Medieval Graves Weren’t Always Family Burials, DNA Study Finds
Ancient DNA from medieval graves in Sweden reveals that adults and children buried together were often not close relatives, challenging assumptions about family burials.
From Arab Silver to Byzantine Gold: The Vikings in the East
Follow the Vikings eastward as they sought Arab silver and Byzantine gold, forging trade routes across Eastern Europe and helping shape the world of the Rus’.
What 20 Famous Medieval Names Really Mean
Discover the real names of 20 famous medieval figures and how translation, nicknames, titles and linguistic changes created the names we know today.
The Battle of Bosworth (1485)
King Richard III faces Henry Tudor in one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Bosworth and how the identification of its battlefield has offered new insights into how the fighting unfolded.
Viking Ship Burial in Norway May Have Been Built Over Bronze Age Grave
Archaeologists investigating a Viking ship burial in Norway have found evidence that it may have been built over a much older Bronze Age grave.
How One Battle Could Change the Medieval World
Discover why medieval battles could have enormous consequences, toppling rulers, reshaping kingdoms and changing the course of European history.
Medieval Paintings Stolen in Sicilian Museum Heist
Four fifteenth-century paintings by Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in Sicily, although two were abandoned during the thieves’ escape.
50 Medieval Sayings and What They Mean
Discover 50 medieval sayings about friendship, fortune, animals and everyday life, and learn what these strange and funny proverbs really mean.
Why Trees Mattered in the Middle Ages
Trees held deep meaning in medieval life, appearing in religion, mythology, literature, political gatherings and even the food served at wealthy tables.
How Two Medieval Scholars Used an Eclipse to Measure Longitude
A lunar eclipse allowed two medieval scholars working 1,500 kilometres apart to calculate the longitude difference between Baghdad and Khwarezm.
Medieval Clues Point to Lost Viking Battlefield
Medieval accounts may help identify Castle Hill in Devon as the long-lost site of the Battle of Cynuit, where Anglo-Saxon forces defeated a Viking army in 878.
The Fall of King Arthur of Britain in Giovanni Boccaccio’s On the Downfall of the Famous
Giovanni Boccaccio uses the tale of the rise and fall of King Arthur to teach the fickleness of fortune and the peril of pridefulness. Christopher Berard and Morris Tichenor provide a new translation of this once influential but now overlooked medieval retelling of Arthur’s downfall.
Japan’s Early Female Emperors
A study of Japan’s early female emperors challenges the idea that they served merely as temporary rulers preserving the throne for male heirs.
World’s Largest Byzantine Studies Congress Coming to Vienna
The world’s largest Byzantine studies congress comes to Vienna this August, bringing together scholars from more than 50 countries.
How the Crusaders Turned Gaza into a Medieval Frontier Fortress
Gaza became a Crusader fortress that isolated Fatimid-held Ascalon and reshaped the medieval struggle between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Egypt.
Five Famous Horses from Medieval Legends
Meet five famous horses from medieval legends, including Bucephalus, Grani and the remarkable steeds associated with King Arthur.
When Medieval Fighting Men Owed Service to More Than One Lord
How did Carolingian and Ottonian rulers manage fighting men who owed military service to more than one lord?
Lost Papal Letter Casts Norman Conquest as Holy War Against ‘Followers of Satan’
A lost papal letter suggests Pope Alexander II backed William’s invasion because King Harold supported a rival pope.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
An analysis of loyalty, courage and wisdom in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, from the symbolism of the hunts to Nature and Fortune.
Online Course: Introduction to Beowulf
This four-week course begins Saturday, August 15th, with live sessions 12:00 – 2:00pm Eastern U.S. time.
How Many People Did Bernard Gui Burn?
How many people did medieval inquisitor Bernard Gui condemn to death? His surviving judicial records reveal a more complex picture than popular culture suggests.
Unpublished Tolkien Translation of a Medieval Text Brought to Light
A previously unpublished translation by J. R. R. Tolkien sheds new light on his extensive study of medieval English literature and language.
What Does Forest Management Have to Do with Medieval Warfare?
How medieval Normandy’s carefully managed forests supplied the timber needed to build warships, repair castles and produce weapons during the Hundred Years’ War.
Our Lady of the Caves: A Medieval Icon from Kyiv
A late-thirteenth-century icon reveals the medieval origins, religious traditions and enduring cultural importance of Kyiv’s famous Caves Monastery.