Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshall, the Power Behind Five English Thrones.

William Marshal (1147-1219) was the Lancelot of his era - a landless younger son who rose through the ranks to serve as right-hand man to five English monarchs, including Richard the Lionheart and his brother John. Drawing on contemporary evidence, including the sole surviving copy of a 13th-century biography, this compelling study resurrects a courageous warrior, tournament champion, wily politician and, ultimately, regent of the realm, against a rich tapestry of chivalry, grandeur and barbarity.