The Medieval State: Kingdoms, Principalities, Communes, and Leagues Explained
The medieval world was politically diverse. From royal courts to self-governing cities and confederated leagues, power was expressed in many forms—often far from…
Białowieża Forest: Europe’s Last Medieval Woodland?
Is Białowieża Forest truly Europe’s last medieval woodland? A look at royal hunts, historic laws, and wild bison reveals how this ancient forest preserves a living link to the Middle Ages.
Last Man Standing: Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Powys
C.I. Leah previews his new book that examines the complex legacy of Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, the Welsh prince who aligned with England to preserve his power. Was he a traitor—or the last man standing in a fractured medieval Wales?
The Twenty Medieval Sieges of Constantinople
Discover the twenty medieval sieges of Constantinople, from early attacks by Avars and Arabs to the city’s final fall in 1453.
A History of the Popes Named Leo
From Leo I to the newly elected Leo XIV, this article explores the long and complex history of popes who chose the name Leo—revealing how each shaped the Catholic Church through reform, conflict, and legacy.
Philip Augustus vs. the Kings of England: A Medieval Power Struggle
Discover how Philip Augustus of France outmanoeuvred four English kings through diplomacy, war, and strategic alliances—reshaping medieval Europe in one of its most pivotal power struggles.
Why Medieval Europeans Were Bad at Swimming
Medieval Europeans weren’t known for their swimming skills—and there’s a surprising amount of evidence to show just how bad they were at it. From river shoves to tactical advice from Christine de Pizan, here’s what swimming looked like in the Middle Ages.
The Iron Maiden Never Existed – But Louis XI’s Medieval Prison Reforms Did
One of the most infamous images of medieval cruelty—the Iron Maiden—was never used in the Middle Ages. But a real reform by King Louis XI of France, the ‘fillettes,’ tells a different story about medieval justice.
Prester John with Chris Taylor
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Chris Taylor about where the legend comes from, how it may have had a disastrous effect on the fifth crusade, and what Prester John has to do with the Fantastic Four.
Third Reich Medievalists: National Psychology and the Study of Chaucer
Exploring how Chaucer studies were shaped by Nazi ideology, this article uncovers the influence of national psychology and propaganda on medieval scholarship in the Third Reich.
New Medieval Books: Forgotten Vikings
This book sets out to provide a sweeping overview of the Viking Age, covering Norse history from the sixth to the fifteenth centuries. Unlike many similar works, it reaches well beyond Scandinavia and England, incorporating a wide geographical scope and drawing extensively on archaeological evidence.
How Popes Died in the Middle Ages: Ritual, Power, and Performance
What happened when a pope died in the Middle Ages? Behind the closed doors of Rome and Avignon, elaborate rituals unfolded—blending faith, politics, and performance to preserve the illusion that the Church never died.
12 Things You Didn’t Know About the Bayeux Tapestry
Discover 12 surprising facts about the Bayeux Tapestry, from its true origins and missing scenes to erotic imagery and medieval military insights.
New Medieval Books: History in Flames
Many medieval materials survived for centuries, only to be lost in more recent times to war and violence. This book tells the story of some of Europe’s most important collections that have since vanished.
How to Behave Like a Civilised Man: Hygiene and Manners from the Middle Ages
A newly translated 13th-century guide, The Book of the Civilised Man, reveals how medieval people approached hygiene and manners with surprising detail—from grooming tips to rules about belching and flatulence.
The Invention of the Idea of Sovereignty in the Middle Ages
Discover how the concept of medieval sovereignty evolved through Roman law, canon law, and political theory—shaping papal power, imperial authority, and the rise of sovereign kingdoms in the Middle Ages.
El Cid with Nora Berend
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Nora Berend about the real Rodrigo Díaz, the astonishing way his legend grew and changed over time, and how El Cid is still being used as a political tool in the modern world.
New Medieval Books: The Romance of the Violet and Other Wager Tales from Medieval France
This book offers translations of three thirteenth-century romances—The Romance of the Violet, The Romance of the Count of Poitiers, and The Tale of King Flore and the Fair Joan—each centred on men who wager over a woman’s virtue.
The Seventh Crusade: New Research Reveals a Different Story
New research using Arabic sources to reveal a different story of the Seventh Crusade — one shaped by internal Ayyubid power struggles, political intrigue, and the rise of the Mamluks during Louis IX’s failed Egyptian campaign.
New Medieval Books: Marco Polo and His World
Marco Polo’s account of his journey to Asia is one of the most well-known texts to come out of the Middle Ages. This book explores the people, places, and wonders that Polo described in his writings.
How to Harvest a Mandrake: Medieval Medicine and Magic in the Old English Herbarium
Discover the medieval cure-all known as the mandrake—and why you needed a hungry dog to pull it from the ground, according to a 10th-century medical text.
New Medieval Books: Merovingian Worlds
This book offers an overview of the Merovingian realm, roughly what is now France and parts of neighbouring Western Europe during the 5th to 8th centuries.
When Medieval Nuns Stopped a Papal Construction Site: The Turbulent Story of the Basilica of Saint-Urbain in Troyes
Discover the dramatic story of how a powerful abbess and her nuns defied the papacy and halted the construction of a major Gothic basilica in 13th-century Troyes, France.
What if a Nightmare Foretold Your Death? The Strange Final Days of William Rufus
After a terrifying dream warns him of his sins, King William Rufus vows to change—only to be killed the next day in a mysterious hunting accident. A 12th-century poet tells the chilling tale.
