock divides the book into five chronologically organized chapters.The first focuses on the decade after 1204, and the relationship between King John and Scotland, with a focus on the role played by the Scottish court in providing a refuge to magnates who had fallen afoul of the English ruler.A consistent theme in the chapter is John's significant failure as a politician, and the exploitation of these weaknesses by King Philip II of France.Overall, Pollock provides a relatively clear discussion of the policies pursued by the French ruler, but the intentions of John and the Scottish kings, William I and Alexander II, remain obscure in this narrative.In place of this courtcentered narrative, Pollock highlights the horizontal relationships among aristocrats with lands in England, Scotland, and in some cases, France as well.In chapter two, which ostensibly treats the role of Scotland in the baronial revolt against King John in