The Assassins in Fact and Fiction
Perhaps no other group from the Middle Ages has sparked modern-day imaginations like the Assassins. Viewed as mystical and deadly, they were said to be led in Syria by a charismatic figure known as the Old Man of the Mountain. What can we really know about them?
The Siege of Jerusalem (1099)
It was a city that was besieged 20 times during the medieval period, including its (in)famous capture during the First Crusade. John Hosler joins Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries to talk about his new book Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace. This episode focuses on the siege of 1099
True Crusader Crime: The Murder of the Bishop of Acre
The murder of the bishop of Acre, however, which took place on the night of 29 June 1172, was something altogether more disturbing.
Isaac Komnenos: Tyrannical Villain or Renegade Emperor?
Although the sources that remain provide a poor evaluation of Isaac as a ruler, it is important to consider who wrote those sources and evaluate Isaac’s legacy in that light.
Who ran the Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187)?
Created in the wake of the First Crusade, the Kingdom of Jerusalem proved to be a challenging place to rule over.
The Siege of Lisbon (1147)
One of the major actions of the Second Crusade took place far from the Holy Land, at the western edge of Europe. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Siege of Lisbon in 1147.
Saladin’s Siege of Saone in 1188: A New Interpretation
In July 1188, Saladin and his army arrived at Saone, one of the largest castles held by the Crusaders in Syria. Despite the castle’s size and strength, it fell to the Muslims after a siege that lasted only a few days.
Five tips for unscrupulous mercenaries working in the Medieval Near East
What was the nature of the mercenary market in the Near East?
Crusading in the Baltic with the Teutonic Knights
What did Baltic crusaders feel when fighting on the battlefield? Or, more precisely, what were they supposed to feel, according to chroniclers? In this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Lucie talks with Patrick Eickman, who studies the Baltic crusades through the fascinating lens of the history of emotions.
Why did the Crusader States fall in 1291?
The war between the Mongols and the Mamluks in the second half of the thirteenth century would be the catalyst for the downfall of the Crusader States in the Near East.
How the Crusades stay with us
As the Middle Ages ended, the crusades were mostly a fading memory. Yet, today the word and the way it is used seem more popular than ever. How did the crusades return to today’s society?
Why the Crusaders Built Castles: Obvious Answer, Right?
Building a castle was an expensive process. Yet the crusaders built many fortifications in the lands they conquered. They had many reasons to do so beyond just defending a piece of territory.
Medieval Scottish Women and the Crusades with Gordon Reynolds
In this episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan is joined by Gordon Reynolds to discuss his work on how women supported the crusades and his Instagram project, TheHallofGordon.
10 Things You Might Not Know About The Templars
There are a few things about the military order that are not so widely known. Here are our favourite facts about the Templars.
New Medieval Books: Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule
Read an excerpt from Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule, by Katherine Pangonis
The Battle of Nicopolis (1396)
In 1396, a Crusader army coming from France, Germany, England, Hungary, the Teutonic State and other parts of Europe would march into southeastern Europe, determined to attack the Turks. At Nicopolis they would find the Ottoman forces led by Bayezid I, and fight in one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages.
A Decisive Battle? Richard the Lionheart vs Saladin at Arsuf
While Arsuf was a tactical and operational success, it was far from “decisive” – or even very significant – on the strategic level.
Writing the History of the Sultan Saladin
Jonathan Phillips talks about his new book on Saladin and researching the historical sources related to his life and times.
The Cross of War in the Age of the Crusades
Talking about the carrying of the True Cross during battles in the crusades.
900-Year-Old Crusader Sword discovered by scuba diver
The sword’s discovery suggests that the natural anchorage where it was found was also used by ships in the Crusader period.
Mass grave of crusaders discovered in Lebanon
A new study has revealed details about the remains of 25 soldiers from two mass graves discovered within the dry moat of Sidon Castle, Lebanon.
‘The Worthiest Man’: The story of Count Philip I of Flanders
Philip I Count of Flanders was one of the most controversial nobles in twelfth-century France. His choleric temperament was equaled only by his reputation in many historical and literary works. Where he went, trouble and greatness followed.
Theatres of War: Crusade, Colonialism and Chivalry in the Middle Ages
Were the Crusades an early example of European colonialism? What value did the crusading frontier hold for the knights who fought to defend it? What was the relationship between the Crusades and the knightly culture of chivalry?
Maria Comnena: Byzantine Princess, Queen of Jerusalem, and Lady of Ibelin
Helena Schrader tells the story of Maria Comnena and the role she played in the Crusader States during the twelfth century.