A Viking Assembly site or ‘Thing’ has been discovered in the heart of England’s Sherwood Forest.
The career of Roger Mortimer, first earl of March (c.1287-1330)
June 7, 2017 by
A straightforward analysis of his regime is accompanied by a demonstration that, even though the court dictated political life, Roger Mortimer was able to extend his influence across the British Isles and pose a serious threat to the kingship of Edward III.
Ruined medieval castle for sale in England
June 4, 2017 by
The beautiful ruins of a 14th century castle in northern England have gone up for sale.
10 Medieval Royal Parents Whose Decisions Influence the Lives of Royal Children Today
June 3, 2017 by
From royal baby names to marrying for love – how five medieval English couples influence the lives of royal children today.
Clothes Make the (Wo)Man: Interpreting Evidence of the Secondhand Clothing Trade in Late Medieval England
May 22, 2017 by
There is very little work done on the topic of secondhand clothing in the Middle Ages, but what has been done has revealed a new phenomenon that reshaped the social structure of medieval England.
The Prior, the Prioress, and the Kidnappers
May 18, 2017 by
Monks were deserting their pastoral posts and in some cases their vows altogether; nuns were having covert affairs with local men and—worse—getting caught.
Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Queen and A Mother
May 18, 2017 by
The mere mention of Eleanor of Aquitaine brings to mind an remarkable woman in many respects.
Common Rights and Natural Resources: The 1217 Charter of the Forest in Historical Perspective
May 9, 2017 by
It is the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest in 1217.
Letters from the Otherworld: Arthur and Henry II in Stephen of Rouen’s Draco Normannicus
May 3, 2017 by
The poem Draco Normannicus includes a correspondence between King Arthur, now ruler of the Antipodes, and Henry II.
Medieval priest buried 700 years ago may have been a victim of the Great Famine, archaeologists report
April 19, 2017 by
The remains of Richard de W’Peton, a medieval priest who died 700 years ago – on 17 April 1317 – have been uncovered in an elaborate grave.
Kingmakers: How Power in England Was Won and Lost on the Welsh Frontier
March 8, 2017 by
Timothy Venning explores their mentality and reveals the dramatic careers both of those who prospered from their loyalty to the king and those whose power was gained by treachery – from the Norman Conquest to the beginnings of the Tudor dynasty.
Spousal Abuse in Fourteenth-Century Yorkshire
March 5, 2017 by
One area which historians of marriage have chosen to focus on in particular as a measure of love within marriage is spousal abuse. Two approaches have been employed in this respect.
The Role Of Ritual And Ceremonial In The Reign Of Edward I
December 29, 2016 by
The following paper will explore occasions of ceremony and ritual linked to King Edward I as an arbiter of royal power, as well as consider the means by which he utilized the influence of his position and the majesty of the monarchy to affirm and reinforce his extensive authority.
Ye Olde Pub: A Social and Cultural History of England’s Early Drinking Houses
December 16, 2016 by
This talk will guide us through the vibrant social lives of England’s historic watering holes c. 1400-1800.
What Happened to the Grandsons and Great-grandsons of the House of York?
November 18, 2016 by
The Tudors, according to Tudor propaganda, brought an end to 30 years of civil war between the Houses of York and Lancaster, merging the two families through Henry VII’s marriage to Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter of the Yorkist King Edward IV, the son of Duke Richard.
A Revolutionary Reform: How William the Conqueror Conquered the Church
October 16, 2016 by
The aspect of William’s rule that this work is primarily focused on is his effect on the church. The changes to the church in England can only be described as revolutionary.
The Fortunes of a King: Images of Edward the Confessor in 12th to 14th Century England
September 28, 2016 by
This thesis is an iconographic study of Saint-King Edward the Confessor. It focuses on the political and devotional functions of his images in twelfth to fourteenth century England.
The Lancastrian Retreat from Populist Discourse? Propaganda Conflicts in the Wars of the Roses
September 4, 2016 by
This article explores an aspect of the propaganda wars that were conducted between the Lancastrian and Yorkist sides during the series of conflicts historians refer to as the Wars of the Roses.
BOOK REVIEW: Medieval Medicine: Its Mysteries and Science by Toni Mount
May 3, 2016 by
Our review of Toni Mount’s fascinating look at medicine in the Middle Ages in – Medieval Medicine: Its Mysteries and Science by Toni Mount.
The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth of York, the First Tudor Queen of England
March 15, 2016 by
Elizabeth of York, Queen to King Henry VII of England, died in the Tower of London on February 11, 1503. She had given birth to a daughter Katherine on February 2 and never recovered. The death was a shock to her husband, her children and to the nation.
The Law of Treason in the English Border Counties in the Later Middle Ages
January 26, 2016 by
The formulation of a general and comprehensive law of treason by the English government in the mid-fourteenth century allowed northerners to impose harsh penalties on those who offended them most grievously.
The First Manuals of English History: Two Late Thirteenth-Century Genealogical Rolls of the Kings of England in the Royal Collection
January 17, 2016 by
The reign of Edward I (1272-1307) witnessed the creation of numerous genealogical rolls of the kings of England from Egbert to the reigning king,
The Infamous Military Campaign of 1379
January 17, 2016 by
The destruction of an English fleet led by Sir John Arundel in 1379 is reported by most chroniclers to be an unfortunate accident. However, if you read what Thomas Walsingham has to say about what happened, you get a far more horrific version of events.
Epiphany: Three Kings Day
January 6, 2016 by
A look at the history behind Epiphany and Twelfth Night.
Medieval Hangover Cures
January 1, 2016 by
Here are a few hangover cures from days gone by, because people who partied like it was 1399 also needed a little help the morning after.
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