MedievalMadness

Through the ages humans have resolved disputes by fighting with one another and this was also true in the Middle Ages when judiciary duels were often held. Also known as trial by combat or battle by combat it was seen as a chivalric way to settle a dispute. If an accusation was made against someone, without a witness or a confession, fighting in single combat was the only way to recognise who was right and who was wrong. Medieval duels were not just about brute strength, they were often about nerve and cunning. Here we will travel back in time to take a look at this Medieval mode of justice and hear about some of the more famous Medieval duels. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Were the Middle Ages really as brutal and sadistic as we imagine today? There are many records from the time that actually do prove the stereotype to be true. Let’s face it we all know what the character Marsellus Wallace meant in the film Pulp Fiction when he threatened, “I’m gonna get Medieval on your a*s!”

When a Medieval death occurred in England an official appointed by the crown and known as the Coroner was responsible for finding out what had happened. By the 13th century there were four coroners in every county. Each one of them had a deputy who would sometimes hold an inquest. Their duties extended to a range of criminal matters, not just a violent or sudden death, but if that was thought to be the case, then the Coroner and the Sheriff would swear in a jury of local men to investigate how the victim had died. These investigations were chronicled in the ‘Coroners’ Rolls’. For the Medievals carrying weapons was part of daily life, male honour had to be safeguarded at all costs and arguments could very quickly get out of hand. Many of these records from the Coroners’ Rolls in London during the late 13th and 14th centuries have survived.

Animals were everywhere in Medieval life. They were used to pull carts and plough fields, they were milked, sheared, skinned and eaten. But were they ever kept just for the sake of companionship, as we keep them today? We often think of pets as animals that live indoors with us. The word ‘pet’ as describing a sort of companion animal wasn’t even used, in the English language until the 16th century. And then only in the North of England and Scotland. The Oxford English Dictionary definition states that a pet is ‘an animal, a bird, etc. that you have at home for pleasure, rather than one that is kept for work or food’, for the Medievals this wasn’t always the case, as many families who lived in the countryside would have had a byre attached to their living area which they shared with, goats and cattle. Dogs used for hunting often lived indoors as did cats, whose job was to catch mice.

With this video we continue to look at the records kept by the royal official known as the Coroner. In the Middle Ages witness testimony was often all an investigator had to go on and often the only witness available was the victim or perpetrator of the crime. And neither were likely to give a fair and balanced statement. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when these records were made, people were happy to accept circumstantial evidence as fact. The investigators recorded as much detail as they were able to gather, noting the time and place of the death, any wounds on the body and who was around at the time of the incident. Despite all of this routine detective work it was very likely that if the culprit was able to get away from the scene, they would disappear into the countryside and may never be held to account. Lets go back in time now and discover some of the poor souls who lost their lives in unusual circumstances and some of the perpetrators who carried out the dirt

Remember the expression ‘You’ve got to laugh or else you’ll cry’, well we all need a little bit of laughter in our lives and the Medievals were no different. Let’s face it having to deal with poverty, being supremely pious and suffering from horrific diseases like the Black Death was enough to make anybody miserable and the Medievals had to grab whatever joy they could. Let’s travel back in time for some more funny stories and naughty jokes from the Middle Ages. Where, traditionally the butt of the joke would either be the voracious sexual appetites of women, the corruption of the clergy or the stupidity of peasants.

During the Middle Ages there were some crazy stories of sleaze, extortion and sex, some even involved crazed kings and corrupt popes. From sorcery that prevented a royal marriage being consummated to a cross dressing prostitute. Lets travel back in time and discover some of the strangest and most unbelievable medieval scandals. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Public executions were a major part of life in the largest and most significant city in the kingdom. The first recorded execution happened there in 1196, but we can be certain that capital punishment took place in London long before the 12th century. London offered an impressive backdrop for some of the most infamous executions in history. As the power of the state became greater, public punishments were used to deter others from taking on a life of crime. The watching crowds grew larger as people became more comfortable with the spectacle of violence. Executions were always carried out in public but in London they became a theatrical performance. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

15th century Florence was the epitome of a Renaissance city and home to some of the greatest philosophers, inventors and artists that have ever lived. A place full of new ideas, free thinking and beauty and also home to two families with tremendous wealth and power, the Pazzi’s and the Medici’s. On Easter Sunday 26th April 1478, a group of conspirators from the Pazzi family decided it would really like to destroy the Medici family and would start by murdering its two leaders Giuliano and Lorenzo. Of all the places for this vicious attack to take place it was the beautiful Florentine Cathedral during High Mass that was chosen and what followed was a bloodbath. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

