Fashion Trends from the Middle Ages
How did fashion change during the Middle Ages? Using images from medieval manuscripts, we can track some of the changes in fashion over the centuries.
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Fashion Trends from the Middle Ages
How did fashion change during the Middle Ages? Using images from medieval manuscripts, we can track some of the changes in fashion over the centuries.
Brother vs brother in 15th-century Castile: The Battle of Olmedo in 1467
During the mid-fifteenth century, the Kingdom of Castile was involved in a bloody set of three large battles to determine whether its king would prevail over the nobles in a kind of Spanish Wars of the Roses.
Did people drink water in the Middle Ages?
One of the oddest myths about the Middle Ages is that people did not drink water.
Medieval Myth-Busting at the Movies
Here are five of the most common myths about the Middle Ages, busted.
Codex Manesse added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
The Codex Manesse, created in the 14th century and known for its 134 beautiful images, has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. It’s one of 14 medieval documents that have been just added to this list of documentary heritage.
Gunpowder, Cannons, and Military History with Cliff Rogers
During the Late Middle Ages, warfare began to change with the rise of gunpowder weapons. But is every medieval gunpowder recipe actually effective? This week, Danièle speaks with Clifford J. Rogers about his gunpowder experiments at West Point Military Academy, how small variations might affect each recipe, and why a modern military academy needs a medievalist.
‘While the cat’s away, the mouse is seen scurrying about’: 25 Medieval Proverbs
Here are 25 of our favourite medieval proverbs from The Well-Laden Ship.
French king Louis IX spotlighted in the new issue of Medieval World
Issue 6 of Medieval World: Culture & Conflict looks at King Louis IX of France (r. 1226–1270) – “the most Christian king”.
Work begins to protect medieval tomb from the Deathwatch Beetle
Conservation work has begun at St Andrew’s Church, Wingfield, to protect the 600-year-old tomb of Michael and Katherine de la Pole. The medieval tomb is being attacked by the Deathwatch Beetle.
What academic tenure does for you (yes, you!), with Jacques Berlinerblau
This episode of Byzantium & Friends features a wide-ranging conversation with Jacques Berlinerblau about the changing nature of the academic profession, especially regarding the erosion of academic freedom through the expansion of contingent academic labor and direct attacks on it by the states. Is research becoming increasingly vulnerable to outside political pressures?
Stealing the King’s Crown in 1440
A servant named Helene Kottanner was tasked with stealing the crown of the King of Hungary. Helene tells us how she did it.
By God’s Bones: Medieval Swear Words
What were bad words in the Middle Ages? Cursing or swearing in medieval England was really different from today’s world.
The Last Knight: Emperor Maximilian I
Was Maximilian brilliant and innovative, or was he a schemer who put family above country, or was he a natural leader, or was he just a politician with a mixed record?
Tavern Names in Medieval London
What were the names of taverns in the Middle Ages? A list from late medieval London reveals over 50 names, which were inspired by animals, everyday objects and saints.
A Majestic May Half Term in Store at Cadw Sites Across Wales
Cadw has released its packed May half-term schedule, offering unique activities for families to enjoy and bring Welsh history to life.
Did Medieval Physicians learn new things?
Did medieval physicians try to learn about medicine and the human body? Did they try medical experiments?
Codex Sassoon sells for $38 million at auction
An 1100-year-old manuscript has sold for $38,126,000 (US), making it the most valuable medieval manuscript to be auctioned. The Codex Sassoon, which contains an almost complete version of the Hebrew Bible, was purchased by Alfred H. Moses and will be donated to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Israel.
The International Congress on Medieval Studies 2023 edition
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny from Medievalists.net about the new research they learned about at the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo.
Siege of Tournai (1340)
After his victory at the Battle of Sluys, Edward III leads a coalition of England, Flanders, Hainaut, Brabant and the Holy Roman Empire against the French city of Tournai. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries tell us about a siege involving complex alliances, starvation and the money problems of a medieval ruler.
You can now go into a part of Caernarfon Castle that has been inaccessible for centuries
Following 3 years of work, an enhancement project at the main gateway at Caernarfon Castle in Wales is complete. The £5 million project created a rooftop deck installation and new flooring in the gatehouse towers.
The Earliest Little Red Riding Hood Tale
The tale of Little Red Riding Hood has a long history to it – first printed by Charles Perrault in the late 17th century and the Brothers Grimm in the nineteenth. However, the earliest known version of the story actually dates back to the 11th century.
The 10 Strangest Nicknames of Medieval Rulers
Slobberer, Swineherd and Slitnosed – our list of the top ten oddest nicknames given to medieval rulers.
Medieval skincare routines were remarkably similar to modern versions, study finds
For centuries people have been trying to take care of their skin, making use of many different products, recipes and practices. A new study focusing on the works of the famous medieval doctor Trotula de Ruggiero reveals a skincare routine that is an “extraordinary combination of tradition and modernity.”
The Daily Life of a Medieval King
Have you wondered what a medieval king did on a typical day? Thanks to Christine de Pizan, we have an account of what daily life was like for King Charles V of France.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions
A collection of 31 essays examining the history of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, from prehistoric times to the modern day. Includes a few essays of interest to medievalists.
New Medieval Books: The Other Renaissance
New Medieval Books: Minstrels and Minstrelsy in Late Medieval England
Book of the Month: Matthew of Edessa’s Chronicle, Volume 1
New Medieval Books: Making a Medieval Stained Glass Window
New Medieval Books: Empires of the Normans
New Medieval Books: Wonders and Rarities
New Medieval Books: Merits of the Plague
New Medieval Books: Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts
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.