Mainmorte (or mortmain)
[mawrt-meyn]
Etymology: Middle English morte-mayne, from Anglo-French mortmain, from morte (feminine of mort dead) + main hand, from Latin manus
1) The lord’s right to a share of his men’s personal estate after death. (Duby, Georges. Rural Economy and Country Life in the Medieval West, 555)
2) The condition of lands or tenements held without right […]
Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on November 27th, 2009 | No Comments »
According to westeros.org:
Filming on the Game of Thrones pilot has wrapped, according to VFX producer Julia Frey. So ends three weeks of shooting that took place in three different countries and involved a primary cast two dozen strong and more than a hundred extras.
Read more …
Filed under: George R.R. Martin, Fantasy on November 25th, 2009 | 2 Comments »
After securing his hold over majority of England, William the Conqueror invaded Scotland in 1072. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:
This year King William led a naval force and a land force to Scotland, and beset that land on the sea-side with ships, whilst he led his land-force in at the Tweed; but he found nothing […]
Filed under: Battles, Wars, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on November 23rd, 2009 | No Comments »
Arbalest
[ahr-buh-list]
Etymology: Middle English arblast, from Anglo-French arblaste, arcbaleste, from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus bow + ballista — more at arrow
1) A crossbow with a steel box stave. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 246)
The arbalest was similar to the crossbow, but it was much larger and more powerful than the crossbow. It also had a […]
Filed under: Arms and Armor, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on November 20th, 2009 | No Comments »
Mercenaries: The Conquest Trilogy, Book I by Jack Ludlow
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Allison & Busby (October 12, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0749007850
Product Description:
Six brothers, trained since birth to become great warriors, prepare to experience their first taste of battle.
1033, along the Norman/French border. The sons of Tancred de Hauteville are following in their father’s footsteps. As knights, they have […]
Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval History, Historical Fiction on November 19th, 2009 | 8 Comments »
With historical fiction, do you prefer to know the actual history before or after you have read the novel? Or does the history matter to you at all? You don’t care as long as it’s a good story?
Filed under: Discussion Topics, Historical Fiction on November 18th, 2009 | 16 Comments »
Lloyd Alexander was one of the first fantasy authors I can remember reading. Actually, the Prydain Cycle was the series that really got me hooked on the genre. I was in sixth grade and someone handed me The Book of Three (the first book in the series). I need to go back at some point […]
Filed under: Fantasy on November 17th, 2009 | 3 Comments »
I started working on my novel again this week. It’s the first time I’ve written something new in months. I’m re-writing the first scene entirely, and this is what I have so far (always subject to change, of course):
****
He knows the truth. Cobus held the parchment next to the flame on his desk, the red […]
Filed under: Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Novel, Fantasy, Creative Writing on November 12th, 2009 | 9 Comments »
Built by Roger de Montgomery on the site of an existing Saxon fortification, the castle of Arundel overlooks the River Arun in West Sussex. William the Conqueror granted Roger de Montgomery the land and charged him with the task of defending the southern coast of England from attack.
The oldest part of the castle is the […]
Filed under: Castles, Middle Ages History, Medieval History on November 11th, 2009 | 5 Comments »
What is the difference between a prologue and first chapter of a novel? I’ve noticed some authors choose to use prologues while others skip right to the first chapter. In terms of an introductory chapter to a novel, what determines if that chapter should be labeled a prologue or simply chapter one?
Filed under: Discussion Topics on November 9th, 2009 | 20 Comments »
