Nottingham’s Maze of Medieval Caves gets fully surveyed
For the first time, the entire network of 549 caves underneath Nottingham has been fully surveyed, revealing new details about what lies under the surface of the English city.
The Viking women who disappeared
Women played an important part in Viking Age society, and their role far exceeded that of mother and the ‘housewife’. Why, then, are they barely mentioned in the history books?
Plague, Settlement and Structural Change at the Dawn of the Middle Ages
The plague of Justinian definitely hit the coastal areas of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean as well as the inland areas connected with the sea
Christianisation of the Piast Monarchy in the 10th and 11th Centuries
Which facts testify to the beginning of the Christianisation process of a given country and which ones indicate its conclusion?
Caliburn: Merlin’s Tale
The best way to describe Virgil Renzulli’s Caliburn: Merlin’s Tale is as a King Arthur origin story, set in an alternate universe.
Did Richard III keep his scoliosis a secret?
No mention of Richard’s distinctive physique survives from during his lifetime, perhaps out of respect to a reigning monarch, or perhaps because he hid it so well.
Tabula Gratulatoria for Clerics, Kings and Vikings
Four Courts Press invite you to subscribe to the Tabula Gratulatoria for Clerics, Kings and Vikings, a collection of essays on medieval Ireland in honour of Donnchadh Ó Corráin,
Magna Carta: The Road to Runnymede
A look at the creation of the British Library’s Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy exhibition.
Mathematical games in Europe around the year 1000
This paper addresses the question: which board games could Gerbert have played? There are also astronomical games.
Joan of Arc Museum opens in France
Those interested in the story of Joan of Arc have a new destination – Rouen, where the Joan of Arc History Centre opened last month, making use of a 15th century Archbishop’s palace that played a role in history of the Maid of Orléans.
Ten Thoughts on Game of Thrones: The Wars to Come
Some semi-random observations on Season 5 Episode 1: The Wars to Come
Review of Wolf Hall, Episode 2: Entirely Beloved
I will try to unravel some of the complexities of the relationships in the court of Henry VIII, which are shown on Wolf Hall without much effort to explain. While such a sophisticated script yields rich rewards, it assumes a certain working knowledge of 16th century power players.
Guide to New Characters for Season 5 of Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones has a very large cast, and in Season 5 there are several new additions. We put together a short guide to who is coming to the series in the next few episodes
Beef and Pork in the Middle Ages
Learn 10 things about the history of beef and pork in the Middle Ages
Books of Art: 20 Medieval and Renaissance Women Reading
Here are 20 works of art of women and their books
Trial by Battle in France and England
This dissertation surveys the history of trial by battle in the French-speaking regions of the European continent and England, concentrating on the period between roughly 1050 and 1350 when it was most practiced.
The Sumptuous Use of Food at Castle Marienburg (Malbork) at the Start of the Fifteenth Century
The prestige role of luxury food consumption was particularly visible during meetings of an international character: Teutonic-Lithuanian, Teutonic-Polish or Teutonic-Polish-Lithuanian, to which the grand master would come accompanied by the highest Order’s officials.
How to Create a Legend? An Analysis of Constructed Representations of Ono no Komachi in Japanese Medieval Literature
Although the historical figure known to us as Ono no Komachi (ca. 825–ca. 900) is considered to have been a famous and talented female court poet of the Heian Period in Japan, not much is known about her actual life.
How Long Would You Survive In Game of Thrones?
Ever imagine yourself in Westeros or Essos? Find out your chances here!
Crusading Warfare, Chivalry, and the Enslavement of Women and Children
The subject of the treatment of prisoners taken in crusading warfare, long neglected, has attracted considerable interest in the last fifteen years, but more can still be said, particularly on the ways in which crusaders dealt with their enemies’ women and children, the archetypal non-combatants.
Law in the Lives of Medieval Women: Beyond the Magna Carta
Ruth Mazo Karras discussed, through an analysis of the lives of three women, the way law affected (or not) women at different levels of society in medieval England.
A Study Retreat for Medievalists
Traces of Alchemy in the Literature of the High Middle Ages: An Informal Study Retreat on the eastern Maine Coast, on May 22–25, 2015
Shining Light on Medieval Illuminations: Pigments through the Ages
Identifying the materials used in medieval illuminated manuscripts gives us an insight into the techniques and skills of the scribes and illuminators, as well as the sometimes complex trade routes of the times.
What is Your Favourite Scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail?
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, here are some of the best scenes from the film. Vote for the one that is your favourite!
Five Great Ladies Who Refused to Be Quiet
In the Middle Ages, the ideal woman was meant to be either a helpmeet in marriage, or a cloistered nun, obedience being paramount in both roles. Human nature being what it is, however, not every woman found it easy to fill one of those narrow roles in society. Although my list could be much, much longer, here are five great women who refused to sit down and be quiet.