Phyllis G Jestice – författare

In a world historically dominated by male rulers, the women who have sat on thrones of their own shine out brightly. Some queens and empresses were born to greatness, while others fought their way to power. Queens ranges from the ancient world to the present day, telling the stories of these women who ruled, from murderous former courtesan Wu Zetian in 7th century China to Elizabeth I, the ‘Virgin Queen’ of England. In 6th century Constantinople, Empress Theodora, who had been a street performer before catching the eye of Emperor Justinian, extended rights for women, passing laws that allowed them to divorce and own property and made rape a crime punishable by death. In 12th century Europe, Eleanor of Aquitaine first married the king of France and then the king of England. At the Mughal court in Lahore in the early 17th century, Nur Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was the political powerhouse behind the throne. In more recent history, the book explores the reigns of Catherine the Great, revealing how a minor German aristocrat came to rule and expand the Russian Empire, Queen Victoria, whose family dominated the world in the early 20th centuty, and her more recent descendent, Elizabeth II, the longest-ruling queen in history. Female rulers are often described as ambitious rather than bold, as devious rather than diplomatically astute and as intriguers and meddlers, all characterizations that are destructive to the reality of women’s lives in the world’s monarchies. Even genealogies still often leave out the women of royal families, overlooking their genuine contributions. To some extent, we will never know these great women of history as well as we know their menfolk; the sources simply leave too many gaps. However, we can and will do better in giving the women rulers of history the recognition they deserve Carefully researched, superbly entertaining and illustrated throughout with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Queens highlights the true personalities and real lives of the women who became monarchs and empresses.

This fascinating reference work illuminates Ireland's remarkable religious traditions, from prehistoric times through the ages.Ireland's history is filled with religious riches unknown to the rest of the world. The Encyclopedia of Irish Spirituality celebrates the amazing links among Ireland's religious traditions over the ages. Despite the present-day tensions between Catholic and Protestant, the main characteristic of Irish religion has always been accommodation. Again and again, the Irish have adapted, revived, and reinterpreted their religious past, not rejected it, to create a spirituality that has a flavor all its own.Beautifully illustrated

From the Highlands of Scotland to the plains of northern India, Castles of the World is a beautiful examination of past worlds viewed through strongholds that continue to enrich the modern landscape. They evoke an imagined age of aristocratic warriors and noble aspirations. Presented in a handy, pocket-sized format, arranged chronologically and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, Castles of the World examines more than 150 fortifications from across the world, from Cathar castles and Alpine schlösser to Norman keeps and Samurai strongholds. Discover how the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland was destroyed during the Jacobite rebellion of 1719; learn about Turkey’s Marmaris Castle, built in 1522 by Suleiman the Magnificent to support his attack on neighbouring Rhodes; and explore the Mughal-constructed Red Fort in Delhi, home of Muslim rulers from 1648 until 1803, and today a symbol of Indian nationalism.

Robust, romantic and imposing, castles capture our imagination when we were children and continue to hold interest throughout our lives. From Europe to Haiti, from India to Japan, Castles of the World explores forts, strongholds, towers and citadels from the ancient world up to the 20th century. Entries range from well-known examples such as Corfe Castle in England, the crusader stronghold of Krak des Chevaliers in Syria and the romantic palace of Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, to lesser-known curiosities such as the Genoese Fortress in the Crimea, Rudkhan Castle in Iran and Morro Castle in Havana. Arranged chronologically, each entry includes a striking colour photograph and expert text briefly telling the story of the castle’s history. Built, rebuilt and expanded many times, castles often don’t just tell us about one period in history, but about many different times. They offer us layers of history – and sometimes mystery, too. With 200 outstanding colour photographs, Castles of the World is a beautiful examination of worlds gone by.

Ancient Egypt is one of the great wellsprings of human civilization, first developing around the city of Memphis on the Nile River in the fourth millennium BCE. Egyptian life was centred on a complex system of religious rituals, with the pharaoh (king) seen as a living god among the people. Mighty pyramids, tombs and monuments were built to celebrate the pharaohs, many of which can still be seen in all their grandeur today. Arranged by dynastic period, Pharaohs offers a compact history of the reign of these god- kings, from Menes, who united the north and south kingdoms, to the Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra, who was defeated along with her lover Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) by imperial Rome. Along the way the reader will learn about the Great Pyramid constructed by Khufu, the last of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world; Queen Hatshepsut, a rare female pharaoh whose name means “foremost of noblewomen” and who launched a massive building programme at Luxor; the young pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered intact in the Valley of the Kings, complete with the fabulous trappings of his divine status; and Ramesses II (“the Great”), who is thought to have enslaved the Israelites, built the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel, and defeated the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE) riding his trade-mark chariot. Carefully researched, superbly entertaining and illustrated throughout with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Pharaohs is an accessible history of the kings who ruled Ancient Egypt for more than 4,000 years.

