Leading the Rebellion with Jason Kingsley
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with CEO and YouTube sensation Jason Kingsley about living a chivalrous life in the modern world.
The Battle of Aljubarrota (1385)
Castile goes to war against Portugal, hoping to take over this kingdom. The English and the French even take sides in this conflict, which culminates at Aljubarrota. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the battle, where we have a lot of good sources and brilliant military tactics.
Templars in Ireland: Colonialism and Conquest?
The Templar presence in Ireland was far less nationalistic than has often been supposed – the international order had its own unique agenda.
A Medieval Duel: Guy of Steenvoorde vs Iron Herman
“Iron Herman fell prostrate to the ground, and Guy threw himself on top of him, pounding the knight’s mouth and eyes with his iron gauntlets.”
Privacy in the Middle Ages
Is privacy is a relatively new idea?
New Medieval Books: The Hot Trod: A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border
While billed as covering from Roman times to today, the bulk of this book focuses on the 13th to 16th centuries, a period of long conflict between Scotland and England.
A Medieval Dream
A pregnant woman in medieval London dreams of a log of wood and a slab of marble. What does it mean?
Wonders and Rarities with Travis Zadeh
One of the favourite activities of medieval scholars was to write massive encyclopedias, distilling every last detail of the known world into book form to share with an insatiably curious public. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Travis Zadeh about a thirteenth-century bestseller written by a scholar named Qazwini, who brought together natural philosophy and what we might now call supernatural philosophy to reveal the workings of the world and the universe.
30 Medieval Superstitions
We know a lot about Christianity in the Middle Ages, but much less about the ‘pagan’ and folk religion that many people had. A list from the eighth century offers some clues into those medieval beliefs and superstitions.
The Battle of Castillon (1453)
The Hundred Years’ War goes to Gascony, as the English and French do battle at Castillon. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about why the English commander John Talbot made such a tragic mistake in attacking the French camp.
Robert of Sablé: From British Templar to Video Game Villain
Templar master, trusted admiral and skilled diplomat, Robert of Sablé had a chequered past – but he does not deserve the parody reputation that has emerged as a product of modern video gaming.
Strange Borders with Medieval Origins
Are you a geography fan, excited about enclaves and exclaves? Here we take a look at six strange border areas whose origins date back to the Middle Ages.
20 Myths about the Middle Ages
People have some very wrong ideas about the Middle Ages. Here is a list of twenty of the strangest misconceptions about the medieval period – they often came about to portray the people as being ignorant, cruel and unsophisticated.
Trees and Religion in Early Medieval England with Michael Bintley
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Michael D.J. Bintley about the evolving role of trees in early medieval England.
14 Medieval Sayings: ‘These are beautiful words to understand’
Need some medieval wisdom? A 14th-century merchant has left us a collection of sayings and proverbs under the title ‘These are beautiful words to understand’.
On the Paths of Hugues de Berzé: A Repentant Crusader Knight
Hugues de Berzé and how is experience in the Fourth Crusade changes him.
The Woman who Ruled the Papacy
The Papacy is a very male-dominated institution. However, for several years it was a woman who held true power over the Popes in Rome.
The Templars and the Murder of Becket
The Templars wanted peace in the West – but if that was not possible, they could turn moral outrage into money for the defence of the East.
New Medieval Books: A Cultural History of the Medieval Sword
A look at how later medieval society viewed swords as an important item and symbol. it was not just nobles and knights who wanted to wield this weapon; there were many others who held the sword in high regard, and wanted to carry it and be trained in how to use it.
How Does a Place Become Holy? The Case of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
The interesting question is: in what sense was the monastery connected to the Cross, and when and why was this connection established?
A Medieval Legal Dilemma: The Prostitute, the Maid and the Infidel (and the Man who Loved them)
This medieval legal dilemma might be fictitious, but it offers an intriguing problem that would challenge 12th-century students. Can you try to figure it out?
The Medieval Back-to-School Shopping List
Five things that would be on a medieval back-to-school shopping list.
New Medieval Books: Crusades and Violence
A look at how violence was viewed and remembered by those involved in the crusades.
A Beginner’s Guide to Chivalry
Here’s a quick and easy beginner’s guide to chivalry as it was understood by the knights who lived it and wrote about it.