Hunting was more than a pastime for medieval kings—it was a dangerous display of power, skill, and status. Yet for some rulers, the hunt ended not in triumph but in death.
By Lorris Chevalier
Today, we imagine hunting as a relatively straightforward pastime, aided by firearms – a matter of waiting patiently for the quarry to appear. In the Middle Ages, however, hunting and particularly venery was a far more demanding affair. It was a pursuit reserved for the highest ranks of society, costly in both resources and labour. Horses, hounds, hawks, and the full retinue of huntsmen and attendants required vast upkeep.
Though not strictly a military exercise, venery honed skills that were invaluable to the knightly class: horsemanship, weapon handling, stamina, and coordination. Hounds might pursue their quarry for hours before the “serving” – the moment when the animal, exhausted and cornered, was finally killed, often in a ceremonial manner at the curée.
Yet the chase was fraught with danger. The forest was unpredictable, the animals formidable, the terrain treacherous, and the presence of armed men and galloping horses could turn deadly in an instant. As history records, not even kings were safe from the perils of the hunt.
Dagobert II of Austrasia — c. 679
Carving depicting the death of Dagobert from the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Dagobert in Stenay – Wikimedia Commons
Officially killed during a hunt, Dagobert’s death was long suspected to have been an assassination masked as an accident. It occurred in a period of intense political instability in the Frankish realms.
Aistulf, King of the Lombards — 756
Aistulf died in a hunting accident near Pavia. Contemporary sources leave open the possibility that his death was not entirely accidental, reflecting the intrigue-ridden politics of early medieval Italy.
Basil I, Byzantine Emperor — 29 August 886
Basil I depicted in the Madrid Skylitzes
The founder of the Macedonian dynasty met an extraordinary end: his belt became entangled in the antlers of a stag. Dragged over a long distance, he suffered fatal injuries.
Richard of Normandy — c. 1070
Elder brother of William Rufus, successor to William the Conqueror, Richard was gored by a stag during a hunt in the New Forest – a place that would soon gain a grim reputation in royal history.
William II of England (William Rufus) — 2 August 1100
Death of William Rufus, lithograph by Alphonse de Neuville, 1895
While hunting in the New Forest, the king was struck in the chest by an arrow fired by Sir Walter Tirel. Though deemed an accident at the time, rumours of foul play have never entirely faded.
Louis V of France — 21 May 987
The last Carolingian king of West Francia fell from his horse whilst hunting and sustained fatal injuries. His death marked the end of his dynasty and the rise of the Capetian kings.
Philip of France (son of Louis VI) — 1131
Philip’s accidental death aged 15, illustration from a copy of the Grandes Chroniques de France,
Co-king alongside his father, Philip was thrown from his horse when it stumbled over a stray pig in the streets of Paris, during or shortly after a hunt. He died from his injuries, paving the way for his younger brother, Louis VII, to inherit.
Fulk, King of Jerusalem — 1143
King Fulk of Jerusalem is fatally thrown from his horse while pursuing a hare. From an illustrated copy of the Estoire d’Eracles (1275-1325). Walters Art Museum,
A seasoned crusader, Fulk died after falling from his horse during a hunt. The pommel of the saddle struck his head, leaving him comatose until his death days later.
Valdemar the Young, Junior King of Denmark — 28 November 1231
Death of Valdemar the Young, portrayed by the Danish painter Christian Emil Andersen, 1843.
The heir to the Danish throne was accidentally struck by a stray arrow while hunting, killing him instantly. His death threw the succession into uncertainty.
John I of Aragon (John the Hunter) — 19 May 1396
An enthusiastic huntsman to the last, John died after being thrown from his horse during a boar hunt. His nickname, “the Hunter”, became bitterly ironic.
The Deadly Prestige of the Hunt
Livres du Roy Modus et de la royne Ratio – KBR ms. 10218-19 – 061
For medieval monarchs, hunting was both a display of power and an affirmation of their prowess. Yet the very qualities that made it prestigious—the speed, the danger, the proximity to powerful beasts—also made it lethal. In the deep woods and open fields, the crown offered no protection against an arrow gone astray, a treacherous mount, or the sudden charge of a wild animal.
