History of Easter Eggs
Easter eggs are ubiquitous this time of year, ranging from chocolate delicacies to hard-boiled coloured eggs. The history of this ancient symbol is...
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.
Preliminary...
The Latter Days of Henry II Plantagenet
Henry at this time was also unable to seek solace in the company of his wife and family, as they were as usual at...
Battlefield! Hotspur and Henry IV at the Battle of Shrewsbury
After the Battle of Shrewsbury, on July 21st, 1403, it was reported that the fields could not be seen beneath the sheer volume of...
The Story Behind Elizabeth’s Jewellery
In medieval times, jewels played a much bigger part in administrative duties of royals than they do now. Education was only for the rich,...
Book Review of The Medieval World Complete by Robert Bartlett
The book is divided into chapters which outline the way the Middle Ages began and ended, with other sections covering religion, the church, nations...
The Merry Month of May: Ancient Mayday Traditions
Ancient religion was based on the cycle of nature, and in the cold northern realms, the coming of spring and its explosion of new...
History of Medieval Corpse Trials
In a desire to order all things according to God's universal laws medieval communities dragged into its courts all manner of things, even...
The Vatican Library – A History
The Vatican Library in Rome is a collection of Roman Catholic manuscripts which was shrouded in secrecy for centuries. The oldest texts date back...
Capital Crimes and Punishment – Medieval Execution Methods
Modern methods of execution have at times been referred to as "cruel and unusual punishment". This article reviews ancient and medieval execution methods.
There...