William Marshal and Richard the Lionheart: Two fierce knights in the 12th century
What happens when William Marshall and King Richard I take part in the same siege?
The Wild Variety of Medieval Names: French Men in the Hundred Years’ War
Lots of people are interested in the medieval origins of personal names. But there are more riches in the world of names than many of us realize.
Emperor Frederick II, Mr. Controversy
Let’s look at the factors that made Frederick important.
Reasons for Going on the First Crusade: A Checklist
Why did people go on the First Crusade? A look at Pope Urban II’s speech in 1095 and how it helped convince people to take the cross.
Fighting in a Mine: Was it the Ultimate Deed of Arms?
The dark and confined space of a medieval mine was not a place where you wanted to fight a battle. Yet, doing so carried a special significance for knights and men-at-arms.
Medieval Representation: England’s Parliament
Democracy has many roots, some of which are medieval.
A Dangerous Duke: Gloucester Complains about Richard II of England
The reign of England’s Richard II (1376-1399) is very interesting for giving us moderns a feel for what political debates were like at the end of the 14th century.
Medieval Heralds and the Tournament at Chauvency
While the jousting was happening, the heralds were busy working the crowds and sometimes causing trouble.
‘And the Crowds Went Wild!’: Tournaments in the Middle Ages
How tournaments and jousting began in the Middle Ages, and how it evolved throughout the centuries.
What Honour meant to the French and the Scots
Ideas about honour and chivalry could be very different within the medieval world, as this example written by Froissart shows.
What does chivalry mean?
There can be several meanings to the word chivalry.
Commoners at War: The Flemings against medieval knights
The Flemings and their wars offer a useful case study of commoners at war.
Books by Knights
Did knights write books? What did they write about? A look at serious writings by 13th and 14th-century men-at-arms.
St. George the martyr and his banner
If St. George is venerated in the present day, his reputation reaches back to the Middle Ages and Late Antiquity.
Religion and the Military: The Good Duke as a Christian Warrior
How Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, melded his role as a warrior with his Christian piety.
Why I translated The Chronicle of the Good Duke
I wanted to explain why this work is so interesting and a valuable insight into the Middle Ages.
Remarkable moments in medieval tournaments and jousting
Tournaments and jousts were often international gatherings where diplomacy, dramatic re-enactments and fighting all came together. Here we will look at some remarkable examples of these medieval deeds of arms.
When medieval tournaments go wrong!
When tragedy struck a tournament, the participants and the audience paused to reflect on whether this dangerous game was worth it. At least some of them did.
What makes Le Jouvencel a great read and a great translation
The recent translation of the 15th-century work known as Le Jouvencel is going to something that many medievalists will want to read.
Could a Peasant defeat a Knight in Battle?
Movies about the MIddle Ages often show peasants defeating knights. Was this true in history?
The Downfall of Chivalry – in the 13th century?
One can find countless examples of people in our modern world lamenting the ‘end of chivalry.’ It might be surprising to hear that medieval people were making the same claims, as far back as the 13th century.
Tales from the Hundred Years’ War: The Story of the Bascot de Mauleon
I have at times been so miserably poor that I had not a horse to mount, at other times rich enough, just as good fortune befell me.
Wit and Humour in the Hundred Years’ War
Medieval humour! Here are a few jokes and witticisms from the Hundred Years War.
Warriors Outside the Order of Chivalry
Here are two types of soldiers who attained prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries.