The Medieval Church as a Military Power
Discover how the medieval Church emerged as a major military power, mobilizing secular armies, launching crusades, and creating unique warrior-monks through the military religious orders.
The Medieval Church as a Political Power
Discover how the medieval Church operated as a political power—ruling territories, collecting taxes, and challenging kings across Latin Christendom.
Saint Thomas Becket with Michael Staunton
This week, Danièle speaks with Michael Staunton about Thomas’ rapid rise to the highest positions in England, his epic feud with Henry II – including what part Henry might have played in Thomas’ martyrdom – and the aftermath of the infamous murder in the cathedral.
A History of the Popes Named Leo
From Leo I to the newly elected Leo XIV, this article explores the long and complex history of popes who chose the name Leo—revealing how each shaped the Catholic Church through reform, conflict, and legacy.
How Popes Died in the Middle Ages: Ritual, Power, and Performance
What happened when a pope died in the Middle Ages? Behind the closed doors of Rome and Avignon, elaborate rituals unfolded—blending faith, politics, and performance to preserve the illusion that the Church never died.
When Medieval Nuns Stopped a Papal Construction Site: The Turbulent Story of the Basilica of Saint-Urbain in Troyes
Discover the dramatic story of how a powerful abbess and her nuns defied the papacy and halted the construction of a major Gothic basilica in 13th-century Troyes, France.
The Cadaver Synod: The Trial of a Dead Pope
In 897, Pope Stephen VI exhumed his predecessor and put him on trial. Known as the Cadaver Synod, this bizarre episode in Church history was more than madness—new research reveals it was a political and religious power play.
Top 10 Antipopes
Discover the stories of ten historical figures who claimed the papacy but were later declared antipopes. From Hippolytus of Rome to Felix V, explore the rivalries, scandals, and political power struggles that shaped medieval Church history.
New Medieval Books: Writings (1416-1432)
The writings of Pawel Wlodkowic, a 15th-century Polish canon lawyer, are translated in this book. It offers a fascinating view from Poland of their rivalry with the Teutonic Order, their relations with pagan peoples, and Wlodkowic’s opinions on human rights.
The Council of Whitby: A Study in Early Anglo-Saxon Politics
This article re-examines the Council of Whitby (664) in light of political tensions in early Anglo-Saxon England, arguing that the synod was driven as much by dynastic conflict and papal diplomacy as by liturgical dispute. Drawing on sources like Bede and the Life of Wilfrid, it offers a revised timeline and highlights the council’s significance in Oswiu’s struggle for ecclesiastical and political supremacy.
Nicene Creed at 1700: Vatican Releases New Document
The Vatican’s International Theological Commission has released a new document ahead of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, reflecting on the ongoing significance of the Nicene Creed.
The Evolution of Papal Authority: Plenitudo Potestatis and Sovereignty in Medieval Canon Law
How did medieval canon law shape the idea of absolute papal authority? This article traces the evolution of key legal concepts—plenitudo potestatis, potestas absoluta, and pro ratione voluntas—from Pope Innocent III to Hostiensis, revealing their lasting impact on theories of sovereignty.
Medieval Christianity Was More Connected Than You Think: The Ethiopian Monk’s Story
One Ethiopian monk’s bold attempt to reshape his church’s hierarchy offers a striking example of how Christian communities across the medieval world were deeply interconnected.
Why Being a Medieval Priest Wasn’t as Easy as You Think
Here are a few drawbacks to being a medieval priest.
New Medieval Books: Women and the Reformations
From queens like Elizabeth I to mystics such as Teresa of Ávila, women held pivotal roles in the religious struggles that shaped Christianity during the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period. This book examines the Reformation and Counter Reformation through several leading female figures, both within and outside of Europe.
New Medieval Books: The Latin Lives of St Laurence of Dublin
Lorcán Ua Tuathail, known in English as Laurence O’Toole, was a 12th-century Archbishop of Dublin. This book presents editions of four texts about his life, two of which are also translated into English
New Medieval Books: The Roman Curia
How is the Papacy structured? This book delves into the intricate government and administration of the Papacy and Vatican City, tracing many of its foundational elements back to their medieval origins.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Iceland
Explore Iceland’s distinct medieval journey, from its ninth-century settlement to the upheavals of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Amid secular and ecclesiastical power struggles, this remote island experienced its own share of strife and transformation.
New Medieval Books: On the Deeds of Gerald
This biography about the famous 13th-century writer Gerald of Wales was actually written by Gerald himself. Writing in the third-person, Gerald narrates his career in the Church, his efforts to become a bishop, and his time in the courts of the Kings of England.
New Medieval Books: Monasticism in Ireland
This book explores the functioning of monasteries in Ireland during the High Middle Ages and their integral role in the country’s religious life. It addresses the key question: ‘How monastic was the monastic church, and what was its relationship to the church of the laity?’
New Medieval Books: Laetentur Caeli
A set of translated documents from the mid-15th century related to inter-Christian relations and attempts to bring a union between the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian churches.
New Medieval Books: Defining Nature’s Limits
Focusing on the 16th century, this book looks at how the Catholic Church tried to enforce their religious thinking when it came to science and magic in the late Middle Ages and early modern period.
New Medieval Books: Saints and Sinners on Horseback
A collection of 11 essays dealing with horses and their riders in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. They range from those animals mentioned in saints’ lives to those who were just being stolen in the English countryside.
Andrew of Fleury and the Peace League of Bourges
One of the most extraordinary episodes in the development of the Peace movement was the formation by Archbishop Aimo of Bourges of a militia, composed of both clergy and “unarmed” (that is under-class) lay people, to enforce the knights’ compliance with the oaths taken in that diocese.
