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.
All for the Want of a Warhorse: Horse Breeding and Royal Warfare in Thirteenth-Century England
Edward I responded to England’s medieval warhorse shortage with export bans, foreign purchases, and an expanded royal stud system. His policies show how crucial trained warhorses were to military campaigns in Wales, Scotland, and on the Continent.
Medieval England’s Coin-Clipping Scandal: The 1279 Mass Execution of Jews
Discover how a medieval panic over coin-clipping in 1278–79 sparked mass arrests, harsh trials, and the execution of hundreds of Jews in Edward I’s England. The article traces the commissions, procedures, and consequences that followed.
How Carpenters Built Medieval England
New research on medieval carpenters shows how they lived, worked, travelled, and transformed building practices in later medieval England.
New Medieval Books: Thomas Becket and His World
This biography examines the life of Thomas Becket, who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. His dramatic death, which transformed him into one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages, inspired a wealth of contemporary accounts that document his life and legacy in remarkable detail.
The Two Hundred Years’ War with Michael Livingston
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Michael Livingston about why the Hundred Years’ War should actually be called the Two Hundred Years’ War, what actually touched off the conflict, and why we should question everything.
New Medieval Books: Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans 1452-1461
This book presents a translation of a 15th-century chronicle, a key primary source for the study of the Wars of the Roses.
A New History of the Fourteenth Century with Helen Carr
The fourteenth-century is one of the most turbulent periods in European history. Famine, war, plague, royal depositions – you name it, this century’s got it. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about how England fared in these wild times, what her take is on some famous Plantagenets, and why we need to take a fresh look at this calamitous century.
The Medieval Discovery of King Arthur and Guinevere at Glastonbury Abbey
Discover how twelfth-century monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed to find the tomb of King Arthur and Guinevere. Explore Gerald of Wales’ dramatic account, rival chronicles, and the enduring legend of Arthur’s grave.
Lost Medieval Painting Rediscovered at Hexham Abbey
Hexham Abbey in northern England has unveiled a lost medieval painting, thought to be part of the Dance of Death, using advanced imaging technology.
Robert DeVere, Royal Favourite with James Ross
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with James Ross about the life of Robert de Vere – the infamous bff of King Richard II – his impact on the kingdom, and why it’s always worth taking a second look at the facts.
Medieval Buildings Revealed by Summer Drought in England
In England, this year’s drought has uncovered medieval remains at Fountains Abbey and Mottisfont, where parchmarks reveal the outlines of vanished monastic halls and cloisters.
Norwich Castle Reopens as “The People’s Palace”
Norwich Castle has reopened after a £27.5 million transformation, offering full access from basement to battlements, immersive medieval rooms, and a new British Museum gallery of 900 artefacts.
Five Game-Changers in Medieval English Castle-Building
Here are five changes in English castle design that had a big impact on history.
Early Medieval Settlement Unearthed in Northern England
Archaeologists have uncovered an early medieval settlement in Northumberland, England, dating to the 6th–7th and 11th–12th centuries, revealing rare insights into daily life in medieval Europe.
New Medieval Books: Henry III: Reform, Rebellion, Civil War, Settlement, 1258-1272
The second volume in the monumental biography of Henry III, it tells the story of how the English king faced growing discontent, leading to a rebellion that almost ended his long reign.
New Medieval Books: The Warhorse in England
Horses played a vital role in medieval warfare, and this book draws on the governmental records of Kings Edward I and Edward II to reveal how these animals were raised, trained for combat, and managed during military campaigns.
Wars of the Roses Battle May Not Have Been a Battle at All, Historians Find
New research challenges the traditional story of the Battle of Wakefield, suggesting it may not have been a battle at all—but an ambush and murder of Yorkist leaders during the Wars of the Roses.
Major Excavation at Tower of London Reveals Medieval Burials and Chapel History
A major excavation at the Tower of London is uncovering rare medieval burials, artifacts, and evidence of earlier chapels beneath St Peter ad Vincula, offering new insights into the fortress’s hidden past.