National-Ethnic Narratives in Eleventh-Century Literary Representations of Cnut
This article takes literary representations of Cnut, the Danish conqueror of England, as a case study of the construction of English identity in the eleventh century.
The Medieval Magazine: The Seventh Crusade (Issue 16)
Our 20-page feature takes the reader through the causes and events of Louis IX’s invasion of Egypt. You can also read about a discovery of leprosy in an Anglo-Saxon skeleton and a new open source online journal.
Why Tolkien’s Beowulf is an ‘amazing book but a terrible translation’
In the spring of 2014 a translation of Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien was published. Last week, Andy Orchard, one of the leading scholars of Old English, offered his thoughts about the book and revealed that he will be writing his own translation of the famous medieval poem.
The Heloise of History
This thesis seeks to determine the historical role of the twelfth-century abbess Heloise, apart from the frequently cited and disputed letters exchanged between her and Peter Abelard.
The 700th Anniversary of the Battle of Morgarten
On November 15, 1315, an Austrian army of at least a few thousand men marched along the shores of Lake Ägeri in central Switzerland. It was here that they were ambushed by over a thousand Swiss farmers.
How to Tell if Your 12th-Century Lover is Just Not That Into You
In the twelfth century, courtly love was all the rage with the French nobility. To participate in this trendiest of trends, though, you actually needed to know the rules.
Bras in the 15th Century? A Preliminary Report
Four linen textiles resemble modern time bras. The criterion for this classification is the presence of distinctly cut cups. The two more fragmented specimens appear to be a combination of a bra and a modern dirndl blouse.
The Making of a Legend: The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and the TV series ‘Vikings’
Thus neither The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok nor ‘Vikings’ are immediately recognisable as straight works of history, although they both have certain strongly historical elements to their content.
Medical Lore in the Bestiaries
Some time in the first part of the Christian era, perhaps as early as the second century, there emerged a curious collection of zoological fables and religious moralizations called Physiologus.
Medieval Animation: The Founding of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius
Created in 1990 by the Lithuanian Animated Film Studio, this film tells the mythological tale of the founding of Medieval Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Recycling in Britain after the Fall of Rome’s Metal Economy
In actual fact, the bulk of contemporary evidence — which happens to be material rather than textual — clearly argues that the people of fifth- and early sixth-century eastern Britain were much more involved in subsistence agriculture than warfare, and that most people during much of this period lived in highly circumscribed worlds in a ranked, rather than a steeply hierarchical, society
Scribal Practice in the Beowulf Manuscript
There was a time, not too long ago, when we thought we knew a great deal more about Beowulf than we do now.
Medieval Books: 5 Great New Releases!
Black Friday is around the corner – here are a few books that have just been released!
Which Warrior Woman Are You?
Which famous fictional or real life warrior woman are you? Are you on a quest to redeem your past like Xena or are you on a divine mission like Joan of Arc? Let’s find out!
Five Medieval Chronicles that you can read translated online
Medieval chronicles from Italy, Germany and Russia that are available online in English translation.
Hidden Complexities of the Frankish Castle
This thesis is devoted to crusader castles and has a geographical focus on the Near Eastern regions.
Shrews, Rats, and a Polecat in the ‘Pardoner’s Tale’
The animals of particular interest to us are creatures that function in two distinct ways: as familiar dead metaphors and as familiar live animals.
Crucifix, calvary, and cross: materiality and spirituality in Great War landscapes
First World War landscapes are a complex layering of commemorative materialities and spirituality, in which the past is recycled and memory perpetuated in the present.
Old Companions, Noble Steeds: Why dogs and horses were buried at an Early Medieval settlement along the Old Rhine
Excavations at the Early Medieval site of Oegstgeest, located in the Dutch Rhine estuary, have yielded the burials of three horses and three dogs
The Medieval Magazine: Animals in the Middle Ages (Issue 41)
From Parrots to Whales, this week we take a look at medieval wildlife. You can also read about medieval treasures in Madrid, Bells in England, a mad King in Norway, and a few fascinating archaeological discoveries.
The Medieval Magazine: Medieval Women (Issue 11)
This early issue of The Medieval Magazine focuses on women in the Middle Ages.
1,000 year old silver treasure hoard discovered in Denmark
Over 550 silver items have been discovered on the Danish island of Omø. The hoard is believed to date from around the reign of Sweyn Forkbeard (986–1014) and includes coins and pieces of jewellery.
Medieval Wonders of MAN in Madrid
Danielle Trynoski explores the medieval exhibits at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional.
Top 10 Medical Advances from the Middle Ages
Medieval medicine has often been portrayed as a time when physicians were ignorant and health care remained the stuff of superstitions and quackery. However, a closer look reveals that were many ways in which medical knowledge and care improved during the Middle Ages. Here are our top ten medical advances