From popes and emperors to warriors and theologians, the final words of medieval figures offer rare and revealing glimpses into their character, beliefs, and fears. Whether spoken in agony, defiance, or piety, these farewell utterances illuminate the values and anxieties of the Middle Ages.
Royal Farewells and Papal Reflections
Some monarchs and church leaders met death with memorable words—sharp, resigned, or surreal.
William II of England (d. 1100), had gone hunting with Walter Tirel and was shouting at him to loose an arrow at a deer: “Shoot, you devil! Shoot, in the devil’s name!” The arrow missed, then ricocheted and hit the king in the heart.
Pope Pius II (d. 1464) reflected bitterly on courtly life even as he lay dying: “One of the miseries of princes is to have flatterers even around their deathbed.”
Lorenzo de Medici (d.1492) responds when his sister tells him how serious his illness is: “If it is God’s will, nothing can be more pleasant to me than death.”
Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) (d. 1503), dying after a mysterious illness, hallucinated vividly that an ape was running around his room: “Let it alone, for it is the devil! … I am coming. I am coming. It is just. But wait a little.”
Pope Gregory VII (d.1085), often at war with the Holy Roman Empire, had been exiled from Rome and was living in Salerno: “I have loved justice and hated iniquity. Therefore I die in exile.”
Henry II, King of England (d.1189) learns that John, his favourite son, had joined the rebellion against him: “Let the rest go as it will. Now I care not what becomes of me. Shame, shame on a conquered king!”
Pope Urban V (d.1370) talks to his aides in the Papal palace: “Leave the doors open, so that everyone may enter and see how a pope dies.”
Artists: Facing the Final Canvas
These two Renaissance artists had very different last words.
Perugino (d.1523), an Italian Renaissance painter, on refusing to see a priest and making a final confession. “I am curious to see what happens in the next world to one who dies unshriven.”
Leonardo da Vinci (d.1519) was one of the great artists in history. However, when speaking to King Francis I during his final illness, Leonardo clearly did not hold himself in high esteem: “I have offended God and mankind in not having laboured at my art as I ought to have done.”
Saints, Scholars, and the Afterlife
Medieval thinkers and holy men often approached death with theological contemplation.
Berengar of Tours, theologian (d.1088) speaks while his writings had been condemned by the Pope for being heretical: “Today, on the day of His Epiphany, my Lord Jesus Christ will appear to me, either for glory, as I in my repentance, should like, and as I hope, or for condemnation, as others would like, and as I fear.”
St. Francis of Assisi (d.1226) said this to his fellow friars: “When you see that I am brought to my last moments, place me naked on the ground, just as you saw me the day before yesterday, and let me lie there, after I am dead, for the length of time it takes to walk one mile unhurriedly.” His brothers then laid him on the ground and he spent his last few moments in contemplation.
John the Almsgiver (d.619) as the Patriarch of Alexandria was known for his charity: “I always wanted to possess, at death, nothing but a bedsheet. And now this sheet can be given to the poor!”
Noblewomen and Holy Women
Though fewer are recorded, the final words of medieval women—queens and mystics—often reflect deep faith, but sometimes bitterness.
Elizabeth of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (d.1336), known for her piety, said this to her attendants: “Draw up a chair for the radiant lady in white who is coming! … O Mary, Mother of Grace!”
Margaret of Scotland (d.1445) was 20 when she died, after being rejected by her husband, Louis XI of France, for failing to produce children. Her last words were: “Fie on the life of this world! Do not speak to me more about it.”
Bridget of Sweden (d.1373), the mystic and saint, said “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Warriors at the End
Those who lived by the sword often died with words of duty or defiance.
Edward I, King of England (d.1307) died just before his army is about to invade Scotland: “Wrap my bones in a hammock and have them carried before the army, so that I may still lead the way to victory.”
Constantine XI, last emperor of Byzantium, met the Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453 with these words: “So there is no Christian who wishes to free me from this life?”
Bertrand du Guesclin (d. 1380), the French military commander, gave a final command before dying: “Remember that your business is only with those who carry arms. The churchmen, the poor, the women and children are not your enemies…I commend to the king my wife…my brother…Farewell, I am at an end.”
William Marshal (d.1219) was a famous English knight. He said this to his family and supporters: “I am dying. I commend you to God. I can no longer be with you. I cannot defend myself against death.”
Jan Zizka (d.1424), the Czech military leader, said this to his troops: “Make my skin into drum-heads for the Bohemian cause.”
In Njal’s Saga, Thorgrim the Easterling and others go to attack Gunnar Hámundarson at his home. Thorgrim goes up on the roof, but Gunnar stabs him with a weapon. After Thorgrim comes down, the others ask, “Well, is Gunnar at home?” Thorgrim responds, “Find that out for yourselves, but I’ve found out one thing – that his halberd’s at home.” He then fell down dead.
