Michael Prestwich
Encyclopedia
Michael Charles Prestwich OBE
(born 30 January 1943) is an English
historian
, specialising on the history of medieval
England, in particular the reign of Edward I
. He is retired, having been Professor of History at Durham University
, and Head of the Department of History until 2007.
in Oxford, and then went to a well-known public school Charterhouse
, before winning a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford
. He completed his D.Phil on Edward I's wars and their financing at Christ Church, Oxford
.
, Michael moved in 1969 to St Andrews
where he stayed for ten years before moving to Durham
as a Reader. He soon became Professor, and has been head of the Department for two spells. For seven years in the 1990s he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, with a wide brief which even extended to health and safety. He is chairman of the trustees of the Durham Union Society
. He twice chaired the History panel for the Research Assessment Exercise
, in 1996 and 2001.
Prestwich has provided support and encouragement to other historians, in particular Ann Hyland
, who recognised his assistance in her work on medieval warhorses
. Prestwich wrote the foreword for both of her books on the subject. On his retirement, he was presented with a festschrift, War, Government and Aristocracy in the British Isles c. 1150-1500, edited by Chris Given-Wilson, Ann Kettle and Len Scales.
Prestwich was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
, Durham. He lives in Western Hill in Durham, and has a dog and three grown up children. He retired in 2008.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 30 January 1943) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, specialising on the history of medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
England, in particular the reign of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. He is retired, having been Professor of History at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, and Head of the Department of History until 2007.
Early life
Prestwich is the son of two Oxford historians, John and Menna Prestwich. He was educated at the Dragon SchoolDragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
in Oxford, and then went to a well-known public school Charterhouse
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, before winning a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. He completed his D.Phil on Edward I's wars and their financing at Christ Church, Oxford
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...
.
Academic career
After a year as a lecturer at Christ ChurchChrist 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...
, Michael moved in 1969 to St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
where he stayed for ten years before moving to Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
as a Reader. He soon became Professor, and has been head of the Department for two spells. For seven years in the 1990s he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, with a wide brief which even extended to health and safety. He is chairman of the trustees of the Durham Union Society
Durham Union Society
The Durham Union Society is a debating society founded in 1842 by the students of the Durham University. Commonly referred to as the "DUS" or "The Durham Union", it is the university's largest society with over 3,000 members...
. He twice chaired the History panel for the Research Assessment Exercise
Research Assessment Exercise
The Research Assessment Exercise is an exercise undertaken approximately every 5 years on behalf of the four UK higher education funding councils to evaluate the quality of research undertaken by British higher education institutions...
, in 1996 and 2001.
Prestwich has provided support and encouragement to other historians, in particular Ann Hyland
Ann Hyland
Ann Hyland is a writer and historian who specialises in equestrianism and the development of horses. She is also a consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary.Ann Hyland trains horses as well as being a freelance lecturer on equestrian topics....
, who recognised his assistance in her work on medieval warhorses
Horses in the Middle Ages
Horses in the Middle Ages differed in size, build and breed from the modern horse, and were, on average, smaller. They were also more central to society than their modern counterparts, being essential for war, agriculture, and transport....
. Prestwich wrote the foreword for both of her books on the subject. On his retirement, he was presented with a festschrift, War, Government and Aristocracy in the British Isles c. 1150-1500, edited by Chris Given-Wilson, Ann Kettle and Len Scales.
Prestwich was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
Personal life
He is married to fellow Oxford-educated historian Maggie Prestwich, who recently retired as senior tutor at Trevelyan CollegeTrevelyan College
Trevelyan College, often abbreviated to Trevs, is a college of the University of Durham in North Eastern England. Founded in 1966, the college takes its name from social historian George Macaulay Trevelyan, Chancellor of the University from 1950 to 1957. Originally an all-female college , the...
, Durham. He lives in Western Hill in Durham, and has a dog and three grown up children. He retired in 2008.
Select publications
- War, Politics and Finance under Edward I (1972), ISBN 0571090427
- The Three Edwards: War and State in England, 1272-1377 (1980), ISBN 031280251X
- Edward I (1988), ISBN 0413281507
- English Politics in the Thirteenth Century (1990), ISBN 0333414349
- Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: the English Experience (1996), ISBN 0300064527
- Plantagenet England, 1225-1360 (2005), ISBN 0198228449
Contributions
- Editor of a collection of his father's essays:
-
- J.O. Prestwich, The Place of War in English History, 1066-1214 (2004) Woodbridge: Boydell Press ISBN 1-84383-098-1