David Carpenter (historian)
Encyclopedia
David Carpenter is an English historian and writer, currently Professor of Medieval History at King's College London
He is the son of Rev. E.F. Carpenter, renowned ecclesiastical historian and Dean of Westminster Abbey
between 1974-1986, and Lillian Carpenter. David Carpenter attended Westminster School
along with David Piachaud, Professor of Social Policy at the LSE, and Christ Church
, Oxford
. He has written widely on English social, economic, architectural, military and political history in the thirteenth century; many of his essays on this subject being brought together in a volume of his collected papers The Reign of Henry III
(Hambledon, 1996). He is a particular exponent of the ‘thickened political narrative’, which he deployed in The Minority of King Henry III (Methuen, 1990), which traced the complex political history of the years 1216-1227 out of which a new monarchy, limited by the Magna Carta
, emerged. His most recent book, The Struggle for Mastery in Britain 1066-1284 (Penguin, 2004), weaves together the histories of England, Scotland and Wales in a strikingly new way, arguing that the rulers of all three, in their different fashions, were competing for mastery in Britain. Since 2005, he has directed a major AHRC-funded project on the Fine Rolls
of Henry III. And, he is currently a Co-Investigator of the AHRC-funded project 'The Paradox of Medieval Scotland, 1093-1286'.
Carpenter is a proponent of the theory that feudalism
was fundamentally important to everyday English society and politics after 1166. He has provided a new description on how the Tower of London
and Westminster Abbey
fit into the History of England
.
Carpenter lives in London with his wife Jane and two children, Katie and James Carpenter. Carpenter is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
He is the son of Rev. E.F. Carpenter, renowned ecclesiastical historian and Dean of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
between 1974-1986, and Lillian Carpenter. David Carpenter attended Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
along with David Piachaud, Professor of Social Policy at the LSE, and Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He has written widely on English social, economic, architectural, military and political history in the thirteenth century; many of his essays on this subject being brought together in a volume of his collected papers The Reign of Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
(Hambledon, 1996). He is a particular exponent of the ‘thickened political narrative’, which he deployed in The Minority of King Henry III (Methuen, 1990), which traced the complex political history of the years 1216-1227 out of which a new monarchy, limited by the Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
, emerged. His most recent book, The Struggle for Mastery in Britain 1066-1284 (Penguin, 2004), weaves together the histories of England, Scotland and Wales in a strikingly new way, arguing that the rulers of all three, in their different fashions, were competing for mastery in Britain. Since 2005, he has directed a major AHRC-funded project on the Fine Rolls
Fine rolls
The fine rolls record offers of money to the Kings of England for concessions and favours from the 12th to the 17th centuries.In general, a fine is an agreement made with the king, or one of his chief ministers, to pay a certain sum of money for a specified benefit. In some cases the sum of money...
of Henry III. And, he is currently a Co-Investigator of the AHRC-funded project 'The Paradox of Medieval Scotland, 1093-1286'.
Carpenter is a proponent of the theory that feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
was fundamentally important to everyday English society and politics after 1166. He has provided a new description on how the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
fit into the History of England
History of England
The history of England concerns the study of the human past in one of Europe's oldest and most influential national territories. What is now England, a country within the United Kingdom, was inhabited by Neanderthals 230,000 years ago. Continuous human habitation dates to around 12,000 years ago,...
.
Carpenter lives in London with his wife Jane and two children, Katie and James Carpenter. Carpenter is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
Books
- The Minority of Henry III (1990)
- The Struggle for Mastery: Britain 1066–1284 (2004)