Crusader Criminals: Plunder, Pillage and the Usual Suspects
Steve Tibble on criminality in the crusades, from the primal forces such as climate change and mass migration which fed a wave of violence, to the extraordinary stories of looting, piracy, banditry and muggings which emerged.
Violence, Wine, and Everyday Life: Crime in the Taverns of Medieval Dubrovnik
A look into tavern life in late medieval Dubrovnik reveals a world of wine, violence, and everyday crime, drawn from court records and social patterns.
Poison in the Middle Ages: Medicine, Murder, and Myth
Discover how poison influenced medieval medicine, power struggles, and storytelling. From royal intrigue to early toxicology, learn how this dangerous substance shaped the Middle Ages.
The Kidnapping Scandal at Amesbury Priory
In 1400, a monastic power struggle at Amesbury Priory took a shocking turn when the ousted prior hired a gang to kidnap the prioress. What followed was a scandal of betrayal, lawsuits, and royal intervention—one of the wildest church disputes of the Middle Ages.
Drunk and Disorderly: How Taverns Led Crusaders into Trouble
Crusading was meant to be a holy mission, but for many knights and soldiers, the lure of taverns, drink, and other temptations often…
The Perils of Medieval Pubs: Drinking, Gambling, and Disorder
Medieval pubs were more than just places to drink—they were hubs of gambling, crime, and deadly brawls. From barroom assassinations to drunken feuds that ended in murder, these rowdy establishments were as dangerous as they were lively.
Violence and Vice: Crime in Medieval Cairo
From violent disputes to daring robberies, the streets of Cairo often became a stage for chaos, where justice was swift and brutal.
Medieval Police Chiefs: When Justice Was for Sale
There weren’t many police officers in the medieval world. And, when you see what they got up to, that is perhaps just as well.
Stealing Horses, Losing Feet: Crusader Animal Laws
There were many strange quirks associated with the justice systems of the Crusader States. They were, after all, on the frontiers of Christendom and many aspects of their law books were arcane in the extreme.
Weapons, Violence, and the Crusades: A Medieval Arms Race
The sword and shield of medieval Europe weren’t just tools of war—they were catalysts of chaos, reshaping societies and escalating crime rates. From Christendom to the Crusader States, weapons played a dual role: defence and destruction.
Medieval Magic to Catch Thieves
Imagine being accused of theft in 15th-century Denmark and forced to eat a piece of enchanted cheese to prove your innocence. Would you succeed—or would the bitter taste betray you? Such peculiar rituals weren’t uncommon in the Middle Ages, where magic intertwined with daily life, offering unusual solutions to everyday problems like theft.
Were the Crusader States Penal Colonies?
The population of the crusader states was not representative of normal demographics. Perhaps ironically, for societies with a heavily religious foundation, a disproportionate number of those who came to the crusader states were criminals.
How Gender Shaped Crime and Punishment in the Medieval World
By Steve Tibble In the medieval world, crime was not just about survival or greed—it was deeply influenced by gender roles and social…
Medieval Corruption: How Crooked Cops and Officials Profited from Crime and Bribery
In the tumultuous world of the Middle Ages, the line between law enforcement and lawbreaking was often blurred, and sometimes, the enforcers were as corrupt as the medieval criminals they pursued.
White Collar Crime in the Crusades
Many crimes in the crusader states were very visible—and often shockingly so. But there were other crimes that were far more discreet—and insidious.
Medieval Marauders: The Ruthless Scavengers of War
The medieval battlefield was not solely the domain of knights and soldiers, but also of opportunistic scavengers who exploited the turmoil for personal…
Medieval Europe’s Crackdown on Theft Detailed in New Study
The act of stealing has always been frowned upon, but the consequences for such actions have varied drastically over time. A new study examines how the punishment for theft dramatically shifted during the Middle Ages in Western Europe.
When Knights Misbehaved: Criminal Acts on the Crusades
In the Middle Ages, crusade commanders faced a relentless struggle to maintain order. They knew that minor crimes could quickly spiral into chaos, undermining their authority and jeopardizing the entire campaign.
Crusader Criminals with Steve Tibble
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Daniele speaks with Steve Tibble about why there was so much crime committed by men who were supposed to be holy warriors, and what people did about it.
Murder Below Stairs: Killing Servants in the 12th Century
Life in the crusader states and their Muslim enemies could be harsh – and the strictures of that life occasionally drove people to murderous violence
A Surfeit of Blood? Murders in the Middle Ages
Murder in a time of perpetual war seems faintly ridiculous.
Medieval Corruption and Protection with Jonathan Lyon
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Jonathan Lyon about a powerful medieval position which could easily lend itself to violence and corruption: church advocate.
The Mysterious ‘Lord S’ and a Murder in the Latin Empire of Constantinople
Who killed William, Archbishop of Philippi, in 1217?
The Corrupt Archbishop: The Story of Alexander Bicknor
Corruption by powerful officials is a familiar tale throughout history, where men and women succumb to the temptation of greed. One notable instance occurred in the 14th century with an Archbishop of Dublin, who orchestrated an elaborate plot of embezzlement and forgery.
