The Year in Review: 1014
We take a look back at the year that was – but we go back a thousand years to 1014. It was an eventful year, with the death of kings, the crowning of an emperor, two major battles and a tsunami hitting parts of Europe.
Ancient and Medieval Hoards discovered in Croatia
A demonstration of metal detecting equipment in Croatia has led to the uncovering of hoards of coins and artefacts that date back to the ancient and medieval periods.
Castle Planning in the Fourteenth Century
Although in this paper it is proposed to follow trends in domestic demands and observe their effect on the form of the castle, this aspect should not properly be treated in isolation and if little mention is made of the military element it must be remembered that this is, nevertheless, always present.
Magic in the Cloister
St. Augustine’s Abbey can be viewed as a centre of magical studies in the late Middle Ages because of the large and diverse collection of magic texts present in the library, the number of monks interested in unorthodox studies and the ways in which magic was integrated within the monastic context
Netflix’s Marco Polo – Review of Season 1
The Netflix original series Marco Polo premiered on December 12th to mostly negative reviews. Here is why you should ignore them and give it a try.
The Vikings and Genetics
What can DNA tells us about the Vikings?
In Pursuit of Aristocratic Women: A Key to Success in Norman England
Discussion of marital strategies of the aristocracy in England, 1066-1154, including recruitment through marriage, marital alliances, and political advantage.
Steamy Syrian Scandals: Matthew Paris on the Templars and Hospitallers
Matthew Paris is a major source of information on the Templars and Hospitallers. But we ask: ‘How far can this Mad Monk be trusted? Was he in the pay of the Evil Emperor?’
This Week in Medieval Manuscript Images
We begin with several images depicting the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, which took place of December 29, 1170, followed by another 30 interesting medieval manuscript images that have been tweeted out in the last seven days.
Shaping a Saint’s Identity: The Imagery of Thomas Becket in Medieval Italy
This article sets out to trace the visual responses to the sainthood of Thomas of Canterbury outside of his original cultural context, namely in Italy, where his cult was readily received, integrated and modified.
The Lion’s Roar: Anger in the Dispute between Henry II and Thomas Becket
The purpose of this paper will be to analyze representations of anger in the sources on Becket’s life and the place of anger in the dispute, and to assess what that suggests about understandings and uses of anger in twelfth-century English politics.
Flying over the Middle Ages
The growing popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles, such as quadcopters, is leading to some spectacular videos of medieval sites.
The Best of Medievalists.net for 2014
The most popular features of the year on Medievalists.net – and some of our personal favourites…
The Hundred Years War and the Making of Modern Europe
English and French nationalism were forged through centuries of bitter military rivalry that carved out a new European, and ultimately global, order.
Top 10 Medieval News Stories of 2014
This year offered medievalists many interesting stories, with scholars starting to unlock the secrets of medieval artifacts.
Common Violence: Vengeance and Inquisition in Fourteenth-Century Marseille
Medieval violence has a bad reputation.
Sweotol Tacen / A Clear Token: The Anglo-Saxon Tacen and the Medieval Donor’s Model
The Anglo-Saxon patron often commissioned images in which he or she bears a visual rendering of his or her donation.
God is Great, God is Good: Medieval Conceptions of Divine Goodness and the Problem of Hell
The medieval notions of goodness and hell seem to make God more a sadistic torturer than a caring parent.
Horticultural Landscapes in Middle English Romance
Gardens played a significant role in the lives of European peoples living in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
A Christmas Crib as a Meek Heart of the Late Mediaeval Christian
In the summer of 2013 the Rijksmuseum acquired a rare Late Gothic Christmas Crib (c. 1510-20). In the 15th century tangible aids – devotionalia – were promoted to support meditation, to accomplish as it were a link between God and the soul of the believer.
From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus
How did a 4th century bishop become the jolly man who comes down the chimney with gifts for children on Christmas?
2015 Medieval Art Calendar for Sale
Stefan Sauer is selling a calendar based on initials on Codex Gottwicensis 235, a 15th-century illustrated manuscript created by an anonymous monk from Stift Göttweig, Austria.
Bah! Humbug! Complaining about holiday gifts 1600 years ago
Christmas has long been associated with gift giving, but one suspects that Asterius of Amasea would not like seeing all those presents under the Christmas tree!
Gift Giving in the Middle Ages – new exhibition at The Getty
Just in time for the holidays, Give and Ye Shall Receive: Gift Giving in the Middle Ages, is now on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.