Etheldreda – A Medieval Woman, Founder of Ely Cathedral
The magnificent Ely Cathedral stands on the site of a monastery established in Saxon times by the popular Anglo-Saxon Saint Etheldreda (also known as...
Mnemonic Devices in the Early Church – Augustine and Aquinas
In the fifth century a work written by Marianus Capella, De nuptiis Philogiae et Mercurii ensured the survival of the ancient art of memory....
Significance of Graduation Regalia
The cap and gown is considered standard dress for graduates at commencement ceremonies. The outfit has an interesting meaning and contains lots of...
Martyrs
Martyrs exist in all three biblical religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). The most formalized of the three, Christianity, has created a hierarchy of saints,...
Rings Were Prizes in Medieval England
Usually kings gave a purse of money at jousting tournaments, but in one case at least, ruby and diamond rings held a knights eye....
Isabella d’Angouleme
Isabella was the daughter of the Count of Angoulême and was a great niece of Louis VII of France. She was only thirteen when...
Royal Charters: Sources for the Study of the Early Capetian Kings
The study of the early Capetian kings, from Hugh Capet to Philip I, is a period of vague understandings, especially when compared to that...
Why the Protestant Reformation Succeeded
The “success” of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century may be a relative concept. The Reformation is generally associated with Martin Luther and...
Medieval England and Vikings: The Culmination of the Viking Influence on England, Part 2
In the Danelaw and Northumbria, a sense of independence from the rest of England evolved that would later cause the Normans to be harsher...
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?
Superstition and pragmatism exist...