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Elizabeth Chadwick | Whittington Castle
September 27, 2013
THE OUTLAW KNIGHT is the
story of Fulke FitzWarin, a knight and lord living on England's border with
Wales in the 12th century. He quarrelled badly with King John who took away his
right to his lands and in particular his castle at Whittington, and Fulke turned
outlaw and fought him for it, eventually winning back his right to the castle in
what was effectively a David and Goliath situation.
Whittington today is a small, pretty village 17 miles from the city of
Shrewsbury, with Fulke's moated castle as its focal point. Visitors would never
guess how much it was fought over in the 13th century. There isn't much of the
castle left today, but the gatehouse remains and a few hints of other
structures. The castle standing there now is not the one that Fulke and John
fought over, but was built by Fulke after things had settled down. Indeed, the
earlier castle, probably made of timber was burned to the ground during fighting
with the Welsh in the 1220's.
The very early history of the castle is obscure, but it seems that Fulke's
family came by it by being in the right place at the right time. A FitzWarin
ancestor looked after it for his overlord while that overlord went on crusade,
and basically never handed it back, so that it eventually and conveniently
became a hereditary right. There were several legal disputes over Whittington
including claims from Welsh families who thought they should be its lords. On
occasion it came to blows rather than words. In the mid 12th century, Whittington was wrested from the FitzWarins by the de
Powys family who then held onto it for 50 years. King Richard promised to
restore the castle to the FitzWarins but died before the order could be
implemented. King John had a huge grudge against Fulke and therefore overturned
the decision and refused to restore the castle - at which point Fulke rebelled. The Outlaw Knight
follows Fulke's adventures on his path to restoring his castle to the family
name, and is based on a chronicle written as a poem in the 13th century. Fulke
turned outlaw and lived in the woods. He ran rings around the opposition, but at
cost to himself, and he married a great heiress, Maud Walter, whom King John
wanted for his own mistress. Fulke lived an enormously long life for a man in the Middle Ages and surived
until he was about 90 years old. For the last seven of those years he was
blind, but prior to that had still had an active public life. Fences between
him and the crown had been mended after King John's death and Fulke became a
valued ambassador and diplomat during the reign of Henry III. Truly he had a
full life well lived and I am glad to have brought part of his story to life for
readers.
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick
continues her tradition of
gripping historical fiction with this tale of honor, treachery, and love
spanning the turbulent reigns of four great medieval kings. Fulke FitzWarin has played many roles - loyal knight, dangerous outlaw, dashing
lover, loyal husband. But when a violent quarrel with King John disrupts Fulke's
ambition to become Lord of his own castle, his true character as a valiant hero
is revealed. One commenter will win a copy of THE OUTLAW KNIGHT, US / Canada only
Comments
39 comments posted.
Re: Elizabeth Chadwick | Whittington Castle
This sounds like a great story and one that I would love to read.
(Betty Hamilton 2:35am September 27, 2013)
sounds really good i love knights and castles and princesses
and outlaw knights wow cant wait to read
(Denise Smith 8:04am September 27, 2013)
Sounds like a really great story, enjoy stories featuring knights.
(Jean Patton 9:27am September 27, 2013)
Your book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win. Best of luck with all you do.
(Nancy Reynolds 9:53am September 27, 2013)
Thank you so much for making history fun. Historical fiction
is my favorite genre, so I will be sure to look into your
other works.
(Anna Mekus 10:06am September 27, 2013)
What interesting info. Great storyline!
(May Pau 10:17am September 27, 2013)
Now this book is right up my alley. I look forward to reading it and love the cover!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:20am September 27, 2013)
Historic fiction is the best kind of read! But medieval fiction is my favorite. I hope to win this book, but, either way I am sure I will read and enjoy it. Thanks for the fun of a contest.
(Vennie Martinisi 10:36am September 27, 2013)
For some reason, I've always had a love for books that are written about England, and to see that you took the time and researched about early England and their castles, this book is a plus for me!! I can't wait to get my hands on it!! The story sounds fascinating, and I'm so glad you wrote it!! I adore the cover, too!! Congratulations on a job well done!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:24am September 27, 2013)
What a wonderful historical novel based on a true story in 12th century England---how great is that. I enjoyed reading your blog post, very interesting and informative. Thank you for this chance to win and read your book. The Best To You Always.
