Revolting Scots: Rebels or National Enemy? Crown Communications and Public Perceptions in Early Fourteenth-Century England
Andy King talks about the views of the Scots within England during the early 14th century.
New study strengthens claims Richard III murdered ‘the Princes in the Tower’
King Richard III’s involvement in one of the most notorious and emotive mysteries in English history may be a step closer to being confirmed following a new study by Professor Tim Thornton of the University of Huddersfield.
Medieval Scandinavia: The Downfall of the Kalmar Union
For the ninth and last article in the series, Beñat Elortza Larrea explores the internal tensions and conflicts that caused the dissolution of the Kalmar Union.
King Richard III with Chris Skidmore
Love him or hate him, Richard III is a king that has captured people’s imaginations ever since his death on the battlefield at Bosworth. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Chris Skidmore about the man he calls England’s most controversial king.
Medieval Scandinavia: War, Plague, and the Beginning of the Kalmar Union
Beñat Elortza Larrea discusses the ravages of famine, warfare and disease in fourteenth-century Scandinavia, culminating with the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1397.
From Macbeth to Malcolm III and the Right to be King, with Marian Toledo
The eleventh-century would see the reigns of the two well-known Scottish kings – Macbeth and Malcolm III. Their story would be immortalized by Shakespeare, but what can we learn about their history? Marian Toledo joins Kate Buchanan to discuss Marian’s journey to studying medieval Scottish history and her work on Malcolm III”s right to rule Scotland.
The White Ship Disaster, with Charles Spencer
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Charles Spencer about the 900th anniversary of one of those pivotal moments that sent shockwaves through history: the White Ship disaster.
Child Emperor vs Empress Dowager: Regency in the Western Xia
Court intrigue and poison plots were rife, policy swung from one direction to the other, and geopolitical relations were put under severe strain.
The Political Opposition to Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118)
Byzantium in the 11th century was marked by the struggle between the bureaucracy and the military landed aristocracy. The seizure of power by Alexios I was, therefore, the final victory of the latter.
The Upstart King: Jingzong of Xia
The headstrong and ambitious ruler of an underdog state, Jingzong’s bold military and civil policies reached into almost every aspect of Xia life.
Dreaming of Constantinople after the Failed Ottoman Siege of Vienna
The failure of the Ottoman campaign against Vienna in 1529 had further consequences beyond the center of the conflict. This event seems to have given new hope to traumatized Christian rulers and their subjects that perhaps the Ottoman armies could be halted from their steady advances into Europe.
What was a (royal) bastard good for, anyways?
As we have explored throughout this series that family was of paramount importance to the twelfth century English aristocracy.
The Hundred Years War Revisited: The End of the Beginning
The end of the Hundred Years’ War came about due to successful political and military reforms effectively implemented by Charles VII, and a series of devastating blunders and mismanagement by his counterpart Henry V.
The Struggle for Power within the Mamluk Sultanate
The Mamluks had a long tradition of deposing and/or killing their own rulers. Only a few sultans could meet the challenges posed by revolts, civil wars, and internal struggles.
The Ottomans in Medieval Eastern Europe
How the Ottomans expanded into medieval Eastern Europe – an overview from the 14th century to the 16th century.
Courage Under Fire: Richard II and the Peasants’ Revolt
The Peasants’ Revolt tested the mettle of teenaged king Richard II in unimaginable ways.
Geoffrey: the Prodigal Son of Henry II
Geoffrey’s devotion to Henry II and the favored status which saw him rise high in his father’s reign
The Hundred Years’ War Revisited: English Blunders in the 14th century
So how was it that after this seemingly total victory could England let the initiative slip through its fingers?
William Longespée: The Tyrant’s Enforcer
Born sometime around the mid 1170s, William Longespée was the son of King Henry II and the most aristocratic and well connected of his known mistresses, Ida de Tosny.
Isabella of France, Queen of England
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle tells the story of one of her favourite queens, Isabella of France, who went from being a child bride to storming England and toppling an anointed king.
The Hundred Years War Revisited: The ‘Caroline War’, 1369-1389
This phase is distinctive in that it saw the scope of the conflict between England and France become truly international – some of its most notable battles were fought far from the home territories of the two belligerents in places as far north as Scotland and Flanders and as far south as Castile and Portugal.
How to Rebel via Jokes and Laughter: Two Examples of Rebellious Emotions in the Early Middle Ages
Two very different examples of public emotions have been presented. On the one hand Sichar failed to fulfill his ritual obligation by using a too rude joke. His attempt to rebel against his conqueror backfired and led – without any laughter at his bad joke – to his own death.
The Challenge of State Building in the Twelfth Century: the Crusader States in Palestine and Syria
The crusader states in the twelfth century do not conform to the stereotypical constructs of historians and economists; instead they present a series of paradoxes.
Hamelin de Warenne: The Devoted Black Sheep
Hamelin is something of an anomaly, being the only illegitimate royal family member raised to an earldom during the twelfth century who was not the son of a king.