The Greatest Traitor: The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer, Ruler of England 1327–1330
Aug 2013 · Macmillan
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"A compelling page-turner" about the medieval English baron who invaded his own country and deposed a king (Alison Weir, New York Times–bestselling author of Queen Isabella).
One night in August 1323, a captive rebel baron, Sir Roger Mortimer, drugged his guards and escaped from the Tower of London. With the king's men-at-arms in pursuit he fled to the south coast and sailed to France. There he was joined by Isabella, the French-born queen of England, who threw herself into his arms. A year later, as lovers, they returned with an invading army: King Edward II's forces crumbled before them and Mortimer took power. He removed Edward II in the first deposition of a monarch in British history. Then the ex-king was apparently murdered, some said with a red-hot poker, in Berkeley Castle.
Brutal, intelligent, passionate, profligate, imaginative, and violent, Sir Roger Mortimer was an extraordinary character. It is not surprising that the queen lost her heart to him. Nor is it surprising that his contemporaries were terrified of him. But until now no one has appreciated the full evil genius of the man. This first biography reveals not only Mortimer's career as a feudal lord, a governor of Ireland, a rebel leader, and a dictator of England, but also the truth of what happened that night in Berkeley Castle.
"A fast-paced and entertaining narrative." — Publishers Weekly
"Some terrific detective work." — The New York Times Book Review
"The most remarkable medieval historian of our time." — The Times
One night in August 1323, a captive rebel baron, Sir Roger Mortimer, drugged his guards and escaped from the Tower of London. With the king's men-at-arms in pursuit he fled to the south coast and sailed to France. There he was joined by Isabella, the French-born queen of England, who threw herself into his arms. A year later, as lovers, they returned with an invading army: King Edward II's forces crumbled before them and Mortimer took power. He removed Edward II in the first deposition of a monarch in British history. Then the ex-king was apparently murdered, some said with a red-hot poker, in Berkeley Castle.
Brutal, intelligent, passionate, profligate, imaginative, and violent, Sir Roger Mortimer was an extraordinary character. It is not surprising that the queen lost her heart to him. Nor is it surprising that his contemporaries were terrified of him. But until now no one has appreciated the full evil genius of the man. This first biography reveals not only Mortimer's career as a feudal lord, a governor of Ireland, a rebel leader, and a dictator of England, but also the truth of what happened that night in Berkeley Castle.
"A fast-paced and entertaining narrative." — Publishers Weekly
"Some terrific detective work." — The New York Times Book Review
"The most remarkable medieval historian of our time." — The Times
"A compelling page-turner" about the medieval English baron who invaded his own country and deposed a king (Alison Weir, New York Times–bestselling author of Queen Isabella).
One night in August 1323, a captive rebel baron, Sir Roger Mortimer, drugged his guards and escaped from the Tower of Lon...
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Ratings and reviews
5 reviews
heather mortimer
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December 31, 2018
Awesome!!! I thought the *very little* I thought I knew of my family history was all there was to it... I was very wrong indeed!! :D
About the author
Ian Mortimer was educated at Eastbourne College, the University of Exeter, and University College London. He gained his Ph.D. in history from the University of Exeter and has subsequently held research posts at that university as well as the University of Reading and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1998 and was awarded the Alexander Prize by the Society in 2004. He is currently an honorary university research fellow at the University of Exeter and lives on the edge of Dartmoor with his wife and their three children. He is not descended from Sir Roger Mortimer, the subject of The Greatest Traitor.
Ian Mortimer was educated at Eastbourne College, the University of Exeter, and University College London. He gained his Ph.D. in history from the University of Exeter and has subsequently held research posts at that university as well as the University of Reading and the Royal Commission on Histo...
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