Prince Rupert of the Rhine (Hardback)

'Wonderful book packed with fascinating new research. A very fair and balanced insight into Rupert the man and his motivations. Engrossing reading. Loved it, definitely a five star read'.

Mandy Webster

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Handsome, dashing, an excellent soldier and fiercely loyal to his uncle King Charles I, Prince Rupert is always a fascinating character. His reputation has taken a bit of a beating over the years, however, and Mark Turnbull’s sympathetic look at him gathers new information and discovers the truth behind the legend. Rupert in his battles in the Civil War faced a poisonous rivalry from the envious Digby, in-fighting from jealous cavaliers, a brother who was sympathetic with the other side and an indecisive King. He had much to contend with but in spite of all this, he almost won the Civil War for the King.

Rupert’s black dog Boye is also the stuff of legend, even regarded by some of the Parliamentarians as involved in witchcraft! They spread all sorts of fantastic rumours about Rupert and his dog.

Turnbull also studies his relationships with women, including his mother, his bossy aunt and his mistresses. It was good to see that he eventually settled down with a family in his beloved England after all of his years of fierce battles.

NetGalley, Lisa Sanderson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating look at a very interesting man and the people (especially women) in his life.

It is detailed, but immensely readable, which is not easily achieved in historical biographies. It shows Rupert as a clever, talented, charming, brave man but also shows his flaws. The focus on the people around him is welcome too: the man's life was full of fascinating people and I full-heartedly agree with the author that to understand the person, we need to get to know the people around them. Rupert's mom was my favourite in the earlier section of the book, and his lovers/partners (who were quite remarkable in their own right) get the attention they deserve as well.

The inclusion of the letters is also wonderful. Little comments and remarks, both the serious one and quite gossipy ones, made the book very entertaining. My favourite was this particular comment about Rupert after his birth: Despite the ‘infirmities’of infancy, it was recorded that there appeared appropriate ‘rayes’ of majesty in the child.

A wonderful book for those who are interested in history and those who want to get an insight into the life of one of the most intriguing people of the Stuart era.

NetGalley, Alex De

In Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Mark Turnbull offers an impressively detailed and long-overdue reappraisal of one of the most fascinating figures of the English Civil Wars. Drawing on a vast array of primary sources, including fascinating newly-discovered research of his own, Turnbull presents a richly nuanced portrait of Prince Rupert. His biography cuts through centuries of myth-making, political propaganda, and selective misquotation to challenge the enduring image of Rupert as merely a swashbuckling cavalier.

Turnbull’s achievement brings fresh clarity and scholarly balance to Rupert’s life and career. Far from the one-dimensional Royalist warlord of popular legend, Turnbull’s Rupert emerges as a complex, often contradictory figure: intellectually curious, scientifically minded, loyal to a fault, and yet frequently at odds with his own cause. This is no hagiography, though the author’s sympathies are occasionally evident. Rather, it is a scrupulously researched and persuasive re-evaluation of a man whose legacy has too often been clouded by partisanship.

The book’s strength lies in its meticulous research. Turnbull’s deep engagement with archival material and contemporary accounts yields fresh insights into Rupert’s military campaigns, political manoeuvrings, and personal relationships. Of particular note is the author’s handling of Rupert’s post-war life—too often glossed over in previous studies—which is here treated with the same forensic precision as his battlefield exploits. The use of footnotes is exemplary: detailed, relevant, and clearly grounded in wide reading, along with a superb bibliography that supports the wide-ranging yet focused research foundation. Turnbull’s command of the period, from the intricacies of cavalry tactics to the courtly politics of the Palatinate and beyond, is impressive.

One of the more illuminating aspects of Turnbull’s biography is his exploration of Rupert’s relationships with women, a subject often marginalized or sensationalized in previous accounts. Rather than relying on romanticized anecdotes or court gossip, Turnbull examines Rupert’s connections with key women in his life—notably Margaret Hughes, with whom he had a long and significant partnership, and Katherine Goring, whose child was speculated to be Rupert’s—with the same scholarly rigor applied to his military and post-war career.

Prince Rupert of the Rhine is a major contribution to Civil War scholarship. It stands as am authoritative and engaging modern biography of Rupert, restoring both complexity and humanity to a figure too often caricatured by history. With his passion for the subject and command of the source material, Mark Turnbull proves himself the ideal biographer of this enigmatic prince.

Elizabeth St.John, Author - The Lydiard Chronicles