In the Middle Ages fighting females were uncommon. Joan of Arc being a rare exception. But she was not the only woman to strap on armour and wield a sword. In this video we will travel back to the 14th century to meet a vengeful noblewoman who became a pirate and reigned down terror on the King of France. Welcome to Medieval Madness

Once upon a time in a land far, far away there was a king. He was not only a great king but also a committed Christian. His name was Prester John, and he reigned over 72 countries. The lands that he ruled were rich with gold and silver and overflowing with fantastic creatures. King Prester wrote to many popes in Rome to declare his faithfulness to the Catholic Church. He also described, in his letters many beasts that were unknown in the Western world; men with three eyes and horns on their foreheads, unicorns, female warriors who fought on horseback and men who lived to be 200 years old. Of course, it’s easy to dismiss the story as a fairy-tale but there is evidence to support the legend actually having its roots firmly planted in historical fact. And his name crops up again and again during the Middle Ages. So, just who was Prester John really and where did he come from? Welcome to Medieval Madness.

In 1960 the author Philippe Ariès published his controversial book Centuries of Childhood: A Social History of Family Life. In it he claimed that “in Medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist”. So, let’s travel back in time now and find out if the idea of childhood really is a modern phenomenon, what it was like to be a teenager in the Middle Ages, what age children went out to work for a living and why Elizabeth Paston was beaten until her head broke. Welcome to Medieval Madness

Throughout human history one thing has remained constant, namely the enjoyment of having sex, but by the late Middle Ages both gonorrhoea and syphilis were widespread. Although the poor could only make do with superstition and herbal remedies, the rich could rely on their expensive physicians. Without antibiotics though the success of any treatment was mostly based on luck. Especially when you consider that one popular medication, for those who could afford it, was mercury ointment, which we now know to be toxic and would end up fatally poisoning the patient anyway.

It was supposed to be an end to the Danish Civil War and a celebration of peace. But by the third day of revelries one of the three men who were fighting for the throne was dead, another wounded and the third was being blamed. So what really happened in the Danish capital of Roskilde on August 9th, 1157? Was it an acceptable preventative strike or just good old, premeditated murder? Let’s travel back in time now to the middle of the 12th century in Scandinavia and find out about Danish political affairs, family feuds and treachery. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

It has been argued that during the Middle Ages, up to 85% of the population were peasants. Their working day was long, hard, and extremely difficult. For some their day of backbreaking labour could begin as early as three o’clock in the morning during the summer. If you were lucky or unlucky enough (depending on your point of view) to avoid the high rate of infant mortality and the constant threat of deadly disease then as a medieval peasant farmer you had an exhausting, cruel, and short life to look forward to. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Art is always open to interpretation. You can spend hours poring over a piece and always find something different every time you see it. Paintings, altar pieces and frescos by genius’ such as Da Vinci, Van Eyck and Bosch have always attracted the curiosity of art historians because they are thought to hide mysteries, cryptic details or hidden symbols. Here we take a closer look at the works of three of the worlds greatest painters who were alive during the Late Medieval Period. Welcome to Medieval Madness

Dive into the fascinating world of Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England, in this captivating documentary here on MedievalMadness. We'll explore his life, reign, and the controversies that surrounded him, from his rise to power to his untimely death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Discover the truth behind the myths and legends that have shaped his legacy, and learn about the recent archaeological discoveries that have shed new light on this enigmatic figure. Join us as we unravel the mystery of Richard III and reveal the man behind the crown. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more intriguing historical medieval content!

Worship of the saints was a central belief of the medieval church. But not all saints had equal importance. The appeal of some was universal and they were revered right across Christendom. Usually established very early on they were often figures from the Bible such as Saint John the Baptist or Saint Paul who were martyred during Roman rule. But at the opposite end of the scale were also the little-known saints connected to local cults. Let us travel back in time and take a look at some saint worshippers who were at odds with one another, the martyred and murdered children and the strange relics that were all part of the Medieval Cult of Saints. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