Why were Welsh longbowmen and Italian mercenaries more effective in battle than French armoured knights? How able were the crusaders? What is the difference between chain mail and scale mail? Medieval Warfare Illustrated Atlas describes combat in what has been characterised as the ‘age of chivalry’. The book explores the tactics and strategy required to win battles with the technology available and points out how the development of such weapons technology changed the face of the battlefield. Divided into five sections, the text begins with the foot soldier and the mounted soldier, the equipment they wore and used, and how they fought together as a unit. The third section discusses how these units were used together on the battlefield, and the importance of a general correctly disposing his troops before the battle began. The fourth section looks at siege warfare, while the final chapter covers naval warfare, from the ships to the weapons the soldiers carried to the major encounters of the period. Using specially commissioned artworks to illustrate the battles, equipment and tactics of the era, Medieval Warfare Illustrated Atlas shows in detail the methods by which armies gained and lost ascendancy on the battlefield. This is an essential companion for any reader interested in medieval warfare.

Sitting on the edge of empires, for more than 2000 years before the birth of Christ the Biblical lands were fought over by rival peoples – Canaanites, Philistines, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. Forming a land bridge between Eurasia and Africa and controlling access to the eastern Mediterranean, the territory that today makes up much of the modern state of Israel has proved a tempting prize for a wide array of would-be conquerors. Battles of the Bible Illustrated Atlas introduces 20 key battles from the Biblical era. Beginning with the Israelites’ campaign against Ai (1407 BC) and finishing with the siege of Masada (73 AD), examples from every major campaign are featured. The book contains the major Hebrew leaders such as Saul and David, the invasion of the Assyrians and the enslavement of the Israelites by the Babylonians. Each battle includes a contextual introduction, a description of the action, and an analysis of the aftermath. A specially-commissioned map illustrating the dispositions and movement of forces helps the reader grasp the course of the battle. Authoritatively written and with more than 200 maps, artworks and photographs, Battles of the Bible Illustrated Atlas is an essential companion for anyone interested in Ancient military history.

War elephants, chariots, cavalry; ringmail, belly-bows and spears; Kadesh, Alesia, Masada – Ancient Warfare Illustrated Atlas describes the equipment, weapons and tactics of soldiers in Europe and the Middle East in an age before gunpowder. The book explores the tactics required to win battles and points out how little has changed in some respects in the art of war. Using specially-commissioned maps and artworks to illustrate the battles, equipment and tactics of the era, the book shows in detail the methods by which armies, including Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman forces, prevailed over their foes, and why other armies were far less successful. Arranged by type of warfare – from infantry to mounted warfare to siege and finally naval warfare – Ancient Warfare Illustrated Atlas is an essential companion for any reader in warfare in the classical age.

This lavishly illustrated book describes the fighting techniques of soldiers in Europe and the Middle East in an age before gunpowder and it also explores the unique tactics required to win battles with the technology available, and points out how little has changed in some respects in the art of war. The book examines the individual components of an ancient army, the infantryman, archer and the mounted soldier, the equipment they wore and used, and how they fought together in units on the battlefield: why certain types of unit like the Greek Phalanx and Roman legion were more effective than others and how their tactics evolved over time, illustrated with references to key battles. How these units were used together on the battlefield, how commanders controlled their men and the importance of a general correctly disposing his troops before the fighting began are examined. Specialist techniques and equipment developed for siege warfare in the ancient world, with examples of classic battles like Julius Caesar's victory at Alesia and illustrations of catapults and other siege engines.Naval warfare from the ships in which the men fought, to the weapons they carried and the major battles of the period are also covered. Using specially commissioned colour and black and white artworks to illustrate the battles, equipment and tactics of the era, this book shows in detail the methods by which armies, including Assyrians and Roman forces, prevailed over their foes and why other armies were less successful. This book is an essential companion for any reader interested in warfare in the classical age.

In tenth-century Europe and particularly in Germany, imperial women were able to wield power in ways that were scarcely imaginable in earlier centuries.

Im Europa des zehnten Jahrhunderts und insbesondere in Deutschland konnten kaiserliche Frauen in einer Weise Macht ausüben, wie es in früheren Jahrhunderten kaum vorstellbar war. Theophanu und Adelheid waren zwei der einflussreichsten Persönlichkeiten im ottonischen Reich, zusammen mit ihren Ehemännern, die sich stark auf ihre Unterstützung verließen. Phyllis G. Jestice untersucht eine Reihe von Faktoren, die zu ihrer Macht und ihrem Prestige beitrugen, darunter die gesellschaftliche Einstellung gegenüber Frauen, ihr Reichtum, ihre Salbung als Königin und ihr sorgfältig aufgebautes Image der Frömmigkeit. Aufgrund ihrer einflussreichen Stellung konnten Theophanu und Adelheid die Herrschaft über den jungen Otto III. trotz des erbitterten Widerstands Heinrichs des Zänkers während des Thronstreits von 984 zurückgewinnen. Indem es untersucht, wie sie die Regentschaft erfolgreich sicherten, konfrontiert dieses Buch die überholte Vorstellung des Exzeptionalismus und beleuchtet das Leben der mächtigen ottonischen Frauen.