(Esther Somorai 12:23pm September 27, 2013)
Sounds so fascinating. I am going to add it to my wish list.
(Amy Campbell 12:35pm September 27, 2013)
This sounds like a great book! You've made it come alive for all of us. I'll
be reading it win or lose. :-)
(Sharon Shearouse 3:11pm September 27, 2013)
Winter is coming and this sounds like a good book to snuggle under a warm blanket and read
(Shirley Younger 4:57pm September 27, 2013)
This book sounds really good, and I look forward to reading it.
(Janie McGaugh 5:09pm September 27, 2013)
Love what I've read by this author.
(Nan Zahar 6:27pm September 27, 2013)
This sounds like a great historical story. Am looking forward to reading it.
(Carol Woodruff 6:35pm September 27, 2013)
Family feuds even from long ago still intrigue me with their
passion and sense of inheritance.
(Alyson Widen 7:28pm September 27, 2013)
The book makes the FitzWarin so real as they do exist. I love reading historical stories with real characters and seeing them with the fictional characters.
(Kai Wong 8:25pm September 27, 2013)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: THE OUTLAW KNIGHT. I like
the book cover too! I love to read about Kings and Knights
and Lords and Ladies and Castles. I would love to win and
read your great book this Fall. Thank You very much. Cecilia
CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 8:58pm September 27, 2013)
I love Medieval Knight and Robin Hood type stories!
(Diane Sallans 9:16pm September 27, 2013)
Love castles and your book sounds wonderful.
(Theresa Norris 9:32pm September 27, 2013)
Thank you for doing what you do. This sounds like a great book and I appreciate the opportunity to win.
(Melanie Backus 10:26pm September 27, 2013)
I can't imagine what it must have been like for the king to be able to tell someone they couldn't build on what could have been a good reason or just the king's whim.
(Laura Gullickson 11:29pm September 27, 2013)
Stories of medieval knights have always fascinated me... TU!
(Linda Townsend 12:30pm September 28, 2013)
All I can say is...I love that cover!
(Cherie Durbin 10:58am September 28, 2013)
I have always enjoyed reading and watching medieval romance stories. Thanks for the chance to win!
(Cathy Phillips 10:59am September 28, 2013)
Quite an interesting time period! Love reading about knights.
(May Pau 6:08pm September 28, 2013)
this is the best way to learn history. sounds like a good read.
(Barbara Studer 9:13am September 29, 2013)
Sounds like a great story. I'd love to read it.
(Mary Hay 9:19am September 29, 2013)
He sounds like a fascinating character.
(Pam Howell 9:29am September 29, 2013)
Who doesn't love a bad boy? This book is going to be a real goodie. I'll look forward to reading it. Also love the photos as they will help to bring the book alive. Thank you.
(Vennie Martinisi 10:11am September 29, 2013)
I have not read any of your books but I will look for them now.
(Judy Ferguson 11:49am September 29, 2013)
I can't help wondering what made you choose this particular time period and
place. The book sounds fascinating. Thanks for the pictures. They really put
things in perspective.
(Sandra Spilecki 1:06pm September 29, 2013)
Sounds like a great read. Would love to win.
(Sharon Cook 6:38pm September 29, 2013)
Sounds like a really great story. Thanks for a chance to win it.
(Amy Milne 9:32pm September 29, 2013)
Thank you for the interesting post. The Medieval era was such a time of
upheaval and shifting loyalties/rules. I have always appreciated the research you
put into your books and the details you include. I look forward to reading THE
OUTLAW KNIGHT. Best wishes for a successful release.
(Patricia Barraclough 9:56pm September 29, 2013)
Awesome research & back-story information. Wow, he lived to be ninety? Sounds like a really cool read.
(Laura Gullickson 10:37pm September 29, 2013)
I love knights and castles; sounds like an interesting read.
(Sharon DiPrima 10:45pm September 29, 2013)
Sounds like a great story to read.
(Amy Kincade 11:44pm September 30, 2013)
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