It’s been called the most mysterious manuscript in the world and for centuries researchers, historians and linguists have all failed to decipher the puzzling drawings of plants, astrological symbols and bare-naked ladies. It’s a book that no one can read and has no title. In 1962, American cryptanalyst and author Elizabeth Smith Friedman felt that trying to decipher the manuscript was “doomed to utter frustration”. So just what is the Voynich Manuscript, and would the information contained in it really revolutionise our understanding of Medieval history, if we could just decode it? Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Most people know what it means when someone is described as a conman. It’s short for confidence man: what we would know today as a scammer. People who use deceit, cleverness and lies for their own ends. The scam is usually about greed and is a way of defrauding someone to get their money. Although we associate scams today with phones and modern technology they have been around for hundreds of years. Let's travel back in time to the Middle Ages and hear about some of those swindlers. There we will meet a fake cursed prince, dodgy government inspectors and some naughty bakers.

It was a spectacular win for the young English King Henry V on St. Crispin’s Day 1415. And everybody loves to see a win for the underdog, a victory for the common soldier over the well-armed knight. It felt like every moment of the Hundred Years War had been leading up to this point. A pivotal battle that would change the course of European warfare forever and saw the French army lose to an English army that was less than half its size. But war is, and was a dangerous and violent affair, so today we continue our ‘Day in the Life’ series and travel back in time to see what life was like for one of Henry V’s soldiers at the Battle of Agincourt. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

The earliest mention of a birthday was around the year 3,000 BCE and was in reference to an Egyptian Pharaoh. Although it was more about his transformation into becoming a God at his coronation than his actual birth into the world. The Ancient Greeks celebrated the birthdays of their Gods every year and believed that every person had a spirit assigned to them at birth. A spirit that had a mystic connection with the God on whose birthday they were born.

For thousands of years, people have placed curses on their enemies and wished them misfortune. Many of these hexes have involved pleas to the forces of the occult with prayers and rituals. Sometimes it might be an actual object or a place that is cursed, like a tomb. Many Medieval tales involve warnings about destruction and deaths that appear to be linked to curses. Let us travel back in time now to the Middle Ages and hear about some of these mysterious tales of a biological bomb, the downfall of a dynasty, and why a bank in Tokyo opened an account in the name of a samurai warrior who had been dead for 1,000 years.

A lot of Medieval cities were similar to ours today in that they had governing bodies, educational structures, bankers, lawyers, hospitals, merchants, and an exchange of goods and services, as well as some extraordinary cathedrals that are still standing today. Though the Medievals themselves were unsure about the advantages of their cities. The English chronicler and monk Richard Devizes wrote about London in the 1190s and said, “Whatever evil or malicious thing that can be found in any part of the world, you will find it in that one city”. So what was life like for these Medieval Metropolitans? Let’s travel back in time and find out.

It’s hard being a teenager. Coping with raging hormones, insecurities, and acne while trying to figure out just who you are and where you fit in society is no joke. It’s not really the best time to try and make important choices about your future. So, just imagine what being a teenager was like without the comfortable, modern amenities that we have today. Let’s face it, in Medieval Europe, you were lucky to have even reached your teens when childhood mortality was so high. Let’s travel back in time now to see what it was like for the youth of the Middle Ages, and why teenagers were given away to strangers and freshers had their teeth forcibly removed.

During the Middle Ages, ale was the most popular drink in England, and Medieval taverns, inns, and alehouses held a very important role in society, providing drink, food, and lodging to weary travellers, pilgrims, and even occasionally royalty. When we think of the Medieval tavern we imagine dark and smelly places with huge wooden tables and benches, places of gambling, violence, and shady business deals. But what were pubs really like in the Middle Ages? Let’s travel back in time for some leather mugs, a bit of royal paranoia, and the occasional stabbing. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

One thing has never changed throughout history. The basic need for humans to go to the toilet. It was pretty easy for those living in the countryside who could just go squat behind a bush. Things were a little different in the more urban areas though. Those who had enough money could afford themselves a personal privy. But for the common people, answering the call of nature in a public space was prohibited. In 1339 a small child, who was begging, was killed on a London street, by a cart, as he squatted to take care of business. In the public records, he was described as a ‘savage’. So what did the Medievals do when they needed to make a special delivery?

