Table of Contents
Preface ix
Maps xv
1 Very Dark Indeed: 58 BC-843 1
2 Their Own Destruction Sure: 843-1151 15
3 The Gift of Excalibur. 1151-1223 32
4 The Fatal Tower: 1223-1326 50
5 A Captured King: 1326-80 64
6 A Foregone Conclusion: 1380-1453 82
7 The Universal Spider: 1453-83 96
8 A Warm, Sunlit Land: 1483-1515 106
9 With His Usual Flourish: 1515-47 118
10 'Well worth a Mass': 1547-1643 137
11 'L'Etat c'est moi': 1643-1715 157
12 The Writing on the Wall: 1715-89 175
13 'I am indeed your king': 1789-93 192
14 'Pas de faiblesse!': 1793-5 212
15 A Blessing or a Curse?: 1795-1815 228
16 The Perfect Compromise: 1815-48 248
17 'A symbol of national glory': 1848-52 270
18 A Sphinx Without a Riddle: 1852-70 281
19 The Last Manifestation: 1870-3 306
20 'J' accuse!': 1873-1935 319
21 The Cross of Lorraine: 1935-45 338
Epilogue 359
Acknowledgements and Illustration Credits 363
Suggestions for Further Reading 365
Index 367