Primarily the Duchy of Normandy (modern France) and the Kingdom of England. Plot Summary
When King Edward the Confessor (Eadweard) of England—Guilhem’s uncle—allegedly names Guilhem as his heir, it sets him on a collision course with the English nobility.
After Edward's death, Harold Godwinson is crowned king, leading Guilhem to launch a massive, logistically complex invasion of England. The story concludes with the decisive Battle of Hastings. Key Themes and Style Schiewe, Ulf - Der eiserne Herzog.epub
The story details Guilhem’s consolidation of power and his persistent courtship of Matilda of Flanders , whom he eventually marries despite papal opposition.
Unlike many traditional historical war novels, Schiewe gives significant agency and internal depth to female characters like Matilda (Guilhem's wife) and Ealdgyth (Harold's wife), depicting them as strategic partners rather than background figures. Primarily the Duchy of Normandy (modern France) and
The book is written from the viewpoints of both the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons, humanizing both Guilhem and Harold rather than presenting a simple hero-vs-villain dynamic.
Schiewe uses the present tense throughout the novel to create a sense of immediacy and "closeness" to the historical figures. The story concludes with the decisive Battle of Hastings
Begins in AD 1049 and culminates with the Battle of Hastings in October 1066.