10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in December, which include papers on new runic finds to how inquisitive was medieval inquisition.
New Medieval Books: More Swindles from the Late Ming
The second instalment of a translation of an early seventeenth-century Chinese source on scams and cons offers a fascinating window into pre-modern crime.
Medieval Self-Portraits: Ten Artists Who Put Themselves in the Picture
Discover how medieval artists began putting themselves into their work — ten vivid self-portraits from St Dunstan to Albrecht Dürer.
New Online Course: Urban Europe: Towns and Cities in the Middle Ages
Beginning January 9th, this four-week course will have 90-minute live sessions each Friday from 1:00 – 2:30 pm EST.
The Failed Hit at Mont Gisard: The Templars against Saladin
At the Battle of Mont Gisard in 1177, the Templars came within yards of killing Saladin. This feature looks at the near-assassination, the shock of the Frankish charge, and how Saladin sought revenge in the years that followed.
New Medieval Books: The Conquest of al-Andalus
We have relatively few sources for the Islamic conquest of Iberia in the early eighth century. This translation of a later account offers fresh insight into those events.
What Languages Were Used in the Middle Ages?
Travel across the medieval world through its major languages—from Latin and Greek to Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, and Classical Chinese—and see how English, French, Slavic, and other tongues evolved from the Early Middle Ages to the late medieval period.
Order on the March: Discipline in Early Medieval Europe
Early medieval armies didn’t just fight battles—they had to keep order on the road, policing theft, violence, and disobedience as they marched. Explore…
New Medieval Books: The Public House in Central Europe
Public houses—places that sold alcoholic drinks—were a central part of life in Cracow in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This book explores how these establishments worked: who owned them, who gathered inside, and how city authorities dealt with disorder when drinking turned into violence.
Daily Life in Constantinople: Inside the Heart of the Byzantine World
Explore daily life in medieval Constantinople, from neighbourhoods and housing to markets, guilds, religion, chariot races, and the dangers of fire, plague, and shortages in the Byzantine capital.
Q&A #13: How Do You Write About Joan of Arc?
In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly tackle listener questions on Joan of Arc, standout new books on medieval warfare, and whether Richard III really killed the Princes in the Tower.
Celebrating the New Year, Medieval Style
How did medieval people mark the passing of the New Year? Well, interestingly enough, it wasn’t always celebrated on January 1st.
10 Medieval Latin Wine Proverbs
Enjoy ten medieval Latin wine proverbs—presented in the original Latin with English translations—ranging from feast-day cheer to sharp warnings about overindulgence.
Medieval Book of the Year: The Hungry City
Medievalists.net’s choice for the Book of the Year! This book offers a compelling account of the famine that struck Barcelona in 1333–34, reconstructed through the records of the city’s government. Vividly written yet firmly grounded in the sources, it stands as a fitting culmination of Kelleher’s work as a medievalist.
‘Be on the Lookout for Us’: The Assassins Against Saladin
Assassins struck at Saladin twice in 1175–1176, using disguise, surprise, and terror as weapons of statecraft. Chroniclers recount near-misses, propaganda spin, and a tense settlement that brought peace without trust.
Medieval Dressing Room Scandal: The Mantle That Reveals All
Arthur’s court is thrown into chaos when a fairy-made mantle is offered to the one woman it truly fits—and instead humiliates nearly everyone who tries it on. Told in a French lai and later reworked in Möttuls saga, the story turns chivalry and courtly love into a sharp, public joke.
20 New Open Access Books Medieval History Fans Can Read for Free
Medieval studies fans can download and read all of these 20 newly published open-access books.
The Siege of Montségur (1243-44)
In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly head to the Pyrenean stronghold of Montségur to unpack the dramatic siege that brought the Cathar refuge to its end. They explore how faith, politics, and military pressure collided on the mountain—and what the fall of Montségur meant for the wider Albigensian Crusade.
The Boar’s Head Carol: A Medieval Christmas Tradition
A look at the Boar’s Head Carol in the Middle Ages: boar-hunting symbolism, Christmas feasting, and the enduring ceremony at Queen’s College, Oxford.
Christmas Day in the Middle Ages: Coronations, Conversions, and a Truce
Christmas Day mattered in the Middle Ages. Explore key events on 25 December, from the baptism of Clovis and Charlemagne’s coronation to William the Conqueror’s crowning and a truce at Orléans.
2025: The Medieval Year in Review
This week on The Medieval Podcast, in keeping with tradition, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny, editor of Medievalists.net, about the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2025.
Roland the Farter: A Royal Christmas Performer
Roland the Farter held land in medieval England on a bizarre Christmas condition: “one jump, one whistle, and one fart” before the king. A short look at serjeanty, court ritual, and medieval humour.
Holiday Gifts in the Middle Ages
Christmas in the Middle Ages looked quite different than it does today, but gifts still played a role. Read on to find out what gift-giving looked like during the holidays in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Europe and the End of Medieval Japan
The years 1549 to 1650 are often described as Japan’s ‘Christian Century’—a period marked by intense contact with European traders, missionaries, and ideas. This book uses that era as a case study in medieval and early modern globalisation, tracing how cross-cultural exchanges reshaped politics, religion, and daily life.