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon. Click here to view his website.
Top Image: Illustration in the 13th-century Grandes Chroniques de France showing the death of King William II, known as William Rufus, while hunting – British Library
Hunting was more than a pastime for medieval kings—it was a dangerous display of power, skill, and status. Yet for some rulers, the hunt ended not in triumph but in death.
By Lorris Chevalier
Today, we imagine hunting as a relatively straightforward pastime, aided by firearms – a matter of waiting patiently for the quarry to appear. In the Middle Ages, however, hunting and particularly venery was a far more demanding affair. It was a pursuit reserved for the highest ranks of society, costly in both resources and labour. Horses, hounds, hawks, and the full retinue of huntsmen and attendants required vast upkeep.
Though not strictly a military exercise, venery honed skills that were invaluable to the knightly class: horsemanship, weapon handling, stamina, and coordination. Hounds might pursue their quarry for hours before the “serving” – the moment when the animal, exhausted and cornered, was finally killed, often in a ceremonial manner at the curée.
Yet the chase was fraught with danger. The forest was unpredictable, the animals formidable, the terrain treacherous, and the presence of armed men and galloping horses could turn deadly in an instant. As history records, not even kings were safe from the perils of the hunt.
Dagobert II of Austrasia — c. 679
Officially killed during a hunt, Dagobert’s death was long suspected to have been an assassination masked as an accident. It occurred in a period of intense political instability in the Frankish realms.
Aistulf, King of the Lombards — 756
Aistulf died in a hunting accident near Pavia. Contemporary sources leave open the possibility that his death was not entirely accidental, reflecting the intrigue-ridden politics of early medieval Italy.
Basil I, Byzantine Emperor — 29 August 886
The founder of the Macedonian dynasty met an extraordinary end: his belt became entangled in the antlers of a stag. Dragged over a long distance, he suffered fatal injuries.
Richard of Normandy — c. 1070
Elder brother of William Rufus, successor to William the Conqueror, Richard was gored by a stag during a hunt in the New Forest – a place that would soon gain a grim reputation in royal history.
William II of England (William Rufus) — 2 August 1100
While hunting in the New Forest, the king was struck in the chest by an arrow fired by Sir Walter Tirel. Though deemed an accident at the time, rumours of foul play have never entirely faded.
Louis V of France — 21 May 987
The last Carolingian king of West Francia fell from his horse whilst hunting and sustained fatal injuries. His death marked the end of his dynasty and the rise of the Capetian kings.
Philip of France (son of Louis VI) — 1131
Co-king alongside his father, Philip was thrown from his horse when it stumbled over a stray pig in the streets of Paris, during or shortly after a hunt. He died from his injuries, paving the way for his younger brother, Louis VII, to inherit.
Fulk, King of Jerusalem — 1143
A seasoned crusader, Fulk died after falling from his horse during a hunt. The pommel of the saddle struck his head, leaving him comatose until his death days later.
Valdemar the Young, Junior King of Denmark — 28 November 1231
The heir to the Danish throne was accidentally struck by a stray arrow while hunting, killing him instantly. His death threw the succession into uncertainty.
John I of Aragon (John the Hunter) — 19 May 1396
An enthusiastic huntsman to the last, John died after being thrown from his horse during a boar hunt. His nickname, “the Hunter”, became bitterly ironic.
The Deadly Prestige of the Hunt
For medieval monarchs, hunting was both a display of power and an affirmation of their prowess. Yet the very qualities that made it prestigious—the speed, the danger, the proximity to powerful beasts—also made it lethal. In the deep woods and open fields, the crown offered no protection against an arrow gone astray, a treacherous mount, or the sudden charge of a wild animal.
Dr Lorris Chevalier, who has a Ph.D. in medieval literature, is a historical advisor for movies, including The Last Duel and Napoleon. Click here to view his website.
Click here to read more from Lorris Chevalier
Top Image: Illustration in the 13th-century Grandes Chroniques de France showing the death of King William II, known as William Rufus, while hunting – British Library
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