Medieval Male Underwear: Hidden But Revealing
Medieval male underwear wasn’t invisible in art. Exploring what braies reveal for martyrs and peasants.
Cartier and the Lost Crusader Sword
Louis J. Cartier discovered a medieval sword pommel in a Damascus bazaar in the 1920s—an artefact later identified as belonging to crusader Peter of Dreux. Now at The Met, the object offers a rare, personal link to the Seventh Crusade and its leading French nobles.
Medieval drought may have aided the Mongol Empire’s push west in the 1230s, study suggests
A new tree-ring study reconstructing summer drought on the East European Plain argues that severe aridity in the 1230s may have helped the Mongol Empire’s westward expansion by shaping mobility and vulnerability across Eurasia
Newly Identified Early Medieval Castle Site Found in Switzerland
Archaeologists in northeastern Switzerland’s canton of Thurgau have confirmed a newly identified 10th–11th-century castle site near Uesslingen-Buch, with LiDAR mapping and finds including medieval arrowheads shedding new light on the long-lost Ittingen stronghold and its road network.
Ezana of Aksum, the First Christian King in Africa, with Aaron Butts
A conversation with Aaron Butts on the conversion to Christianity of Ezana, the fourth-century king of Aksum (in modern Ethiopia and Eritrea). “Conversion” is a conventional term, but what Ezana’s inscriptions and coins reveals is a complicated process of appealing to different groups and the coexistence of religions in his realm and the royal monuments.
Robin Hood and the Christmastime Tradition with Alex Kaufman
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Alexander L. Kaufman about how Robin Hood’s legend evolved over time, his transformation into a pantomime favourite, and that time Robin robbed Santa Claus himself.
Was the Bayeux Tapestry Made for a Monastic Dining Hall?
New research suggests the Bayeux Tapestry may have been designed for display in a monastic refectory at St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury, where monks could view and reflect on its narrative during communal meals.
The Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297)
In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Scotland as a clear example of poor generalship. Focusing on the English command’s mistakes, they explore how underestimating William Wallace and the Scottish forces led to disastrous decisions over terrain and timing.
Medieval Visions of Creation Coming to the Getty Museum
The Getty Museum has announced Beginnings: The Story of Creation in the Middle Ages, a forthcoming exhibition examining how medieval manuscripts and modern artworks interpret the Biblical story of Creation, opening in early 2026.
The Donation of Constantine: A Medieval Forgery That Shaped Church Power
How a medieval forgery known as the Donation of Constantine shaped Church power, papal authority, and medieval ideas of truth and legitimacy.
Medieval Mystery of Brunanburh Battle May Be Solved, New Study Argues
A long-running debate over the location of one of the most important battles fought in medieval England may finally be nearing an answer. A new study argues that the Battle of Brunanburh, fought in 937, took place at Bromborough on the Wirral, bringing fresh clarity to a question that has occupied historians for more than a century.
Early Medieval and Roman Remains Discovered in York
Archaeological investigations in the English city of York have uncovered evidence of early medieval occupation alongside substantial Roman remains, shedding new light on the city’s long and complex past. The discoveries were made on the site of a new hotel development.
Six Medieval Rules for Healthy Living
A medieval medical guide reduced healthy living to six simple rules. Explore The Theatre of Health and how its advice on diet, activity, and balance still resonates today.
Seeing into the minds of others, with Ellen Muehlberger
A conversation with Ellen Muehlberger about how some people in late antiquity tried to model, confirm, or interpret what they thought was going on in the minds of others. We briefly talk about the genre of the lecture book, and then about classroom exercises in impersonation (were they exercises in empathy or not?) and breaking into houses to see what people had in their private quarters.
25 Ways Historians Have Shaped the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages we know today is shaped by historians as much as by history itself. Discover 25 historiographical constructs that define how the medieval world is studied and understood.
12 Medieval Proverbs on Wolves
Explore 12 medieval proverbs about wolves, drawn from Latin sources and translated into English, revealing how medieval writers used the wolf to express moral and social lessons.
Assassins and Templars at War – Ambushes and Ambassadors
A dramatic ambush derailed a potential alliance between the Crusaders and the Assassins, plunging the Kingdom of Jerusalem into crisis. This article explores the negotiations, the killing of the Nizari envoy and the political fallout that followed.
Rebuilding the Higgins Collection: Successes, Surprises, and What’s Still Missing
The Higgins Collection—one of America’s most distinctive assemblies of arms and armor—has finally reopened to the public at the Worcester Art Museum. Its new galleries offer flashes of the old museum’s spirit, along with choices that may surprise longtime admirers.
Forgotten Medieval Miracles of the Augustinians Revealed in New Study
New research reveals how Augustinian friars shaped medieval rural life through overlooked miracles—from healing livestock to restoring barren land—challenging long-held assumptions about the order’s history.
Richard the Lionheart with Heather Blurton
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Heather Blurton about how Richard’s contemporaries saw him, the wild stories told about him in the later Middle Ages, and why we still just can’t get enough of this controversial king.
How Medieval Soldiers Profited from War under Edward I
Medieval soldiers in Edward I’s armies often turned warfare into a source of income, creating a new class of mounted military entrepreneurs.
Archaeologists Discover Medieval Village in England
Excavations in eastern England have revealed an early medieval village near Friston, medieval kiln sites on the coast, and rare prehistoric artefacts, offering new insight into East Anglia’s long-settled landscape.
Medieval Farmers Created a Biodiversity Boom, Study Finds
A new study reveals that medieval communities around Lake Constance created a biodiversity peak through innovative farming, trade, and land management, offering insights for modern conservation.
Illuminated for a King: Rediscovering the Roman de la Rose
A royal manuscript of the Roman de la Rose offers a fresh look at Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun’s contrasting visions of medieval love and reason.
