Today in Medieval History
Nov. 20 1316 – King John 1, called The Posthumous, died. He was only five years old. His uncle, Phillip V, was accused of causing his death.
Home » Medieval History »
Medieval History
Elections in Medieval England
The following article examines the birth of parliament in medieval England. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/birth_of_parliament_01.shtml Topics covered include: Early parliaments Emergence of the commons Kings, lords, and commons Elections and constituencies Complaint and redress Parliament and political opposition
The Battle of Stamford Bridge Society
Each year, the Battle of Stamford Bridge Society holds a big two day re-enactment event surrounding the battle that occurred on September 25th, 1066. This years event will be held on September 22nd/23rd. It attracts around 300-400 Saxon and Viking warriors. These folks set up living history tents and then re-enact various aspects… Read More »The Battle of Stamford Bridge Society
Kingdom of Northumbria
The kingdom of Northumbria originally consisted of the two independent kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. Bede writes that Ida was the earliest king of Bernicia. In the early seventh century, Ethelfrith expelled the heir to Deira and ruled over both Bernicia and Deira for the first time, forming Northumbria. A… Read More »Kingdom of Northumbria
The Huscarls
The huscarls were the household troops of the English king. The traditional meaning of the term in Old Norse meant simply a household servant. The term later evolved to reference the personal bodyguard of the king. It is believed the huscarls were firmly established in England under the reign of… Read More »The Huscarls
Review of Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell
Once again Bernard Cornwell transports the reader to the Hundred Years War with Agincourt. As you can surmise from the title, the novel centers around the Battle of Agincourt, when on October 25 of 1415, a ragged, starved and outnumbered English army of 6,000 men faced off against 30,000 French… Read More »Review of Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell
Bamburgh Castle
Towering 150 feet above the northeast coastline of England, the castle of Bamburgh sits as a formidable defense, a testament to the once great glory of the Northumbrian kingdom. The first written reference to the castle is around 547 AD, when the Anglo-Saxon ruler Ida of Bernicia established the castle… Read More »Bamburgh Castle
The Viking Invasion of England: Lindisfarne Abbey
The sack of Lindisfarne Abbey is considered by many historians to begin the period of the Viking invasions of England. It is mentioned briefly in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as such: This year came dreadful fore-warnings over the land of the Northumbrians, terrifying the people most woefully: these were immense sheets… Read More »The Viking Invasion of England: Lindisfarne Abbey
Harald Hardrada
Harald Sigurdsson (1015 – September 25, 1066), later given the epithet Hardrada (Old Norse: roughly translated as “stern counsel” or “hard ruler”) was the king of Norway from 1047 until 1066. He also claimed to be the King of Denmark until 1064, often defeating King Sweyn’s army and forcing him… Read More »Harald Hardrada