Showing results by publisher "Saga Egmont" in Politics & Activism

King Edward I "Longshanks", or the "Hammer of the Scots", was a major figure of Medieval England. Arguably one of the most controversial British monarchs, he was portrayed as an ignominious villain in Mel Gibsons' Braveheart; but the reality was different. Indeed, his reign stands among the most dramatic and important of the entire Middle Ages, as Edward I brought war and conquest on an unprecedented scale; but he is also credited for bringing together the largest parliaments ever, for his competent rulership, and for the magnificent chain of castles he had built.

All Henry VI "The Mad" ever wanted was peace. But everything kept going to hell around him, till his mind broke from the pressure of having to rule two kingdoms, wage a war, and survive countless cabals all the while having not a single clue how rulership worked. Henry VI was thrown into power at the tender age of nine months, and kept being let down by everyone around him, while he struggled to understand what was going on.

Richard III: one of the most divisive and enigmatic figures in British history. Few monarchs have been held in greater infamy than Richard Plantagenet, who would later ascend the throne as King Richard III; his character has been passionately besmirched and defended, and the arguments still rage after several centuries. He was depicted as a deformed monster in Shakespeare's play, but maybe this was to obey the will of the Tudor monarchy of the time. His real tragedy was both personal and political; his story, replete with intrigue, murder, war, and treachery. Richard III laid the foundations for modern government, often taking the side of the people against the barons; for this, he eventually paid a terrible price.

A time of extreme religious unrest, a most magnificent and dangerous court, and strong ideas about the need for a perfect heir: all this may have been enough to transform an intelligent, compassionate and generous young king into such a bloody monster that he was eventually called the "English Nero". Henry VIII is most remembered for his six marriages, two of which ended with beheadings.

More than two centuries after her death, Marie-Antoinette continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers. She was born into royalty, and a world of immense privilege and power. At age 14, she married the one who would become Louis XVI, King of France; when he made her a queen, she was universally adored. But afterwards, her extravagant lifestyle turned public opinion against her, eventually participating in the crumbling of the already discredited monarchy into a maelstrom of revolution, disaster and tragedy.

The Cid, an Arab nickname meaning "the Lord", has been called the "most famous Spaniard of all time". Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar was a Castillan military and political leader in medieval Spain. He was an outstanding general, first leading the Spanish against the Moors in victorious battles, then working as a mercenary-general for whoever would require a war won. He eventually captured the city of Valencia, keeping it to himself and ruling it until his death. His remarkable military ability made him the legendary national hero of Spain. He remains an idolized figure in Spain, and his name has been immortalized in every form of story.

Known as a very strong man and an expert shot, William Tell took part in the resistance against the rule of the Habsburg, the emperors of Austria who had vowed to dominate his country. He was arrested for disobedience, which led to the cruelest punishment a prince could think of. Tell famously succeeded, but this was not to be the end of his tribulation. His struggle for liberty eventually sparked a rebellion which marked History.

The emperor Caligula was one of the strangest and cruelest rulers that ever lived, and most of what is known about his reign comes from Suetonius. The first six months of his reign appear to have been moderate and successful; but after that, he fell into a spiral of sadism, sexual perversity, and plain insanity that made him one of the most hated tyrants of all time.

Ce livre audio est constitué de discours d'Hommes politiques prononcés pendant la 2nde Guerre Mondiale.

Fils du chef de la puissante tribu des Arvernes, Vercingétorix apparaît aux yeux des historiens comme la figure la plus marquante de l'époque gallo-romaine. Son rôle dans l'histoire antique est essentiel puisqu'il est le premier à fédérer la plupart des peuples de Gaule dans la lutte contre l'ennemi romain. Sa jeunesse est pourtant partagée entre l'opposition à Rome et la compromission étant donné qu'il compte longtemps au nombre des proches de Jules César.

Notre histoire commence à Paris le 13 juillet 1793, à la prison du Temple. Marie-Antoinette, prisonnière dans sa cellule, n'est plus reine de France. La reine déchue sait qu'elle va bientôt être séparée de son enfant pour toujours. Dans quelques mois, elle sera exécutée place de la Révolution. Elle profite de ses derniers instants avec son fils Louis-Charles, devenu Louis XVII à la mort de son père Louis XVI, pour lui raconter l'histoire de sa vie.

Quel roi ! Le plus long règne, la plus longue vie, le plus beau palais, des guerres sans fin, des amours multiples, une splendeur incroyable, de la gloire à n'en plus finir, une cour royale fastueuse, mécène des arts et de la culture et un emblème : le Soleil.

Louis XVI (1754 -1793) est le dernier roi de la monarchie absolue française. Son tempérament, éloigné des vertus de leader et de réformateur, peine à engager la France vers la voie de modernité et conduit le royaume vers une crise politique, économique et sociale qui participe à la naissance de la Révolution française.

Napoléon Ier (1769-1821) est le premier empereur des Français, de 1804 à 1815. Napoléon Bonaparte est un militaire, général dans les armées de la Première République française, née de la Révolution, commandant en chef de l'armée d'Italie puis de l'armée d'Orient.

Henri IV (1553-1610) fut roi de Navarre (Henri III de Navarre, 1572-1610) puis roi de France (1589-1610), premier souverain de la branche dite de Bourbon de la dynastie capétienne. Il était le fils de Jeanne d'Albret, reine de Navarre, et d'Antoine de Bourbon, chef de la maison de Bourbon, descendant du roi Louis IX et premier prince du sang.

Louis XIV dit Louis le Grand ou le Roi-Soleil (1638-1715), est un roi de France et de Navarre. Né Louis-Dieudonné, il monte sur le trône de France au décès de son père Louis XIII, le 14 mai 1643, quelques mois avant son cinquième anniversaire. Il est le 64e roi de France, le 44e roi de Navarre et le troisième roi de France issu de la dynastie des Bourbons.

Louis XI, dit le Prudent, né en 1423 à Bourges, mort en 1483 au château du Plessis-lez-Tours, fut roi de France de 1461 à 1483. Son intense activité diplomatique, perçue par ses adversaires comme sournoise, lui valut de la part de ses détracteurs le surnom d'"universelle aragne".

François Ier (1494-1547), est sacré roi de France le 25 janvier 1515 dans la cathédrale de Reims. Il règne jusqu'à sa mort en 1547. Fils de Charles d'Angoulême et de Louise de Savoie, il appartient à la branche de Valois-Angoulême de la dynastie capétienne. François Ier est considéré comme le monarque emblématique de la période de la Renaissance française.

Les Mérovingiens sont la dynastie qui régna sur une très grande partie de la France et de la Belgique actuelles, ainsi que sur une partie de l'Allemagne et de la Suisse, du Ve siècle jusqu'au milieu du VIIIe siècle. Cette lignée est issue des peuples de Francs saliens qui étaient établis au Ve siècle dans les régions de Cambrai et de Tournai, en Belgique (Childéric Ier).

D'origine aristocratique, Winston Churchill entame une carrière politique en 1900. D'abord député conservateur puis libéral, plusieurs fois ministre de 1906 à 1929, il est élu aux communes en 1924.