Did King Arthur Conquer Greenland?
A medieval legal text claimed that King Arthur ruled a vast northern empire stretching from Greenland to Russia. Discover how this unlikely story shaped merchants, explorers, and historians.
When Did a Medieval Monk First Try to Fly? New Study Reopens the Debate
A new study reopens the debate over Eilmer of Malmesbury’s famous flight, suggesting the medieval monk’s remarkable experiment may have happened decades later than previously thought.
Winchester Cathedral Launches Major 10-Year Medieval Stone Conservation Project
Winchester Cathedral has launched a major new conservation campaign aimed at preserving part of its medieval structure for future generations
Extreme Weather Pushed Medieval England into Crisis, Study Finds
Extreme weather, failed harvests, disease outbreaks, and economic collapse plunged England into crisis during the 1430s, according to a new study exploring how climate change reshaped medieval society and landholding.
How Thomas Becket Was Really Murdered in Canterbury Cathedral
Thomas Becket’s murder inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shocked medieval England and quickly turned him into a saint. But what actually happened in those final moments—and why did his death come to be seen as something more than a brutal killing?
Henry V: More Than a Warrior-King
A teenage prince wounded in battle, a king who defied the odds in France, and a ruler whose legacy still shapes how we see the Hundred Years’ War—Henry V was far more complex than the legend suggests. Michael Livingston explores the experiences that forged his character, revealing a leader who combined battlefield brilliance with calculated political ambition.
Villain or Defender of the Faith? The Complex Life of Thomas Arundel
Was Thomas Arundel a ruthless persecutor or a defender of the English Church? Chris Given-Wilson’s new book revisits one of the most powerful—and controversial—figures of late medieval England, revealing a far more complex man behind the reputation.
10 Men Who Nearly Became King of England
Meet ten men who nearly became king of England in the Middle Ages, including Edward the Black Prince, Arthur of Brittany, and Louis VIII.
New Medieval Books: Approaching Records of the Household and Wardrobe
The Household and Wardrobe Accounts are English records that document the daily needs of the king and his family. This book serves as a guide to these sources, showing how they can be used and what valuable insights they offer into medieval government.
New Medieval Books: Othon de Grandson
Othon de Grandson was one of the leading household knights of Edward I of England. This biography traces Othon’s career, from his military service in Wales to his participation in crusading expeditions to the Near East and his later work as a diplomat in continental Europe.
New Medieval Books: Castles and Strongholds of Northumberland
Planning to visit the northeast corner of England and explore its many castles? This guide is your companion, now expanded to include over 500 entries.
15 Plots Against William the Conqueror
Discover 15 rebellions, conspiracies, and assassination plots against William the Conqueror, from his youth in Normandy to his reign as King of England.
The Magical Gemstones of King John of England
King John of England’s treasure hoard included gemstones prized not only for their rarity, but for the powers medieval people believed they held. James Turner explores how kings used jewels to project authority, how lapidaries shaped ideas about stones, and what the evidence suggests about John’s personal fascination with them.
Medieval Diets Varied by Social Status in England, Study Finds
New isotope research reveals how social status shaped medieval diets in England, showing differences between friars, townspeople, rural residents, and hospital burials.
New Medieval Books: The Rose, the Bastard and the Saint King
One of the lesser-known episodes of the Wars of the Roses was the 1471 attempt by supporters of Henry VI to strike at London and free their captive king. This book is the first full study of that failed siege—and it follows the story through to Henry’s final fate.
New Medieval Books: Blessed Mary and the Monks of England
Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, has long stood at the centre of Christian theology and devotion. This book explores how English monks expressed their reverence for her—and how they held her up as a model for Christian life.
The Battle of Dupplin Moor (1332)
Scotland’s in turmoil in the 1330s—and Edward III spots an opening. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly break down the Battle of Dupplin Moor, where tactics, terrain, and timing turn chaos into catastrophe.
Roland the Farter: A Royal Christmas Performer
Roland the Farter held land in medieval England on a bizarre Christmas condition: “one jump, one whistle, and one fart” before the king. A short look at serjeanty, court ritual, and medieval humour.
New Medieval Books: Lion Hearts
Dan Jones has a gift for writing vivid, compelling prose, whether he’s tackling history or historical fiction. This novel is best read after the first two books in the trilogy. Readers interested in the fourteenth century and the Hundred Years’ War will likely find it especially rewarding.
The Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297)
In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the Battle of Stirling Bridge in Scotland as a clear example of poor generalship. Focusing on the English command’s mistakes, they explore how underestimating William Wallace and the Scottish forces led to disastrous decisions over terrain and timing.
New Medieval Books: Approaching Pipe Rolls
This book guides historians in working with Pipe Rolls, the English government’s financial records that date back to the twelfth century. These documents reveal a great deal about how England’s administration functioned during the Middle Ages.
Richard the Lionheart with Heather Blurton
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Heather Blurton about how Richard’s contemporaries saw him, the wild stories told about him in the later Middle Ages, and why we still just can’t get enough of this controversial king.
How Medieval Soldiers Profited from War under Edward I
Medieval soldiers in Edward I’s armies often turned warfare into a source of income, creating a new class of mounted military entrepreneurs.
Archaeologists Discover Medieval Village in England
Excavations in eastern England have revealed an early medieval village near Friston, medieval kiln sites on the coast, and rare prehistoric artefacts, offering new insight into East Anglia’s long-settled landscape.