In this chapter, I trace the contours of the specific types of violent religious conflict always immanent within the historical structure of medieval war.
Halt! Who Comes There?: Locking Up Tower of London – The Ceremony of the Keys
March 6, 2015 By
A review of the Tower of London’s medieval Ceremony of the Keys!
The Papacy and Christian Mercenaries of Thirteenth-Century North Africa
March 3, 2015 By
Could one be a good mercenary and a good Christian at the same time?
Top 10 Strange Weapons of the Middle Ages
February 26, 2015 By
What were some of the more unusual weapons used by medieval armies? We put together a list of the strangest weapons that were ever used (or even designed) in the Middle Ages.
The First Arab Siege of Constantinople
February 21, 2015 By
The details of the siege remain, however, shrouded in mystery: its exact dates (670–7 or 674–8?) and length (4 or 7 years?) are a matter of controversy; it is disputed whether the Arabs subjected Constantinople to a regular siege or only to a naval blockade; and the overall logic of events is far from clear.
Cannonball from Wars of the Roses battle discovered
February 18, 2015 By
A lead ball, believed to be the oldest cannonball ever found in England, has been discovered on the site of the Battle of Northampton.
The Pre-History of Gunpowder
February 15, 2015 By
There is a Chinese tradition that a cook carrying a bowl of saltpetre slipped and dropped it onto a charcoal fire. That would certainly create a considerable conflagration but, as the ingredients were not mixed, hardly an explosion.
Mons Meg removed from Edinburgh Castle for conservation work
February 11, 2015 By
Mons Meg, one of the most famous weapons of the Middle Ages, was removed from Edinburgh Castle last month for specialist restoration and conservation work.
Saltpetre in medieval gunpowder: Calcium or Potassium Nitrate?
February 4, 2015 By
Until recently, it has been accepted that the formulation of gunpowder has always been based on variable mixtures of charcoal, sulphur and potassium nitrate. This has recently been challenged.
Which Epic Battle Would You Have Fought In?
February 3, 2015 By
Cannae, Hastings or Waterloo – some of the great battles of history. After answering these five questions, you will learn what would have been your fight.
Owain Glyndwr and the siege of Coity Castle, 1404-1405
February 2, 2015 By
The siege of Coity was indeed significant for its length and its importance, and it was indeed historic, because it is the most famous event associated with the castle in the entire 900 years of its existence. Yet we know very little about the siege and the circumstances surrounding it, even though it lasted for a good part of two years
Booty in Border Warfare
January 31, 2015 By
Nothing is more revealing in this universal itch to ravage and to spoil than the traces we find in the sources of rules for the sharing of the plunder.
Which Deadly Warrior Are You?
January 31, 2015 By
Throughout the ages, civilizations have risen and fallen on the backs of elite fighters. Which legendary sect do you belong to?
War on the Waterways: Maritime Conflict in the Viking Age in the North Sea Region
January 30, 2015 By
The ubiquitous Viking warship is perhaps the most high-profile symbol of early medieval Scandinavians.
Through Trial and Error: Learning and Adaptation in the English Tactical System from Bannockburn to Poitiers
January 28, 2015 By
During the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century, the English in medieval Europe fought in two wars: the Scottish Wars of Independence followed by the Hundred Years War.
Medieval Warfare Magazine – Volume V Issue 1
January 28, 2015 By
The latest issue of Medieval Warfare Magazine explores Traitors in the Middle Ages.
Amazing archery shots based on historical research
January 26, 2015 By
By making use of ancient and medieval sources, Lars Andersen is revealing techniques lost for centuries and showing off some incredible archery shots.
The Impalings of Vlad the Impaler
January 11, 2015 By
One of the most infamous chararacters from the Middle Ages was Vlad III Dracula, the prince of Wallachia. Here is the story of how he gained the name of ‘the Impaler’.
Medieval Rules for Jousting
January 7, 2015 By
Here is a set of rules for jousting created by Alfonso XI, King of Castile, in 1330.
Surrender in Medieval Europe – An Indirect Approach
January 6, 2015 By
Some of the most fundamental developments in the history of war in this part of the world took place towards the end of these seven centuries: the discontinuance of the ancient practice of enslaving prisoners, the emergence of an effective notion of non-combatant status and the growth of the practice of ransom – all developments relevant to the still unwritten history of surrender.
Vital Factors in the Success of the Vikings
January 5, 2015 By
Viking raids in Western Europe met with an easy success which is rather astonishing.
The Ultimate Military Entrepreneur
January 1, 2015 By
With profit his only aim, Count Albrecht von Wallenstein successfully combined the profession of business and the art of war during the early seventeenth century.
War-Winning Weapons? On the Decisiveness of Ottoman Firearms from the Siege of Constantinople (1453) to the Battle of Mohács (1526)
December 22, 2014 By
How important a role did gunpowder weapons play in these Ottoman victories? The following re-examination of selected sieges and battles attempts to answer this question.
London at War: The City of London’s Involvement in Warfare from 1330-1400
December 19, 2014 By
This dissertation will discuss this military organisation, firstly in respect to the troops London was required to raise, how many, and where these men were sent.
‘In the hilt is fame’: resonances of medieval swords and sword-lore in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
December 17, 2014 By
This paper seeks to illuminate resonances of medieval swords and sword-lore in Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, where swords and the lore associated with them play important, if largely neglected, roles.
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