The Iron King

Over the years, more than one reviewer has described my fantasy series,
A Song of Ice and Fire
, as historical fiction about history that never happened, flavoured with a dash of sorcery and spiced with dragons. I take that as a compliment. I have always regarded historical fiction and fantasy as sisters under the skin, two genres separated at birth. My own series draws on both traditions … and while I undoubtedly drew much of my inspiration from Tolkien, Vance, Howard, and the other fantasists who came before me,
A Game of Thrones
and its sequels were also influenced by the works of great historical novelists like Thomas B. Costain, Mika Waltari, Howard Pyle … and Maurice Druon, the amazing French writer who gave us the
The Accursed Kings
, seven splendid novels that chronicle the downfall of the Capetian kings and the beginnings of the Hundred Years War.

Druon’s novels have not been easy to find, especially in English translation (and the seventh and final volume was never translated into English at all). The series has
twice
been made into a television series in France, and both versions are available on DVD … but only in French, undubbed, and without English subtitles. Very frustrating for English-speaking Druon fans like me.

The Accursed Kings
has it all. Iron kings and strangled queens, battles and betrayals, lies and lust, deception, family rivalries, the curse of the Templars, babies switched at birth, she-wolves, sin, and swords, the doom of a great dynasty … and all of it (well, most of it) straight from the pages of history. And believe me, the Starks and the Lannisters have nothing on the Capets and Plantagenets.

Whether you’re a history buff or a fantasy fan, Druon’s epic will keep you turning pages. This was the original game of thrones. If you like
A Song of Ice and Fire
, you will love
The Accursed Kings
.

George R.R. Martin

The Characters in this Book

THE KING OF FRANCE:

P
HILIP
IV, called Philip the Fair, aged 46, grandson of Saint Louis.

HIS BROTHERS:

M
ONSEIGNEUR
C
HARLES
, Count of Valois, Titular Emperor of Constantinople, Count of Romagna, aged 44.

M
ONSEIGNEUR
L
OUIS
, Count of Evreux, about 40 years old.

HIS SONS:

L
OUIS
, King of Navarre, aged 25.

P
HILIPPE,
C
OUNT
of Poitiers, aged 21.

C
HARLES
, aged 20.

HIS DAUGHTER:

I
SABELLA
, Queen of England, aged 22, wife of King Edward II.

HIS DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW:

M
ARGUERITE OF
B
URGUNDY
, aged about 21, wife of Louis, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy, granddaughter of Saint Louis.

J
EANNE OF
B
URGUNDY
, aged about 21, daughter of the Count Palatine of Burgundy, wife to Philippe.

B
LANCHE OF
B
URGUNDY
, her sister, aged about 18, wife to Charles.

HIS MINISTERS AND JUSTICIARS:

E
NGUERRAND LE
P
ORTIER DE
M
ARIGNY
, aged 52, Coadjutor and Rector of the Kingdom.

G
UILLAUME DE
N
OGARET
, aged 54, Keeper of the Seals and Secretary-General of the Kingdom.

H
UGUES DE
B
OUVILLE
, Grand Chamberlain.

THE ARTOIS BRANCH, DESCENDED FROM A BROTHER OF SAINT LOUIS:

R
OBERT
III
OF
A
RTOIS
, Lord of Conches, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger, aged 27.

M
AHAUT
, his aunt, aged about 40, widow of the Count Palatine of Burgundy, Countess of Artois, a peer of France, mother of Jeanne and Blanche of Burgundy and cousin of Marguerite of Burgundy.

THE TEMPLARS:

J
ACQUES DE
M
OLAY
, aged 71, Grand Master of the Order of Knights Templar.

G
EOFFROY DE
C
HARNEY
, Preceptor of Normandy.

E
VERARD
, one-time Knight of the Order of Templars.

THE LOMBARDS:

S
PINELLO
T
OLOMEI
, a Siennese banker living in Paris.

G
UCCIO
B
AGLIONI
, his nephew, aged about 18.

THE BROTHERS AUNAY:

G
AUTIER
, son of the Chevalier d’Aunay, aged about 23, Equerry to the Count of Poitiers.

P
HILIPPE
, his brother, aged about 21, Equerry to the Count of Valois.

THE CRESSAY FAMILY:

D
AME
E
LIABEL
, widow of the Squire of Cressay, aged about 40.