Barbary Pirates, The Terrors of the North African Coast
This was no coincidence. The spark that lit the flame was the Crusading era, which began in 1095 and did not end until 1303....
Celibacy in the Early Middle Ages
Clerical celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church is usually traced to the 4th Century CE and was subsequently strengthened and reaffirmed by the papacy....
Controversy Over National Trust Reenactment Policy
I was somewhat surprised when visiting the National Trust Derbyshire property, Calke Abbey, in August 2011 to be greeted in the entrance hall by...
The Acquisition of Bourges by Philip I of France
In his 48 year reign, Philip I, 1060-1108, managed to increase his demesne by shrewd political manoeuvring, outright conquest and by means of a...
St Augustine and his Mother Monica
The early life of St Augustine was a 4th Century example of Christ’s Prodigal Son. This profligate schoolmaster of eleven years left his Christian...
Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan
Christina was born in Nyborg, Denmark in the year of 1522. She was the second living daughter of Christian II of Denmark and Isabella...
Pirates All – Barbarossa, His Brothers and Their Successors
They were Ishaq, Aruj, Ilyas and the youngest and most famous, Khair ad Din, who became known to Europeans as Barbarossa, or Red Beard.
Prisoner...
St. Brice’s Day Massacre
During the years that started with the Viking raids, England, then ruled primarily by Anglo-Saxon kings, felt vulnerable to what was widely regarded as...
Cleanliness and Sanitation in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages are often seen as a time when there was little knowledge about health and sanitation. But, attempts were made to keep...
The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was held in high regard and her cult regarded across Europe. To the medieval...