The Romance of the Past? Nineteenth-Century Medievalism and the Tournament
The nineteenth century saw a rebirth of fascination with the Middle Ages, although this interest often had more to do with romance than reality. A perfect medium for the expression of this nineteenth-century medievalism was the tournament.
Seven Wonders of the Medieval Far North
Konungs skuggsjá explains the wonders of the strange waters around Greenland, a far corner of the medieval world.
How was music invented? A medieval answer
Have you ever wondered how music was invented? Apparently, people in the Middle Ages thought about this question too, and they came up with several interesting answers.
The Women around an Emperor: Anne of Brittany
In the fifth in a series of features exploring the early modern women whose lives intersected in some way with that of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, Natalie Anderson examines the life of Anne of Brittany.
New Medieval Books: From Ironmaking to Psalters
Five recently publishing books covering the Middle Ages – taking you from Ireland to Germany and from Sicily to Norway.
Who was Christine de Pizan?
Danièle Cybulskie talks about an awesome fifteenth-century female writer: Christine de Pizan.
Exploring the world of colourful medieval cuisine
Colour often has a great influence on how we perceive the food we eat. It can make food appear more appetising, or even warn that something is wrong. This was just as true for diners in the Middle Ages as it is for modern consumers.
The Spiritual Athlete: Elizabeth of Spaalbeek
Elizabeth stands out, though, in the sheer physical strength and flexibility shown by her ability to hold postures such as lying down with her head and shoulders elevated for an extended time – an incredible feat of core strength!
Learn Medieval History Online
Have you always wanted to study medieval history but not had the time?
Cumans in Kingdom Come: Deliverance
A new Czech video game – Kingdom Come: Deliverance – offers a realistic medieval simulator. Billed as a serious attempt to portray medieval life and history in general it certainly provides greater visibility to the Middle Ages, especially for events and peoples eastward from Vienna. However, it also features Cuman warriors in the role of the token bad guys, and in doing so miss an opportunity to present this people and their medieval history accurately.
How to Get Away with Murder in the Middle Ages
The circumstances of the case show just how easy it could be to get away with murder in the Middle Ages.
Quiz: The Art of Renaissance Florence
Here are twelve works of art from Florence between the 13th and 16th centuries. Do you know which artist created them?
Famous Dogs in Medieval Literature
Four famous dogs from medieval literature.
Sumanguru Kante: The King with two Mothers
The recently translated account of The Epic of Sumanguru Kante offers some fascinating stories, including a description of how this West African ruler was born to two mothers.
7 Devious Ways to Defeat a Medieval Army
Could you defeat a medieval army without resorting to a clash of arms? A 10th century Byzantine military manual offers several tricks that could be used to devastate your enemy.
New Medieval Books: From China to Iceland
Five new books taking you throughout the medieval world.
Quiz: The Golden Age of Piracy
Criminals of the sea, desperate sailors or romantic heroes? How much do you really know about pirates?
Quiz: Strange Moments in History
Sometimes fact can be stranger than fiction and history is littered with strange tales of woe, mirth and the bizarre. Can you separate fact from fantasy in these 20 questions?
The Butterfly Lovers: A Classic Chinese Love Story
The earliest written record of the lovers is traced back to about 700AD, when the Tang Dynasty was reigned over by Empress Wu Zetian and was renamed as the (Restored) Zhou Dynasty.
Medieval Manuscripts: Seven Songs for an Absent Lover
The Pergamino Vindel leaf is famous for its 13th century collection of seven songs written in the voice of a young woman awaiting her absent lover.
A Grand Gesture: Henry VIII and the Westminster Tournament
In February, 1511, Henry VIII held a large and lavish tournament at Westminster to honour his wife, Katherine of Aragon, and his newborn son. Natalie Anderson takes a look at this romantic gesture and how it was memorialised.
Nalbinding for Beginners
Nalbinding is the Viking-Age term for single-needle knitting. A traditional wool craft that would be used to make woollen hats, socks, gloves and mittens.
The Medieval Magazine: (Volume 4: No. 3): Issue 105: Valentine’s Day
The Valentine’s Issue!: Love in the Middle Ages, Teutonic Knights, Tudor medicine, and much, much more!
The Medieval Love Letters of H and a Lady
The story of a remarkable set of three letters written in verse, preserved in a 12th century manuscript, which tells of love between a woman and a man.