Medieval History
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The Battle of Evesham, 4 August 1265
In 1264 England was governed by Simon de Montfort. King Henry III was his prisoner but Prince Edward escaped and sought to raise a new royal army.
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Belligerent French Nobility of the 11th Century
In order to survive in the harsh and violent French medieval society, many nobles who had the means and time took up knighthood professionally.
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Halloween-Trick or Treat History in America
Trick or Treat! is a Halloween ultimatum heard in many parts of the world. It may have roots in medieval times, but it's evolved and varies, even within the U.S
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Pilgrimage the True Cross and an English Village
A quiet village in rural England, a struggling community of monks, and then their small Priory becomes a place of pilgrimage. The reason? A piece of the True Cross.
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Poetry and Politics in the Divine Comedy
In the Commedia, the character of Manfred has served Dante well as a protagonist to denounce papal expansionism and assert the supremacy of grace over clerical censure.
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The Destruction of the Knights Templar
The destruction of the Knights Templar came as a result of greed on the part of the French king, Philip IV, and not at the hands of the Catholic Church and it's pope.
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Ethical Notions and Conceptions of Chivalry
Feudal chivalry depended on certain ideal and preconceived characteristics, including fighting abilities, trustworthiness as well as a generous attitude.
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King Henry III 1216-1272
The early years of Henry's reign were transitional, the latter years turbulent and the final years tranquil.
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Fashion and Dress in the Middle Ages
Sumptuary laws established in the middle ages restricted clothing expenditures to maintain class structure.
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Gothic Cathedrals in Medieval Societies
Gothic cathedrals were first and foremost houses of worship, yet they served as a spiritual guidebook for the illiterate masses as well as a commercial hub for cities.
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Medieval Porridge or Frumenty
Porridge, a centuries old staple food, was originally the only way to obtain nutrition from grain, but with the arrival of bread, it became a less popular side dish.
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A Brief History of Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture in Europe and Great Britain grew out the Crusades. The rounded arches in churches soon evolved to the strong arch and Gothic style was born.
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The Life of William Marshal
William Marshal rose from trainee knight to become one of the most powerful men in medieval England, serving not one but four kings.
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Life and Work in Medieval Monasteries
Some of the most important work carried on during the Dark Ages was done by humble monks copying ancient manuscripts in cold, dark monasteries.
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Medieval Outlaws
Robin Hood is the most famous outlaw of the medieval period. Although he may have been fictional, there are other characters who did live real and lawless lives.
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Poisoned Pen Manuscripts and Red Ink
Monks who copied Bibles and other classical literature during the Dark Ages may have died of mercury poisoning. Colorful inks from various mineral pigments were used.
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Royal Medieval Class Structure
Not even the royal families of Europe, the most powerful people of their time, could escape from being broken down into feudal class categories.
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Noble Medieval Class Structure
For nobles of medieval Europe, a title would be rewarded to a person who performed some service to the monarch and would usually be passed down to each new generation.
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Commoners of Medieval Europe
The lowest members of society, the medieval commoners of Europe were broken down into two classes each with individual ranks and titles.
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How to Find Medieval Primary Sources
Primary sources are extremely important in medieval research, but very hard to find. With the help of the Internet and a few choice websites primary sources can be found.
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Fugitives in Medieval England
As an outlaw in the medieval period there were few options available to maintain your freedom.
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The Sport of Jousting and Medieval Tournaments
Jousting is often depicted in film as quite a romantic sport, with the lady gracing her champions lance with her scarf. In reality it could be a deadly past time.
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The Council of Constance and Jan Hus
On 6 July 1415 Jan Hus was burned at the stake as a heretic. Using John Wyclif as a comparison, it becomes clear that Hus could have survived his trial.
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Medieval Animal Trials
Medieval law tried bug swarms and entire classes of animals in serious church courts they failed to attend, before sentencing them to biblical curses that failed to work.
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What is the Society for Creative Anachronism?
The SCA offers a mix between the fun of a renaissance faire and the focus on historical information of a civil war reenactment, centered around the medieval period.
