Medieval Magical Spells against Theft
You can find dozens of examples of spells and charms from medieval manuscripts to help prevent you from being a victim of theft, or to catch a thief.
Axlar-Björn: The Only Serial Killer of Iceland
Axlar-Björn, or Björn of the farm Öxl, was executed in 1596 for having murdered at least 18 people.
10 Medieval Tips to Solve a Murder
Ten observations made by the Chinese physician Song Ci (1186–1249 AD) on whether or not a person was a victim of homicide.
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.
The Execution and Burial of Criminals in Early Medieval England, c. 850-1150
This thesis seeks to discover where criminals where buried after the Norman Conquest and examines the influences behind the changes in funerary treatment of judicial offenders.
The Case of the Corrupt Archbishop
How a 14th century archbishop spent years orchestrating an elaborate plot of embezzlement and forgery.
Medieval Executions: The View from the Scaffold
Let’s take a brief look at what judicial execution was really like in the Middle Ages.
Unravelling a medieval murder mystery
In the ultimate cold case an Aberdeen historian has re-examined a 600 year old murder, fitting of a plot for Game of Thrones.
The Prior, the Prioress, and the Kidnappers
Monks were deserting their pastoral posts and in some cases their vows altogether; nuns were having covert affairs with local men and—worse—getting caught.
Death of a Renaissance Record-Keeper: The Murder of Tomasso da Tortona in Ferrara, 1385
Beginning with a description of the murder of an Italian record-keeper at the hands of an angry mob in the late fourteenth century, this essay explores the historical background of official records destruction during the Renaissance
Spousal Abuse in Fourteenth-Century Yorkshire
One area which historians of marriage have chosen to focus on in particular as a measure of love within marriage is spousal abuse. Two approaches have been employed in this respect.
Priest as Criminal: Community Regulation of Priests in the Archdeaconry of Paris, 1483-1505
This dissertation examines accusations of criminal behavior levied against priests in the archdeaconry of Paris from 1483 – 1505.
Murder in Damascus: The Consequences of Competition among Medieval Muslim Religious Elites
His throat had been cut and he was lying in a pool of his own blood. He had also suffered multiple stab wounds to his head and side.
The Modern Invention of the Medieval Executioner
We all know the hooded, ominous figure of the medieval hangman, but in fact that image owes much more to nineteenth-century imaginations than to any historical reality.
The Medieval Magazine: Crime in the Middle Ages (Volume 2 Issue 17)
This week we take a look at crime in the Middle Ages, offering five accounts of murder from medieval Oxford as well as the strange history behind the tale of the Pied Piper.
Identity and Posthuman Medievalism in Sons of Anarchy
The medievalism of the FX television series Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) is not inherently obvious. Set in Northern California, the series follows a fictional outlaw motorcycle club (MC) modeled on real gangs including the Hells Angels. Critics, fans, and creators alike discuss the series as an extended adaptation of Hamlet, and the broad narrative of the series is indeed a family tragedy.
Medieval violence and Criminology: using the Middle Ages to understand contemporary ‘motiveless’ crime
The aim of this essay is to explore how an investigation of violence in the Middle Ages can inform our understanding of ‘motiveless’ violence today. Has society moved away from the bi-dimensional relationship between deviance and entertainment?
How to Get Out of a Conviction in the Middle Ages
Whether you’re guilty or innocent, here are five handy tips to help you avoid getting convicted in a medieval court.
A Medieval Case of Sexual Harassment
‘I have loved you for so long, and I [still] love you; why do you not give your consent’ – these words, spoken inside a church, were at the centre of a case of sexual harassment from the summer of 1486.
BOOK REVIEW: The Butcher Bird by SD Sykes
My review of SD Sykes follow up to “Plague Land”, her latest book, “The Butcher Bird”.
BOOK REVIEW: The Lady Agnes Mystery – Volume I
A review of the Lady Agnes Mystery by Parisienne author, Andrea Japp.
The Struggle is Real: Where are the Medieval Economists?!
Another fascinating paper from “Making the Medieval Relevant” was given by Daniel Curtis, a specialist in Social and Economic History, and a professor at the University of Utrecht.
Capital and Corporal Punishment in Anglo-Saxon England
Jay Gates, Nicole Marafioti and Valerie Allen speak about Capital and Corporal Punishment in Anglo-Saxon England
BOOK REVIEW: The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau
Joanna Stafford, our intrepid ex-Dominican super sleuth is at it again. This time, she’s hurled straight into the midst of plotting and deception at Henry VIII’s court.