Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers That Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe

(Paperback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Fascinating. The Wall Street Journal

An enlightening portrait of the medieval mindset. Publishers Weekly

The authors of The Bright Ages return with a real-life Game of Thrones (New York Times Book Review)the story of the Carolingian Civil War, a bloody, protracted battle pitting brother against brother, father against son, that would end an empire, upend a continent, and redefine the future of Europe

By the early ninth century, the Carolingian empire was at the height of its power. The Franks, led by Charlemagne, had built the largest European domain since Rome in its heyday. Though they jockeyed for power, prestige, and profit, the Frankish elites enjoyed political and cultural consensus. But just two generations later, their world was in shambles. Civil war, once an unthinkable threat, had erupted after Louis the Piouss sons tried to overthrow himand then placed their knives at the others neck. Families who had once charged into battle together now drew each others blood.

The Carolingian Civil War would rage for years as kings fought kings, brother faced off against brother, and sons challenged fathers. Oathbreakers is the dramatic history of this brutal, turbulent time. Medieval historians David M. Perry and Matthew Gabriele illuminate what happens when a once unshakeable political and cultural order breaks down and long suppressed tensions flare into deadly violence. Drawn from rich primary sources, featuring a wide cast of characters, packed with dramatic twists and turns, this is history that rivals the greatest fictional epicswith consequences that continue to shape our own world.

Oathbreakers offers lessons of what deep cracks in a once-stable social and political fabric might reveal, and the bloody consequences of disagreeing on facts and reality. The Civil War at the heart of this tale asks: who is in and who is out And what happens when things fall apart

Reviews

"Though the events inOathbreakersare distant in time, Gabriele and Perry describe them with an immediacy that's both informative and entertaining. . . . [revealing] that the emotions driving the actors in the Carolingian dramaambition, greed, and the lust for powerare in fact as timely as today's headlines." Shelf Awareness Through subtle readings of biased chronicles and documents, Gabriele and Perry dispel the romantic aura of the Carolingian era, depicting it as an entertaining but gruesome medieval picaresque of power-hungry plots, murders, andstomach-churninglyblindings. The authors also shrewdly explore the Franks genuine belief in the sacredness of kingshipand especially of royal oathsthat kept such a violent system in motion. The result is an enlightening portrait of the medieval mindset. Publishers Weekly "Lively writers, the authors cast a critical eye on the surviving sources, delivering a painless education on how historians try to determine what actually happened from fragmentary and wildly biased accounts. A scholarly and entertaining history of warring brothers." Kirkus Cheer yourself up. . . . Take the medieval exit from 21st century troubles and enjoy some ninth-century strife and schooling. Rebecca Solnit Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry do an excellent job of detailing a complex story of shifting alliances and bitter conflict, creating an intricate portrait of Medieval strife that rivals any episode of Game of Thrones. Oathbreakers is historical writing at its finest. Chicago Review of Books, 12 Must-Read Books of December 2024 The Holy Roman Empire reached a state of peace, however tenuous. But Charlemagnes heirs had greater ambitions. The empire fell into civil war, as sons fought fathers and one another. This set the stage for Europes Middle Ages. Historians Gabriele and Perry (The Bright Ages, 2022) plumb resources from the era to narrate the story of these internecine struggles.This is a serious, meticulous history that will also appeal to Game of Thrones fans, who will discover intriguing parallels between history and fiction. Booklist .a vivid and engaging narrative of the political events of the early ninth century. TLS (UK) Full of twists and turns, family feuds, and destabilizing coups, the authors make the ninth century come alive with an engaging read that doesnt skimp on academic rigor." Arlington Magazine, 10 New Books to Read in December For such a significant event as the Carolingian Civil War, its surprising how few books cover the topic in depth. Even more surprising is how well-written and accessible this one isperfect for history enthusiasts. Medievalists.net This rousing history of a real-life Game of Thrones details the ninth-century battle among Charlemagnes heirs for control of his empire. New York Times Book Review History buffs will enjoy this tale of fathers and sons, rebellion and betrayal, promises made and broken, plots and intrigue, and ultimately oaths taken and broken. The Denver Post Popular history as it should be writtenintelligent and wry, with some snarky digs at modern times despite nominally being about the 9th-century Franks. Highly recommend. Harry Turtledove, award-winning author of The Guns of the South While all of this is the sort of stuff that professional medievalists love to see, the thing I like most about Perry and Gabrieles effort is that it is fun.The Bright Agesis written in such an engaging and light manner that it is easy to race through. I found myself at the end of chapters faster than I wanted to be, completely drawn in by the narrative. You can tell how much the authors love the subject matter, and that they had a great time choosing stories to share and evidence to consider. Slate on The Bright Ages "Incandescent and ultimately intoxicating, for as the chapters progress, it dawns on the reader that those who lived in this period were more conventional than cardboard figures. . . . They were, in essence, human." Boston Globe on The Bright Ages "This revisionist history of medieval Europe takes apart the myth of a savage, primitive period . . . with passion and verve, [Gabriele and Perry challenge] the reader to tackle assumptions, bias and prejudices about the past to create a more joined-up, inclusive picture of the thousand years that followed the sack of Rome." Peter Frankopan, Guardian, on The Bright Ages

Author Bio

Matthew Gabriele is a professor of medieval studies and chair of the department of religion and culture at Virginia Tech. He is the author of the book An Empire of Memory: The Legend of Charlemagne, the Franks, and Jerusalem before the First Crusade as well as many articles on medieval Europe and the memory of the Middle Ages, and has edited several academic volumes.