Piracy and Papacy: The Legacy of Thibauld’s treasure
Pirates and popes seem to be two things that simply would not intersect owing to both time and distance, but in 1357 intersect they did. The result was a court claim that resulted claims for damages that wound up providing us one of the finest medieval cities to survive today.
London in the Not-So-Dark Ages
An overview of the results of over 40 years of archaeological research into the origins, development and decline of the Middle Saxon trading settlement of Lundenwic, London.
Chasing Butterflies in Medieval Europe
A survey of illuminated medieval manuscripts from Europe reveals depictions of several different methods used in the Middle Ages for catching butterflies.
European Weather Extremes in the Lifetime of Charlemagne (c.742–814 CE)
An army of people, digging for a whole season, yet their efforts end in muddy ruin. Was it a project that was doomed from the start?
The Icelandic annals as historical sources
Could it be that the annals had not been written year by year in an ongoing process after all? Equally important – did there exist other sources to events annotated in the notices which could be studied as exhibits to the annals?
The Nun’s Crown
The nun’s crown, a white linen circlet with overlapping bands forming a cross worn over her veil, formed part of the dress of monastic women in northern Germany.
‘De civitatis utriusque, terrenae scilicet et caelestis’: Foundation Narratives and the Epic Portrayal of the First Crusade
My summary of a paper given at the Institute of Historical research on the accounts of Antioch and Jerusalem during the First Crusade.
Thousand-year-old crucible provides more evidence of the Vikings in Canada’s Arctic
Although it was found about fifty years ago, archaeologists have just determined that a small stone container discovered on Baffin Island in Canada’s Arctic region was actually part of metallurgical equipment used by the Vikings around the year 1000 A.D.
16th-century Haunted Castle for Sale in Scotland
With an asking price of £500,000, this Scottish castle is an attractive offer, although you might be sharing the building with a specter.
The rebirth of fertility: the Trotula and her travelling companions c. 1200-1450
This thesis examines to what extent women were involved in their own healthcare and that of others, in the late medieval period.
Layout of medieval city at Old Sarum revealed
Archaeologists from the University of Southampton have revealed for the first time the plan of a network of buildings in a once thriving medieval city at the historic site of Old Sarum, near Salisbury.
‘Forget Your People and Your Father’s House’: Teresa de Cartagena and the Converso Identity
Religion is a very important factor to take into consideration in discussions about the identity of the conversos [converts] or New Christians, an emerging group in 15th-century Castile.
Love and Marriage on the Medieval English Stage: Using the English Cycle Plays as Sources for Social History
Much scholarship concerning the concept of “companionate” marriage traces its origins to the early modern period as clergymen, especially Protestant ones, began to publish “guides” to the relationships and respective duties of husbands and wives in the 1500s and 1600s.
It is 99.999% likely that it is Richard III
There is ‘overwhelming evidence’ that a skeleton discovered in the city of Leicester in 2012 is that of Richard III. The research also raises questions about the nobility of some of his successors to the English throne.
How Well Do You Know Genghis Khan?
What do you really know about Genghis Khan? Take our quiz and find out:
The Usurpation of Henry IV: His Quest for Legitimacy on the English Throne
On 30 September 1399, Richard II’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, would usurp the throne, taking the name Henry IV, and months after the coronation, Richard would die a prisoner in Pontefract Castle amidst speculation that he was murdered.
Medieval Warfare Magazine – Volume IV Issue 6
The Lombard-Byzantine conflict was a defining moment in Byzantine history, and especially important for the future of Italy. The wars would not only lead to the end of Byzantine hegomony in Italy, but they also helped in widening the gap between the pope and Catholic Italy on the one hand, and the Emperor and Greek Constantinople on the other, thus paving the way for the emergence of new Romano-German Christian realms in the West.
This Week in Medieval Manuscript Images
Whether it’s dangling over a cliff or cutting hair, if you can think of it a medieval artist drew it in a manuscript! Here are some of the best images we found this week
Charlemagne’s Denarius, Constantine’s Edicule, and the Vera Crux
In 806 a much-discussed silver denarius bearing the likeness of Charlemagne was issued. This is called the “temple-type” coin due to the (as yet unidentified) architectural structure illustrated on the reverse side, and which is explicitly labeled as representing the epitome of “Christian Religion.”
Edinburgh Castle named the UK’s Best Heritage Attraction for 4th year in a row
Edinburgh Castle has been named the UK’s Best Heritage Attraction for a record fourth year running at the 2014 British Travel Awards (BTAs).
Vice, Tyranny, Violence, and the Usurpation of Flanders (1071) in Flemish Historiography from 1093 to 1294
The earliest sources of the history of medieval Flanders do not agree on the origins of the counts. The earliest source, the so-called “Genealogy of Arnold [I],” credibly traces the counts’ origin to Baldwin I “Iron Arm,”…