Death by elephant. It sounds like a bizarre and horrific way to go. And it may sound absurd, but death by elephant, also known in India as Gunga Rao, was actually a popular method of execution in Africa and Asia during the Middle Ages. Elephants are easily domesticated and extremely intelligent. Research has shown that they have extraordinary memories, can use objects as tools, and even recognise their own reflections. Human beings are also quite intelligent and at times extremely cruel, especially in finding new ways of killing other human beings when it comes to capital punishment. Then, it seems the one common theme is brutality, and the only differences are the methods used, because of location and cultural differences. Let’s travel back in time to take a look at this monstrous topic and the role that elephants played in both war and punishment during the Middle Ages.

Most of us have heard the fairy story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. What many of us don’t know is that the legend is based in truth. There is very little evidence as to what actually happened in the German town of Hamelin during the 13th century. In 1384 a short and sinister entry appeared in one of the town’s chronicles. It stated – “It is 100 years since our children left”, but what does this mean?

Alberico was many things, a friend and patron to troubadours, an Occitan poet, a mercenary, and a Podesta. But being politically allied to his notoriously cruel brother Ecelino didn’t help Alberico when he was eventually captured by Papal troops. What was Alberico so guilty of that had caused him to be hated in the Italian city of Treviso? The Middle Ages were violent, pitiless, and revenge-driven times. So today we continue our ‘Day In The Life’ series and travel back in time to see what life was like for Alberico Ezzelino on the worst day of HIS life, the day that he faced his execution. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

In the 21st century, we regard suicide through the lens of psychology and mental health. But in the Middle Ages, the Medievals thought of it as one of the worst sins and treated those who had died by suicide as criminals. Let’s travel back in time now and find out about Eyres, discover what Deodands are, and why the Swiss dug up Mrs Beringer and threw her into the Rhine. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

At what age was someone considered to be ‘old’ in the Middle Ages? Did greying hair automatically guarantee respect from the younger generation? Were Medievals afraid of becoming old, with all its infirmities, or were they happy to live to such a great age when death was everywhere? Now, let’s travel back in time and discuss cougars, flying monks, fat children, and their urine. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

For almost 700 years, these disciplined warriors were respected and feared in Japan, and they carved out a path that made them legends across the world. A group of the fighting elite, trained in martial arts, these highly disciplined men and women, with their light armour and super sharp blades, made European knights look like clumsy amateurs. And the badass stories told about them are insane. Let’s travel back in time and hear about some of these Samurai Warrior legends. Welcome to Medieval Japanese Madness.

On the southern bank of the River Thames is an area named Southwark. It’s over the other side of the river and across the only bridge in the city, London Bridge. In the Middle Ages, it was a land of entertainment with its own rules, a Medieval Las Vegas where people would go to watch bear and bull baiting and visit theatres, taverns, and brothels. And the person making the most money out of the whole disreputable affair was a high-ranking Bishop of the Catholic Church. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

What would the Medievals want with a burnt owl, a chopped-up cat, or dove faeces? How do you help a bald man with gout? Or a woman with ‘blocked menses?’ If they weren’t too complicated, most medicines in the Middle Ages were homemade. Many were quite practical, and most of the ingredients make sense to us because they are still recognisable today. Others are just downright freaky… Previous known as: What Was Medieval Medicine ACTUALLY Like?

Menstruation is a milestone in the life of any girl or woman. A biological phenomenon that changes her body and her social standing. But what about women who lived during the Middle Ages? Knowing what we do about Medieval hygiene it’s hard not to feel sympathy for them, without the convenience of modern pads and tampons. Did they understand what was happening to their bodies during their period? What sort of sanitary products and pain relief did they use? Why did the Medievals believe that menstrual blood was poisonous and could trigger some quite shocking magical feats? And why were medieval women wearing pouches filled with the ashes of burnt toads? Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Just suppose you could travel back in time and experience life as a Medieval. Maybe go back to the Middle Ages and live there, in England as an adult, (now why the hell would I want to do that, I hear you shouting, but just bear with me, it’s quite interesting). How would you survive? What would you eat, or wear? Where would you work? How would you avoid getting into trouble with the Church and the authorities? Let’s journey back through time now and experience the past through the eyes of a Medieval time traveller. Welcome to Medieval Madness.

Many people look at the Middle Ages through romantic eyes. They think about “armoured knights on lumbering steeds”, beautiful damsels in pointy hats, dragons, chivalry, and courtly love. Nothing could be further from the truth. For most people, the Middle Ages were dirty, difficult, and really dangerous. Let’s find out now why it was unlikely that you could stay alive and prosper and why you were likely to die quite quickly during that time. Welcome to Medieval Madness.