Functions of Chess in Medieval French Literature
Edward Mills examines the functions of the game of chess in medieval French literary culture.
Institutionally Constrained Technology Adoption: Resolving the Longbow Puzzle
Historians have long puzzled over why this missile weapon—clearly superior to its alternative, the crossbow—was monopolized by the English for so long
Isabeau of Bavaria, Anne of France, and the History of Female Regency in France
With Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria the history of female regency in France takes a turn of the greatest importance, moving towards a conception of regency as a proxy reign for the king exercised ideally by the queen mother.
Agnès Sorel: Death of the Official Mistress of the King
Some people are born to break the rules, and one of those people was Agnès Sorel.
Castle for Sale: Château de la Chezotte
This 15th century castle rises 17 metres (56 feet) into the sky and comes with three floors, two round towers and a partial moat.
BOOK REVIEW: The Lady Agnes Mystery – Volume I
A review of the Lady Agnes Mystery by Parisienne author, Andrea Japp.
Medieval Castle for Sale in France: Chateau d’Avezan
This 13th century castle in southern France is on sale for 950 000 €
The Heloise of History
This thesis seeks to determine the historical role of the twelfth-century abbess Heloise, apart from the frequently cited and disputed letters exchanged between her and Peter Abelard.
Medieval Books: 5 Great New Releases!
Black Friday is around the corner – here are a few books that have just been released!
Technological Determinisms of Victory at the Battle of Agincourt
This article takes issue with the deterministic conclusions of a recent study by three scientists who investigated the effects of wearing armour on soldier exhaustion during the battle of Agincourt.
Agincourt 1415 – 2015
Anne Curry talks about the myths and history of the Battle of Agincourt
Agincourt 600 Celebrated with Pomp and Pageantry at Westminster Abbey
600 years ago, the bells of Westminster Abbey rang out as word arrived in London that Henry V had defeated the French in Agincourt. 600 years later to the very day, the bells pealed out again to commemorate a medieval battle where the English were vastly outnumbered but still came home victorious.
Celebrating Agincourt 600 at the Wallace Collection
This week, historians around the world are gearing up to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, one of the most significant battles of the Hundred Year’s War.
Agincourt 1415: The Battle
What you haven’t got is an ordered advance – you’ve got complete and total chaos.
Five Myths about the Battle of Agincourt
Anne Curry explains that ‘no other battle has generated so much interest or some much myth’ as the Battle of Agincourt, fought on October 25, 1415.
Tactics, Strategy, and Battlefield Formation during the Hundred Years War: The Role of the Longbow in the ‘Infantry Revolution’
The English longbow had a tremendous impact on strategy and tactics during the Hundred Years War.
From Agincourt (1415) to Fornovo (1495): aspects of the writing of warfare in French and Burgundian 15th century historiographical literature
The object of this thesis is to inquire into some major aspects of the historiographical writing of war in France and Burgundy, from Henry V’s invasion of France in 1415 to the first wars of Italy.
Small-town life in a late medieval Burgundy: the case of Cluny
To serve the domestic needs of the mother community, a town grew up at the gates of the abbey in which traders and merchants, men of law and craftsmen of all sorts soon established themselves.
New Location for the Battle of Crécy discovered
For over 250 years it has been believed that the Battle of Crécy, one of the most famous battles of the Middle Ages, was fought just north of the French town of Crécy-en-Ponthieu in Picardy. Now, a new book that contains the most intensive examination of sources about the battle to date, offers convincing evidence that the fourteenth-century battle instead took place 5.5 km to the south.
‘The boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman’: Fiery Joanna and the Siege of Hennebont
It ranks as one of the most fascinating stories from the 14th century, one that chroniclers of that time relished in telling and historians have ever since recounted.
Rollo, Viking Count of Normandy
n recounting what is known of Viking history and the sagas which were written about in the Middle Ages, Clements tells the story of Hrolf the Walker, otherwise known as Rollo or Rolf.
Making Identities in the Hundred Years War: Aquitaine, Gascony and Béarn
This paper focuses on three phases in which political issues played crucial roles to make Gascon identities in the time of the Hundred Years War.
‘Virile Strength In A Feminine Breast’: Women, Hostageship, Captivity, And Society In The Anglo-French World, C. 1000- C.1300
My interest in the relationship between hostage- and captive-taking practices and gender originally arose out of the idea for a much grander project about women and warfare.
Avalanches in the Middle Ages
One of the dangers a medieval traveller might face when crossing through mountainous terrain is the threat of avalanches.
The Strange Mystery Of The King’s Head: Henry IV of France (1553-1610)
This paper reexamines the claims which were made in both the documentary and a subsequent book on the subject and, with respect, challenges the conclusions made by the investigators.