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SCA Costume Resources on the Internet
Costuming is part of being an SCA member, but many beginners don't know how to get started. There are many online resources for making or buying medieval costumes.
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Pope Clement V's Loyalties
Against commonly accepted truths, Pope Clement V was a pro-English pope with deep ties to the King of England, Edward I (Longshanks).
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What are SCA Kingdoms?
The Society for Creative Anachronism is divided into 19 kingdoms, geographical organized groups that hold events and organize resources for their members.
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Gossip Destroys a Pope's Memory
Due to chronicler Giovanni Villani, Pope Clement V has wrongly been labeled a puppet of the French king, Philip IV.
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Animal Executions of the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages animals were tried in local courts for crimes ranging from theft and vandalism, to homicide and sexual perversion: after which they were often executed
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The Long Term Causes of the First Crusade
The first Crusade (1096-1099) stoked the flames of what was to become a cataclysmic explosion between the two great religions of the medieval world.
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Medieval Armor
In the violence of medieval Europe, the strenght of a knight's armor often determined his success in battle and therefore it became one of his most prized possessions.
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Weapons of Medieval Europe
Medieval knights had many different weapons in their arsenal, but they were all designed to inflict the most damage possible to their opponents on the battlefield.
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The Life of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface was a man who brought a great expansion of the Catholic faith, and here is a political and modern evaluation of his life.
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Treatment of Prisoners and Noble Knighthood
Knighthood went through various changes over the centuries. Courtesy was important for protecting knights from mistreatment and ensuring fairness and justice.
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Pope Innocent III
The time of Pope Innocent III is a struggle between secular and religious powers. Through his reign, the Roman Catholic Church came to dominate medieval Europe.
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The Bosci
The Grazers took Christian monastic asceticism to new extremes. By being more like animals, those who were never cast from Eden, they hoped to gain God's favour.
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Medieval Church Corruption
Cycles of Medieval church corruption coincided with the growth of strong secular rulers and were only tempered by the appearance of reformist popes and church orders.
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The Short Term Causes of the First Crusade
The Plight of Byzantium and the Council of Claremont provided the key short term causes of the First Crusade.
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From Military Practice to Knightly Courtly Love
Tournaments began as a substitute for war and gradually changed into a festival and show of talents for the ladies influencing notions of courtesy and knightly love.
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In the Great Hall of a Medieval Castle
The medieval castle was essentially a communal environment and the Great Hall was the hub of its activity. Here the household ate, worked, socialized, and slept.
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Pagan Germanic Religious Beliefs
Although Germanic pagans adopted Roman and foreign gods and goddesses, their primary worship focused on nature and the supernatural, incorporating magic and divination.
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Food and Feasting in Medieval Times
Eating and drinking in the Great Hall of a medieval castle did much more than provide sustenance and entertaining guests was much more than run-of-the-mill hospitality.
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The Etiquette of Medieval Feasting
In medieval times, correct procedures were important in virtually every aspect of a meal. There were strict rules for serving and eating food and for drinking.
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St. Nicholas Day December 6th
The modern image of Santa Claus is a hybrid of old Germanic pagan beliefs and the Medieval Cult of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor.
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Women in a Medieval Castle
A medieval castle was essentially a masculine environment. Women were present, but only in small numbers and usually comprised the lady and her attendants and servants.
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Reasons for the Medieval Executions of Animals
Animal trials and executions were debated even in the Middle Ages so what were the arguments behind their long public acceptance?
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The Extraordinary Life of Abraham Abulafia
Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia who was born in Saragossa, Spain in around 1240, was a mystic and visionary who believed that he was destined to be a prophet.
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Medieval Church Lawyers
Medieval Church lawyers used ingenious arguments defending animals in court, and unexpectedly laid the foundations for the animal executions of later secular courts.
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Crimes of the Middle Ages
In 1642 Massachusetts teenager Thomas Granger raped a mare, a cow, two goats, two calves, five sheep and a turkey, all of whom were put on trial and later executed.
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