The Power of Medieval States – A Report from 1423
What was the wealth and military power of states in the Middle Ages? It is a question that the Venetian government tried to figure ou
Latest Posts
Inks and Skins: Investigations into the Materiality of the late-medieval Gaelic Manuscript
A series of papers dealing with medieval manuscripts from Ireland.
The Power of Medieval States – A Report from 1423
What was the wealth and military power of states in the Middle Ages? It is a question that the Venetian government tried to figure ou
How Medieval Kings Paid for War
In 1242 Henry III of England raised a large army to protect his lands in France. It cost £40,000, roughly the same as the normal annual income of the crown. So how could such a sum be met?
Did Women defend Castles?
It is the seventh Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, with Michael and Kelly answering listener questions. Here they talk about the women defending castles, the Italian banks supporting Edward III, mustering troops from specific regions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and where were the windmills in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: City of Echoes
This book intertwines the history of Rome and the history of the Papacy, to show how each influenced the other and the legacy they created together.
New Medieval Exhibition at Dutch museum to focus on the year 1000
This month, the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden) is going back in time over a thousand years with the exhibition ‘The Year 1000’. Over 400 items from the Netherlands and beyond will be on display.
From Bread to Mechanical Women: 10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What is new in medieval studies? Here are ten articles published in September, which tell us about topics including riddles, droughts, gunshot wounds and more.
Book of the Month: Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain
Examines the Knights Templar and their activities in the British Isles. The military order was an important player in the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries, but their role in England, Scotland and Ireland is a story of politics, fundraising and managing an international organization.
Project maps murder cases in medieval London, Oxford and York
A project mapping medieval England’s known murder cases has now added Oxford and York to its street plan of London’s 14th-century homicides, and found that Oxford’s student population was by far the most lethally violent of all social or professional groups in any of the three cities.
Jobs on a Medieval Manor
A medieval nobleperson needed employees to run their manor. Who were these people and what jobs did they do?
New Medieval Books: Registrum Coquine: A Medieval Cookbook
A collection of over 80 recipes written in the first half of the 15th century, by a cook who worked in the service of Pope Martin V (1417-31).
Two arrested for cutting down historic tree at Hadrian’s Wall
Two males have been arrested after the Sycamore Gap Tree was cut down earlier this week. The famous tree located on Hadrian’s Wall in northern England was viewed as an iconic landmark.
Traffic Problems in the Medieval City
The medieval city was seen as a crowded, bustling place, with people, horses, carts and wagons all moving around. Just as in our modern city, this would all lead to inevitable traffic problems.
61 Medieval Manuscripts digitized and available online
One of the largest databases of medieval manuscripts has added 61 new items to its collection. They include manuscripts from the Franciscan order as well as fragments dating back to the eighth century.
Leading the Rebellion with Jason Kingsley
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with CEO and YouTube sensation Jason Kingsley about living a chivalrous life in the modern world.
16th-century Bathhouse restored as a museum in Istanbul
After twelve years of meticulous renovation work, the Zeyrek Çinili Hamam in Istanbul is now reopening to the public. While much of the site will now be a museum, visitors to the hamam will be able to enjoy steam baths beginning next year.
The Vegetable Saint
My talk today explores the relationship between the True Cross, its legendary history and the category of miraculous carved crucifixes made from trees growing in a German countryside in the 14th century.
New open-access journal for medieval studies
The inaugural issue of Eventum: A Journal of Medieval Arts and Rituals has been released. Based out of the Centre for Medieval Arts and Rituals (CeMAR) of the University of Cyprus it will be an open-access journal. pilgri
The Battle of Aljubarrota (1385)
Castile goes to war against Portugal, hoping to take over this kingdom. The English and the French even take sides in this conflict, which culminates at Aljubarrota. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the battle, where we have a lot of good sources and brilliant military tactics.
Templars in Ireland: Colonialism and Conquest?
The Templar presence in Ireland was far less nationalistic than has often been supposed – the international order had its own unique agenda.
Nine medieval sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List
UNESCO has added 42 new places to its list of World Heritage sites during meetings held this month in Saudi Arabia. Among them are nine sites with deep connections to the Middle Ages, including Viking-age ring fortresses and a sacred city that was built in Cambodia in the 10th century.
Rare medieval octagonal tower discovered at German castle
Archaeologists working at Neuenburg Castle in central Germany have discovered the remains of one of the original towers that protected the main entrance to the fortress. They were surprised that the tower, which was built around the year 1100, was octagonal in shape.
A Medieval Duel: Guy of Steenvoorde vs Iron Herman
“Iron Herman fell prostrate to the ground, and Guy threw himself on top of him, pounding the knight’s mouth and eyes with his iron gauntlets.”
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: City of Echoes
This book intertwines the history of Rome and the history of the Papacy, to show how each influenced the other and the legacy they created together.
Book of the Month: Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain
New Medieval Books: Registrum Coquine: A Medieval Cookbook
New Medieval Books: The Hot Trod: A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border
New Medieval Books: A Cultural History of the Medieval Sword
New Medieval Books: Crusades and Violence
New Medieval Books: Byzantine Cavalryman vs Vandal Warrior
Book of the Month: Sebeos’ History, Volume 2
Tale of 14th-century Killer Monk uncovered by historian
Places to SeeAll posts
Örebro Castle: History, Secrets, and Romance
For anyone who visits Örebro, it is hard to miss its castle – an ancient-looking fortress made of weathered grey stones that stands on an islet in the middle of the city centre.
The Vasa: Gustav II Adolf’s Glorious and Doomed Warship
On the 10th of August 1628, the Vasa sank in Stockholm harbour, thus ending the career of the most powerful warship that Sweden had ever seen.
Uppsala Slott: 5 Things You Ought to Know About One of Sweden’s Greatest Castles
This strategic location not only makes the castle a majestic sight, but also earns it the reputation as the most modern defence fortress in its time. But, as all ancient buildings, there is always more than meets the eye. Here are the five things that you may not know about Uppsala Castle.
Making Your Mark: Medieval Masons’ Marks at Tarascon
How do you operate a business when you can’t read and your knowledge of math is extremely limited? Making your mark on the…
The Weird, the Wonderful, and the Macabre in the Cathedral of Narbonne
Narbonne is one of those European cities with evidence of its past on every street.
Medieval English Embroidery on Display for the Last Time at the V&A’s Opus Anglicanum Exhibit
The V&A Museum opened its latest medieval exhibit exhibit on Saturday: Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery. I had the opportunity to see it opening day and it was spectacular.