Tudor Frontiers and Noble Power The Making of the British State [Hardcover]

Tudor Frontiers and Noble Powertakes a new and controversial look at Tudor government and the formation of the British state, from the perspective of the borderlands which collectively made up over half of English territory. Steven Ellis argues that it was the frontiers, not lowland England, which provided the real test of Tudor statesmanship. After 1534 the borderlands were drawn more closely into the Tudor state but by a policy which was seriously flawed and could not be applied to Scotland after 1603.

An important comparative study of the administration of the borderlands from 1485-1540, focusing on the earls of Kildare in Ireland and the Lords Dacre in northern England. --CHOICE

In this exploration, Ellis displays the estimable scholarly qualities that have marked him as a first-rate historian: an impressive command of a multitude of sources, the ability to construct a careful and detailed narrative, and a willingess to tackle controversial issues. --American HistoricalReview

[A] provocative work... --The Albion