As cardinals get ready to elect Francis I's successor, here are my five favourite popes from the Middle Ages... Before we start, just wanted to let you know that Season 7 of my podcast This Is History: A Dynasty To Die For launches today.
Swaddling was a common practice in medieval Europe, believed to protect and strengthen infants — but archaeological research shows it may have had unintended effects on their developing skeletons.
Time to get your questions in... Chaucer heads will agree that April is in many ways the medieval-est of all the months. As the great poet wrote at the start of his Canterbury Tales, April is a time for sweet showers, the sun parading through Aries and small fowls making melody.
Over thirty Swedish queens are profiled in this book, the first major study of royal women in Sweden between the 10th and 14th centuries. It offers new insights into the evolution of medieval queenship.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople stood at the heart of Byzantine public life. This book explores the history of the stadium, the thrilling chariot races it hosted, and the vital role it played in the political, social, and cultural fabric of the empire.
This collection of 16 essays explores the medieval story of Robin Hood, examining its sources, how it may have been understood by medieval audiences, and what it reveals about the broader fabric of medieval society.
Discover five surprising facts about the Crown of Thorns, from its origins as a leafy wreath to its role in medieval kingship and Christian art.
World-changing history was made at Hillsborough Castle, which should be on everyone’s bucket list This week I went to stay in a castle.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Nathen Amin about Henry Tudor’s Welsh ancestry, how generations of royals and rebels shaped him, and how he managed to claim the English throne despite desperately long odds.
Why does the humble donkey appear alongside prophets and demons? This book delves into the many roles donkeys play in Arabic literature—from comic relief to a symbol of the supernatural.
The writings of Pawel Wlodkowic, a 15th-century Polish canon lawyer, are translated in this book. It offers a fascinating view from Poland of their rivalry with the Teutonic Order, their relations with pagan peoples, and Wlodkowic’s opinions on human rights.
Why didn’t the Inquisition prosecute werewolves? This article explores how lycanthropy straddled folklore, law, and theology in early modern Europe.
