The Evening of the World: A Romance of the Dark Ages (Dark Ages Trilogy) by Allan Massie *this novel borders on the late Roman, early medieval period Paperback – 304 pages Publisher – Orion Publishing (June 1, 2002) Description: The Evening of the World is set in the period of the… Read More »Medieval Historical Fiction Novel of the Week
Came across this list someone posted that represents, in his/her opinion, the nine most accurate medieval history movies. I thought it was an interesting list. There are several on here that I had never heard of. Are there any you can think of that should have made the list? List… Read More »Historically Accurate Medieval Movies
Hoarding [hawr-ding, hohr-] Wooden galleries erected on the face of a castle’s battlements to enable the defenders to fire on men attacking the base of the wall. (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 249)
Coif Pronunciation: [koif] Middle English coife, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cofea 1) Mail hood covering the head (Wise, Terence. Medieval Warfare, 247) 2) a hoodlike cap worn under a veil by nuns 3) any of various hoodlike caps, varying through the centuries in shape and purpose, worn by men… Read More »Medieval Term of the Week: Coif
Falchion Pronunciation: [fawl-chuhn, -shuhn] Etymology: Middle English fauchoun, from Anglo-French fauchun, from faucher to mow, from Vulgar Latin *falcare, from Latin falc-, falx 1) Broad-bladed cutting weapon. (Prestwich, Michael. Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, 347) 2) Short, curved single-edged sword with a broad blade,… Read More »Medieval Term of the Day: Falchion
Relief Pronunciation: [ri-leef] Function: noun Etymology: Middle English relef, relief, from Anglo-French from relever to relieve 1) The fee paid by the heir of a deceased person on securing possession of a fief. Tradition determines the amount demanded. 2) A fine paid by the heir of a vassal to the… Read More »Medieval Term of the Day: Relief
Bernard Cornwell’s new historical fiction novel Azincourt is expected to be released this October (2008) in the UK. The US version will not come out until January of 2009 most likely. The novel will be a stand-alone, not a series, and will obviously cover the events surrounding the famous Battle of… Read More »Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
Retinue Pronunciation: [ret-n-oo, -yoo] Function: noun Etymology: Middle English retenue, from Anglo-French, from feminine of retenu, past participle of retenir to retain a) small troop of fighting men of all types raised on the estate of a knight b) body of persons “retained” in the service of a noble or royal personage
I’m currently reading A World Without End by Ken Follett, and his historical fiction novel is filled with medieval church architectural terms that I’m not readily familiar with, such as a clerestory or apse or chancel. I read Pillars of the Earth years ago, and some of the terms I… Read More »Glossary of Medieval Church Architecture