How Thomas Becket Was Really Murdered in Canterbury Cathedral
Thomas Becket’s murder inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shocked medieval England and quickly turned him into a saint. But what actually happened in…
The Daily Life of a Medieval King
Discover the daily life of a medieval king through Christine de Pizan’s account of Charles V of France, revealing his routine, duties, and court life.
When Cities Hired Nobles: Military Alliances in Medieval Germany
David Bachrach examines how medieval German cities formed military alliances with nobles, revealing how urban communities managed war, trade, and political power in the thirteenth century.
Byzantine vs. Viking: The Varangian Guard in Constantinople
How did Viking raiders become imperial bodyguards? Zoe Tsiami tells the story of the Varangian Guard in medieval Constantinople.
New Medieval Books: The People’s Princes
While Niccolò Machiavelli is often associated with ruthless or disreputable tactics, a closer reading of his works reveals a far more nuanced thinker with substantial insights into politics and government. This book explores his ideas on the relationship between rulers and the people they govern.
The Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, with Nicole Eddy
A conversation with Nicole Eddy about the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, one of the most important publishing ventures of recent times when it comes to medieval texts and literature.
18 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Saladin
Discover 18 surprising facts about Saladin, the medieval leader who recaptured Jerusalem—revealing his education, beliefs, and lesser-known personal life.
How Medieval Kings Took Control of Forests in Normandy
Danny Lake-Giguère explores how the management of Normandy’s forests changed after 1204, becoming an important part of the growth of royal government in medieval France.
The Monsters, Dangers, and Wonders of the Medieval North
Explore how Adam of Bremen described the medieval North, from Vikings and pagan temples to dragons, Amazons, and lands at the edge of the known world.
Henry V: More Than a Warrior-King
A teenage prince wounded in battle, a king who defied the odds in France, and a ruler whose legacy still shapes how we see the Hundred Years’ War—Henry V was far more complex than the legend suggests. Michael Livingston explores the experiences that forged his character, revealing a leader who combined battlefield brilliance with calculated political ambition.
New Medieval Books: Chinese Characters across Asia
Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese By Zev Handel University of Washington Press ISBN:…
Buddhist Warrior Monks: The Sohei of Medieval Japan
Explore the history of Japan’s sohei, the Buddhist warrior monks who fought for power, shaped temple rivalries, and played a key role in medieval conflicts.
The Carolingian–Abbasid Axis: Charlemagne and the Caliphate
David Bachrach explores the ties between the Carolingian and Abbasid empires, showing how diplomacy, trade, and shared interests connected the early medieval world.
New Medieval Books: Medieval German Tales
Discover the richness of later medieval German literature through these 20 tales, now translated into English. Ranging from comic stories to courtly narratives, they offer a vivid glimpse into the kinds of tales that entertained audiences in the Middle Ages.
The ‘Tricks of Monks’: Fake Miracles and Medieval Christians in The Book of Charlatans
A 13th-century Arabic text reveals how monks staged fake miracles and deceived Christian audiences, offering insights into medieval Muslim–Christian relations.
New Medieval Books: The Art of Making Verses
Gervase of Melkley promises that “This little book is for beginners!”—yet his medieval guide to poetry is surprisingly inventive. Instead of repeating standard rules, he introduces a fresh method for composing verse, leading readers from clear expression to metaphor and irony.
How Byzantines Saw Themselves: Romans, Not “Byzantines”
The Byzantines never called themselves Byzantines. Zoe Tsiami explores how they understood their Roman identity across the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Vikings, Knights, Elves, and Ogres
This collection of nine essays explores medieval literature from England and Scandinavia, bringing together studies on figures and texts including Beowulf, Sir Gawain, the wolf Fenrir and Tolkien.
The Strange Ritual Before Medieval Duels: Why Opponents Touched
Why did medieval opponents touch before combat? Lorris Chevalier explores the ritual, revealing how law and emotion intersected in duelling practices.
The 5 Most Common Jobs in a Medieval City
What were the most common jobs in a late medieval city? In this piece, we’ll look at the case of fifteenth-century Montpellier, a city located in the South of France.
New Medieval Books: Vikings Behaving Reasonably
This book offers more than just a clever title. It shows how Norse communities relied on the ideal of hóf—a cultural expectation of moderation and restraint—to resolve disputes and maintain order, often without the need for a strong central authority.
10 New Medieval Studies Articles You Can Read Right Now (Free & Open Access)
Looking for new research on the Middle Ages without hitting a paywall? Here are ten open-access articles published in February and March 2026, covering everything from Beowulf to “finding” a battlefield.
New Online Course: Exploring the Troubadours, Trobairitz, and Trouvères
This three-week course begins on April 18th, with live sessions each Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm EST.
Did People Run in the Middle Ages?
Running in the Middle Ages was more common than expected, with medieval sources revealing evidence of speed, endurance, and foot travel among messengers, soldiers, and ordinary people.