The Lombards and other Italian merchants first introduced the term bank in the commercial centers of medieval western Europe to signify the business of money. Banks – the term means “credit negotiated on a counter at banco” — grew in the Middle Ages as a result of a wider money… Read More »A Brief History of Medieval Banks
Aethelbad’s War Date: 733 – 750 Aethelbad’s War involved the kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex, and Northumbria. The Mercian king, Aethelbad (r. 716 – 757), and his cousin Offa — who was to be Athelbad’s successor — invaded Wessex and Northumbria with the vision of unifying England under Mercian rule. At… Read More »Famous Wars in Medieval History: Aethelbad’s War
On this date, December 1, in medieval history: 1135 – King Henry I of England, the fourth son of William the Conqueror, dies. He was buried at Reading Abbey. 1170 – Thomas Becket reconciles with King Henry II and returns to his See at Canterbury after a six-year-long exile. *image… Read More »Medieval Timeline: Today in Medieval History
The Angles and Saxons arrived in England sometime during the 5th century, not long after Rome had fled the island and left the Britons to fight against their northern aggressors, the Picts. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in A.D. 449: In their days Hengest and Horsa, invited by Wurtgern, king… Read More »The Anglo-Saxons in Medieval England
On this date, November 20th, in medieval history: 1272 – Edward I (“Longshanks”) begins his reign as King of England 1316 – John I King of France dies; he was born only five days earlier on November 15 1376 – Richard of Bordeaux (Richard II), son of the Black Prince,… Read More »Medieval Timeline: Today in Medieval History
This post is intended to provide only a brief and basic overview of feudalism, not an in-depth study by any means. The idea is to hopefully stimulate discussion about feudalism from more knowledeable experts than myself. The word “feudalism” is a 17th century term used by legal historians to explain… Read More »The Framework of Feudalism
I’ve added a list of medieval history resources to my site. These are sites (not blogs) I’ve come across while browsing the web. I had been storing them in my del.icio.us account but thought I’d go ahead and share them here as well. I’ve put them in the right-hand sidebar… Read More »New List of Medieval History Online Resources
Charles Martel (b. 688 – d. 741) was the founder of the Carolingian dynasty and ruler of the Franks during the early 8th century. He was born near Liege around 688 to Pepin II of Heristal and Pepin’s mistress Alpaide. Tested militarily in his youth, Charles fought against his half-brothers… Read More »Great Military Leaders in Medieval History: Charles Martel
On this date, November 12th, in medieval history: 607 – Death of Boniface III 1035 – Death of Canute the Great (or Cnut or Knut), norse king of England and Norway and Denmark (and parts of Sweden); he ruled England from 1016 – 1035 *Note: image is of a silver… Read More »Medieval Timeline: Today in Medieval History