The Creation of the Principality of Antioch, 1098-1130

I bough this book some years ago, read it, loved it, but, at the time, I didn't bother to review it. Having read it again, and loved it even more, I've finally got around to reviewing it. This is a superb book: well conceived, well structured and well-written. It is, indeed, historical academia at its very best with the ability to tell the little known story of the beginnings of the Principality of Antioch under its four Norman princes from the Hauteville House in an engaging way.Although not meant for the general reader and rather targeted at historians or history buffs and fans of the Crusader States, it is nevertheless suitable for all types of readers. In addition to the author's style, tone and impeccable research, the book has been structured in a way that makes it most easy to read. The two first chapters, respectively, the Birth and the Formation of the Principality) present the chronological history of these 32 years and each chapter has its own summary. The six other chapters are thematic and each of them addresses a particular aspect of the Principality, whether its foreign relations (e.g. with the Byzantines) or whether on the Principality's structures and Institutions (the Princes and their powers or the various lordships, for instance. With one exception, each thematic chapter also has its own summary which recaps the main points.The author has also taken trouble to provide maps (no less than 4 for the first two chapters) to show how the Principality expanded and shrunk over time. Also provided is an appendix listing the main landholders of the Principality throughout the period and the sources <where they are mentioned - a mini Domesday book if you will. They are many other engaging features but you probably get the idea: although this is a scholarly book (as shown by its high price, unfortunately!), it is not too long and never boring.Up to the publication of this book in 2000 which only runs slighly above 200 pages, the reference was the meticulously researched (but at times fastidious) work of Claude Cahen on Northern Syria at the times of the Crusades that was published 60 years before in French and which is difficult to get hold off and, more generally, to access. The contents of the book include careful analysis on each of the themes. They also illustrate, time and again, how a handfull of heavily outnumbered knights (never more than 800 at the Principality's peak) and three to four thousand foot managed to conquer and hold North Syria, and, at times, Cilicia. It also describes and shows how the one who really held the Principality together in the early years, conquered its territory, victoriously fought its ennemies, built its institutions and even prevented Edessa from being lost again to the Turks was the ever energetic Tancrède who died before he was 35, possibly of exhaustion, at the end of 1112. He was, and is in this book, the main and real hero as opposed to his more glamerous and better known uncle, Bohémond de Hauteville.This is certainly one of the very best books that I have read over the last decade and I warmly recommend it. One glitch, however: it's rather expensive even if it is well worth it, in my view...