For the English kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, one rival repeatedly gained the upper hand. This book examines a crucial period in the rivalry between England and France, revealing how Philip Augustus became such a formidable opponent.
Excerpt:
This book is not a biography of Philip in the traditional sense, although it does run chronologically from his accession to his death. Rather, it is the story of his relationship with the Plantagenet family – Henry II, his sons and grandsons – so it will focus on his activities in that area and will have less to say about other aspects of his reign. In telling this tale, we are fortunate in the survival of a large number of relevant documents: Philip ran a very effective administration and his charters and acts were carefully archived, which means that we can still read his own words and the actual text of a number of the peace treaties and agreements he made. His was also a great age for the writing of narrative chronicles, both in England and in France, and these writers provide us not only with factual information, but also with their own (sometimes conflicting) opinions of people and events. Let’s meet them now, so we know who they are and something of their priorities when we encounter them later in the book.
Who is this book for?
It is relatively rare to examine English history from the perspective of one of its adversaries, but this book makes the wise choice of placing the French king Philip Augustus at the centre of the story. Among other topics, it covers the Third Crusade, Richard’s imprisonment, the siege of Château Gaillard, the conquest of Normandy and the Battle of Bouvines.
Even readers with a strong background in the Angevins will appreciate the book’s different perspective. It is also a useful work for those studying the rivalry between England and France, as well as anyone seeking a biography of Philip Augustus.
“It’s a rare thing for any author to offend the shades of literally all their principal characters, but Hanley has surely done it. Philip himself might have had a slightly self-satisfied smile at such an allowance, but all the Plantagenets mentioned – King Henry II, his sons young King Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, and John, and his grandson Henry III – would have been furious at having their story so tightly yoked to the story of the man who bedeviled their entire bloodline so persistently and successfully for so long.” ~ review by Steve Donoghue in Open Letters Review
@bookshhistorian 📚 New Book Review! 📚 Nemesis: Medieval England's Greatest Enemy, by Catherine Hanley, Osprey Publishing, September 2025, 304pp — In medieval France, a king emerged who transformed Anglo-French relations forever. His name was Philip II Augustus. In her latest work Nemesis: Medieval England’s Greatest Enemy, Catherine Hanley illuminates how Philip wielded his political and military acumen to exploit Plantagenet familial infighting in an effort to eliminate both the dynasty’s French territorial holdings and the family itself. Complex inheritance politics marred the Plantagenets as Henry II followed Norman custom in dividing his sons’ patrimony rather than investing everything in his eldest son Henry the Young King. This would cause further problems down the road. Philip delighted in political maneuvering by supporting one or another of Henry's wayward sons as it suited him in order to expand French royal holdings and protect existing boundaries. Hanley credits such success to Philip’s intellectual agility and political acumen, hard-earned from his assumption of the French throne at a young age. He proved adept at observation and appropriate action, vacillating between military action or diplomacy as the situation required. He also, however, showed little regard for the women in his life, adhered to anti-Semitism, and showed little interest in patronizing the arts to establish a cultural, literary, and artistic legacy. Nemesis’ end result reveals a morally complex individual whose desire to build and assert French prominence precluded the continuation of the English Continental presence and laid the pathway for a single, unified French state. Nemesis is both an academically rigorous and unintimidating book, demonstrating Hanley’s characteristic meticulous research and dynamic narrative. Her excellence as an author and researcher is on full display in Nemesis and proves a worthy addition to the existing historiography on Philip Augustus. Nemesis is out now! Thank you to Osprey for offering me this book via NetGalley for review consideration! All opinions are my own. #BookReviews#History#Medieval#England#FYP♬ Celtic Flashy Celtic Music – Masucu
Nemesis: Medieval England’s Greatest Enemy
By Catherine Hanley
Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781472867445
For the English kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, one rival repeatedly gained the upper hand. This book examines a crucial period in the rivalry between England and France, revealing how Philip Augustus became such a formidable opponent.
Excerpt:
This book is not a biography of Philip in the traditional sense, although it does run chronologically from his accession to his death. Rather, it is the story of his relationship with the Plantagenet family – Henry II, his sons and grandsons – so it will focus on his activities in that area and will have less to say about other aspects of his reign. In telling this tale, we are fortunate in the survival of a large number of relevant documents: Philip ran a very effective administration and his charters and acts were carefully archived, which means that we can still read his own words and the actual text of a number of the peace treaties and agreements he made. His was also a great age for the writing of narrative chronicles, both in England and in France, and these writers provide us not only with factual information, but also with their own (sometimes conflicting) opinions of people and events. Let’s meet them now, so we know who they are and something of their priorities when we encounter them later in the book.
Who is this book for?
It is relatively rare to examine English history from the perspective of one of its adversaries, but this book makes the wise choice of placing the French king Philip Augustus at the centre of the story. Among other topics, it covers the Third Crusade, Richard’s imprisonment, the siege of Château Gaillard, the conquest of Normandy and the Battle of Bouvines.
Even readers with a strong background in the Angevins will appreciate the book’s different perspective. It is also a useful work for those studying the rivalry between England and France, as well as anyone seeking a biography of Philip Augustus.
“It’s a rare thing for any author to offend the shades of literally all their principal characters, but Hanley has surely done it. Philip himself might have had a slightly self-satisfied smile at such an allowance, but all the Plantagenets mentioned – King Henry II, his sons young King Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, and John, and his grandson Henry III – would have been furious at having their story so tightly yoked to the story of the man who bedeviled their entire bloodline so persistently and successfully for so long.” ~ review by Steve Donoghue in Open Letters Review
The Author
Catherine Hanley is a historian that has developed a strong career writing books – fiction and non-fiction – focused mostly on medieval England. Among her previous books is 1217: The Battles That Saved England and Lionessheart: The Life and Times of Joanna Plantagenet.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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