All for the Want of a Warhorse: Horse Breeding and Royal Warfare in Thirteenth-Century England
Edward I responded to England’s medieval warhorse shortage with export bans, foreign purchases, and an expanded royal stud system. His policies show how crucial trained warhorses were to military campaigns in Wales, Scotland, and on the Continent.
Online Course: The Art of the Middle Ages in Europe
Beginning Tuesday, November 18th, this four-week online course explores the architecture, paintings, and decorative arts from different nations during the medieval period using a multicultural and intersectional approach.
The Most Unusual Names in Medieval London
Looking for a medieval name for your child? Discover twenty of the most unusual names recorded in medieval London — rare, beautiful choices that once graced the city’s streets.
Medieval England’s Coin-Clipping Scandal: The 1279 Mass Execution of Jews
Discover how a medieval panic over coin-clipping in 1278–79 sparked mass arrests, harsh trials, and the execution of hundreds of Jews in Edward I’s England. The article traces the commissions, procedures, and consequences that followed.
What Do Economists and Assassins Have in Common?
An examination of the economic pressures behind the medieval Assassins, from costly fortresses to the financial realities that influenced their role as hired killers.
How Carpenters Built Medieval England
New research on medieval carpenters shows how they lived, worked, travelled, and transformed building practices in later medieval England.
The Language of Heresy with Erin Wagner
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Erin Wagner about what late medieval people meant when they used the word heresy, how the usage evolved, and how medieval people applied ideas of heresy beyond the borders of Christianity.
The Unusual Status of the Unborn Child in Medieval Valais
Medieval Valais developed distinctive laws on the unborn child, combining Roman legal traditions and Christian beliefs to shape inheritance rights, baptismal requirements, and ideas of life before birth.
Music and Musicians in the Medieval Persianate World
Explore how medieval Persian musicians blended art, theory, and performance through two remarkable texts that reveal the sounds and social world of music.
How a Medieval Sect Built a Mountain Stronghold in Syria
Discover how a persecuted sect known as the Assassins transformed remote Syrian fortresses into the centre of a medieval mountain state—blending diplomacy, strategy, and fortification to secure their survival.
Robin Hood and the Frog: A First Look at the 2025 MGM+ Series
MGM+’s new Robin Hood series reimagines the medieval legend for 2025. In its first episode, “I See Him,” Saxons rise against Norman rule, a new hero emerges—and a surprising frog hops into the story.
Balthild of Francia with Isabel Moreira
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Isabel Moreira about Queen Balthild of Francia, her influence, and her lasting legacy.
10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in October, which include papers ranging from beer to wax.
Medieval Torre dei Conti Collapses in Rome, Killing One Worker
A section of the 13th-century Torre dei Conti in Rome collapsed during restoration work, killing one worker and injuring others. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse at the historic medieval tower.
Logistics and “Paperwork” in Early Medieval Warfare
Discover how early medieval rulers like Charlemagne organized their wars through meticulous planning and record-keeping, revealing a sophisticated logistical system that kept their armies supplied and ready for campaign.
New Medieval Books: The Secret Middle Ages
Art and artefacts from the Middle Ages offer a vivid window into the values, fears, and imaginations of medieval society. This updated edition explores how these objects reflect beliefs and folklore—both devout and delightfully strange.
Ten Medieval Phrases That Deserve a Comeback
Discover ten forgotten phrases from the Middle Ages — from English oaths to Arabic blessings — that once shaped medieval life and still deserve a comeback today.
The Mysterious Tombs of the Knights of the Round Table
In the 13th-century, a Dominican preacher linked real graves in Burgundy to the legendary Knights of the Round Table. Étienne de Bourbon’s account reveals how medieval belief, archaeology, and Arthurian myth intertwined in the mysterious tombs of Saint-Émiland.
New Medieval Books: The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe
This book profiles more than forty women associated with the Burgundian court between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, highlighting their influential roles in governance, religion, and the arts.
Medieval Vampire Epidemics with John Blair
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with John Blair about who refused to rest in peace in the Middle Ages, how medieval people attempted to keep the dead buried, and why some hauntings reached epidemic proportions.
How to Be a Medieval Rogue: Lessons from Abū Zayd al-Sarūjī
Learn what it takes to be a rogue from Abū Zayd al-Sarūjī, the legendary con man of Maqamat al-Hariri, as translated in Michael Cooperson’s Impostures.
New Medieval Books: Medievalism in Russian and Ukrainian Political Discourses
Medieval history has been invoked in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This book brings together five essays examining how the medieval past has been used, interpreted, and contested in this modern conflict. It offers a valuable contribution to the study of medievalism and the politics of historical memory.
Who Could Baptize? Clerical Authority and Emergency Baptisms in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, baptism was essential for salvation—but who could perform it? This article explores how the medieval Church balanced clerical authority with the necessity of emergency baptisms by lay people and midwives.
New Medieval Books: Thomas Becket and His World
This biography examines the life of Thomas Becket, who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. His dramatic death, which transformed him into one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages, inspired a wealth of contemporary accounts that document his life and legacy in remarkable detail.
