The Last Knight: The Twilight of the Middle Ages and the Birth of the Modern Era

The book centers on Fastolf, a key figure in the Hundred Years’ War, known for his role at the Battle of Patay (1429), where his forces suffered a devastating defeat against Joan of Arc’s army, contributing to England’s loss of Normandy. Cantor portrays Fastolf as a pragmatic soldier and entrepreneur, contrasting him with the romanticized knights of Arthurian legend. After retiring wealthy from war, Fastolf invested in land and trade, reflecting the growing mercantile economy, and built Caister Castle, symbolizing the shift from feudal strongholds to fortified residences.

Cantor argues that Fastolf’s era marked the twilight of the Middle Ages, driven by the Black Death’s demographic impact, the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), and the decline of chivalry amid gunpowder warfare. Simultaneously, it birthed modernity through the Renaissance’s intellectual awakening, the rise of centralized monarchies (e.g., under Henry VII), and the printing press’s cultural influence. Fastolf’s association with William Worcester, his secretary and biographer, links him to early humanism, while his legal disputes over inheritance foreshadow modern property rights.