From popes and emperors to warriors and theologians, the final words of medieval figures offer rare and revealing glimpses into their character, beliefs, and fears. Whether spoken in agony, defiance, or piety, these farewell utterances illuminate the values and anxieties of the Middle Ages.
Royal Farewells and Papal Reflections
Some monarchs and church leaders met death with memorable words—sharp, resigned, or surreal.
William II of England (d. 1100), had gone hunting with Walter Tirel and was shouting at him to loose an arrow at a deer: “Shoot, you devil! Shoot, in the devil’s name!” The arrow missed, then ricocheted and hit the king in the heart.
Pope Pius II (d. 1464) reflected bitterly on courtly life even as he lay dying:
“One of the miseries of princes is to have flatterers even around their deathbed.”
Lorenzo de Medici (d.1492) responds when his sister tells him how serious his illness is: “If it is God’s will, nothing can be more pleasant to me than death.”
Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) (d. 1503), dying after a mysterious illness, hallucinated vividly that an ape was running around his room: “Let it alone, for it is the devil! … I am coming. I am coming. It is just. But wait a little.”
Pope Gregory VII (d.1085), often at war with the Holy Roman Empire, had been exiled from Rome and was living in Salerno: “I have loved justice and hated iniquity. Therefore I die in exile.”
Henry II, King of England (d.1189) learns that John, his favourite son, had joined the rebellion against him: “Let the rest go as it will. Now I care not what becomes of me. Shame, shame on a conquered king!”
Pope Urban V (d.1370) talks to his aides in the Papal palace: “Leave the doors open, so that everyone may enter and see how a pope dies.”
Artists: Facing the Final Canvas
These two Renaissance artists had very different last words.
Perugino (d.1523), an Italian Renaissance painter, on refusing to see a priest and making a final confession. “I am curious to see what happens in the next world to one who dies unshriven.”
Leonardo da Vinci (d.1519) was one of the great artists in history. However, when speaking to King Francis I during his final illness, Leonardo clearly did not hold himself in high esteem: “I have offended God and mankind in not having laboured at my art as I ought to have done.”
Saints, Scholars, and the Afterlife
Medieval thinkers and holy men often approached death with theological contemplation.
Berengar of Tours, theologian (d.1088) speaks while his writings had been condemned by the Pope for being heretical: “Today, on the day of His Epiphany, my Lord Jesus Christ will appear to me, either for glory, as I in my repentance, should like, and as I hope, or for condemnation, as others would like, and as I fear.”
St. Francis of Assisi (d.1226) said this to his fellow friars: “When you see that I am brought to my last moments, place me naked on the ground, just as you saw me the day before yesterday, and let me lie there, after I am dead, for the length of time it takes to walk one mile unhurriedly.” His brothers then laid him on the ground and he spent his last few moments in contemplation.
John the Almsgiver (d.619) as the Patriarch of Alexandria was known for his charity: “I always wanted to possess, at death, nothing but a bedsheet. And now this sheet can be given to the poor!”
Noblewomen and Holy Women
Though fewer are recorded, the final words of medieval women—queens and mystics—often reflect deep faith, but sometimes bitterness.
Elizabeth of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (d.1336), known for her piety, said this to her attendants: “Draw up a chair for the radiant lady in white who is coming! … O Mary, Mother of Grace!”
Margaret of Scotland (d.1445) was 20 when she died, after being rejected by her husband, Louis XI of France, for failing to produce children. Her last words were: “Fie on the life of this world! Do not speak to me more about it.”
Bridget of Sweden (d.1373), the mystic and saint, said “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Warriors at the End
Those who lived by the sword often died with words of duty or defiance.
Edward I, King of England (d.1307) died just before his army is about to invade Scotland: “Wrap my bones in a hammock and have them carried before the army, so that I may still lead the way to victory.”
Constantine XI, last emperor of Byzantium, met the Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453 with these words: “So there is no Christian who wishes to free me from this life?”
Bertrand du Guesclin (d. 1380), the French military commander, gave a final command before dying: “Remember that your business is only with those who carry arms. The churchmen, the poor, the women and children are not your enemies…I commend to the king my wife…my brother…Farewell, I am at an end.”
William Marshal (d.1219) was a famous English knight. He said this to his family and supporters: “I am dying. I commend you to God. I can no longer be with you. I cannot defend myself against death.”
Jan Zizka (d.1424), the Czech military leader, said this to his troops: “Make my skin into drum-heads for the Bohemian cause.”
In Njal’s Saga, Thorgrim the Easterling and others go to attack Gunnar Hámundarson at his home. Thorgrim goes up on the roof, but Gunnar stabs him with a weapon. After Thorgrim comes down, the others ask, “Well, is Gunnar at home?” Thorgrim responds, “Find that out for yourselves, but I’ve found out one thing – that his halberd’s at home.” He then fell down dead.
You can find more of these final words from the book Last Words: A Dictionary of Deathbed Quotations, by C. Bernard Ruffin.
Top Image: William II’s death depicted in 1868 – Wikimedia Commons
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