This paper argues that crusader mobilization had important implications for European state formation.
The Impact of Holy Land Crusades on State Formation: War Mobilization, Trade Integration and Political Development in Medieval Europe
December 5, 2015 By
Europe’s Many Worlds and Their Global Interconnections
December 4, 2015 By
First, I will discuss the three Europes of the Middle Ages: the tri-continental Mediterranean-centred World, the Northern World originating in Scandinavia, and the intermediate Europe north of the Alpine mountains and south of the Baltic Sea.
Power and Politics at the time of King Harald Bluetooth, Denmark
December 3, 2015 By
He was the Harald that won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made pagans Christian, and that is fairly easy to read, but what did he exactly say? What does it meant when he says he won for himself all of Denmark?
The Two Wives of Robert II, King of Scotland
November 28, 2015 By
Robert II, King of Scots and grandson of Robert the Bruce was a handsome, charming man who had many descendants. He not only had two wives who had numerous children but many mistresses who had babies as well.
Czechs and Poles in the Middle Ages: Rivalry, Cooperation and Alliances
October 22, 2015 By
The article contains a description of the development of Czech-Polish relations in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Lisbon: Castelo de São Jorge
October 10, 2015 By
Above Lisbon’s skyline of colourful tiled houses and red roofs lies Castelo de São Jorge, a dominating, but beautiful, 11th century fortress in the heart of this vibrant city…
Medieval Queens and Queenship: the Present Status of Research in Income and Power
August 29, 2015 By
This paper presents some thoughts and conclusions on the state of a multidisciplinary field of Medieval Studies, queens and queenship, concentrating mainly on issues of income and power.
Machiavelli and Botticelli Movies to Hit the Screen in 2016
August 29, 2015 By
Machiavelli and Botticelli are set to hit screens in 2016. We sat down to chat with Italian director, Lorenzo Raveggi about his two ambitious projects.
Between Subjects and Citizens: the Commons of England, c. 1300-1550
August 17, 2015 By
The political, social and cultural conditions of later medieval England fostered a situation in which ordinary people could have remarkable political agency.
Medieval Empires
August 2, 2015 By
Throughout the medieval era, many multi-ethnic states emerged – some lasting for just a generation, while others would endure for centuries. Here is our list of twenty empires from the Middle Ages, starting with the most successful.
The First Great Divergence?
July 18, 2015 By
The ‘Papal Revolution’ in late eleventh and early twelfth century western Europe and the unsuccessful campaign by Wang An Shi and his followers to reform the imperial administration of Song China at just the same time are regarded as critical turning points in their respective histories.
Barbarian envoys at Byzantium in the 6th century
July 14, 2015 By
We intend to focus on the possibility of deciphering a barbaric point of view regarding the relations with the Byzantine Empire, at the beginning of the Middle Ages, when the narrative sources that are available to us have a Byzantine origin, or, when referring to barbarian kingdoms in the West, they are profoundly influenced by Roman and Roman-Byzantine traditions.
Eadgifu, Anglo-Saxon Queen
July 4, 2015 By
What little historical records we have pertaining to Queen Eadgifu tell us she exercised considerable power.
Richard Duke of Gloucester as Lord Protector and High Constable of England
June 24, 2015 By
During Richard’s protectorate he was responsible, as far as we know, for four executions for treason
The Thirteenth Century International System and the Origins of the Angevin-Piast Alliance
June 18, 2015 By
The central question of this study is what inspired Charles I and Władysław Łokietek to establish a dynastic marriage in 1320 and in what context it happened.
Henry III and Magna Carta 1225
June 16, 2015 By
Now at the end of 1215 you would have thought this charter was a failure, without a future. Why is that?
Game of Thrones – East and West, Constantinople and Rome, Emperor and Bishop
June 12, 2015 By
The following is a tale of the struggle between the Emperors of Constantinople and the the Bishops of Rome
Chronicles and Politics in the Reign of Edward II
June 10, 2015 By
Historians have tended to give more weight to sources such as governmental and legal records than to chronicles, not least because so many survive. They open up areas of history impossible to access through chronicles alone, and they also provide a much more precise and detailed political narrative.
Foundation Myths in Medieval and Renaissance Italy
June 10, 2015 By
The 3 papers featured here looked at the development of the civic identities of Florence, Genoa and Rome through art, architecture and foundation legends.
Dynastic Politics: Five Women of the Howard Family During the Reign of Henry VIII, 1509-1547
June 4, 2015 By
The Howards were the most important noble dynasty of Henry VIII’s reign. Tudor political history cannot be written without them; they lived their lives at its core, in the shadow of the Crown.
Quiz: Politics and the State in the Renaissance, 1450-1521
May 30, 2015 By
This quiz tests your knowledge of the Italian city-states during the Renaissance.
Cynethryth, Queen of the Mercians
May 28, 2015 By
Cynethryth and Offa were the ultimate power couple in eighth century England.
Two hegemonies, one island: Cyprus as a ‘Middle Ground’ between the Byzantines and the Arabs (650-850 A.D.)
May 20, 2015 By
This paper aims to assess the political and cultural status of the island of Cyprus as the only place within the Mediterranean where Christian heirs of Romans and Muslims shared the local tax revenue to create a buffer zone between two empires.
KZOO 2015: Session #42 – Magna Carta in Context
May 18, 2015 By
This coming week I’ll be featuring summaries on some of my favourites sessions and papers from #KZOO2015. I kicked off my first session on Thursday with the Magna Carta.
Cnut: England’s Danish King
May 4, 2015 By
There is very little historic information on King Cnut even though he was the most powerful king in northern Europe in the early eleventh century.
How you can Follow Us!